Mandy Wilton started out working in an opticians and then spent several years doing office work. She always enjoyed helping people and decided to leave her job to pursue a different career. Unfortunately finding a new job wasn’t as easy as she anticipated. To improve her chances of getting a job she started volunteering at Framework, as she had wanted to get into mental health support work. However through the VIE project she was made aware of a vacancy for a Learning Champion at Mansfield CVS.

Mandy started her role as a Learning Champion and settled in immediately. Her travels took her to the Warsop Carnival and the Volunteer Market in Mansfield town centre. She also spent a lot of time engaging people at coffee mornings and local libraries. This was a useful approach as it allowed her to converse with people in an informal setting and have more of a chat than an intervention.

During her time as a Learning Champion she was able to spend loads of time doing training and continuing her own lifelong learning journey. She participated in the Learning Champion training conducted by the WEA and also several courses through Take Part Mansfield, which is a scheme which promotes active citizenship. On this course she was able to go on courses about skills in the community, surviving on the frontline and bid writing. Mandy also took part on a minute taking course and takes the minutes for our Learning Champion network meetings. Through FJF enhancements she has also been able to do an NVQ in information, advice and guidance.

She has had many successes especially with older learners and was successful in getting several involved with cake decorating, sign language and even flower arranging. She also helped four lads she met at Warsop Carnival to get involved with sports coaching at Manor School, who are now liaising with local community leaders about sports in the community. Through her enthusiasm about local coffee mornings Mandy has now taken charge of a coffee morning for Polish and Latvian people living in the local area which is looking very promising.

Unfortunately Mandy has now had to leave her post as she has taken over Flexible Routeways at Mansfield CVS. On the bright side she is still continuing as a Learning Champion in a voluntary capacity and because her job involves helping people get back into work she cans till help people address training issues. Furthermore, because she is helping people put together CVs, fill in application forms and improve their telephone technique she is still helping to facilitate informal learning, a skill she learnt much about from her time as a Learning Champion. Also because of her experience on the project Mandy has decided to handhold a learner with low confidence on Amber training.

To find out more contact Michael Dixon (Learning Champion Project Coordinator) on 0115 934 8435 or email: michaeld@enable.uk.net