Joanne's inspiring learner story

Joanne Hassan waving and smiling at the camera outside

Skills for Work

It all began with one class

As a stay-at-home mum, Joanne spent her days taking care of her children and looking after the house. Out of curiosity, she enrolled onto a cookery course and the rest is history. Read on to find out more about Joanne's life-changing journey through the power of learning.

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Mum of four Joanne was becoming depressed sat at home until a friend told her about a WEA sustainable cooking course at her children’s school.

She joined the class two years ago and is now progressing with the WEA on a Level 2 teaching assistant course.

“The WEA has 100 per cent impacted positively on my life. My friend said just come along and see the cookery class, so I went and absolutely loved it.

It was amazing, and through that I ended up volunteering at the school’s breakfast club. Now I’ve moved on to teaching assistant training at the local community centre and I'm doing the placement in the children's school.”

Now I’m out four days a week working and at classes. It’s like a career the WEA has created for me.

“Honestly, I was stuck at home, down in the dumps and absolutely doing nothing. When I got in from dropping (her children) at school I was just sitting, watching Netflix all day, and being miserable and boring and plain depressed.

“But now I’m out four days a week working and at classes. It’s like a career the WEA has created for me. I’ve gone from the cooking class to functional skills, English and maths, and now the teaching assistant course, so it's all turned around for me.”

When Joanne completes her teaching assistant course this summer, she will progress to a nursery course. She'll then be qualified to work with children from birth to the age of 18. She said the tutors have helped her enormously on her journey, acting as friends as well as mentors.

“Attending WEA courses has been life-changing for me. Just from my friend saying come along to see the cooking class, honestly, it’s been amazing. It all started from that one little class.”