It's never too late to learn

The week from Saturday, May 20, to Friday, May 26 is a national event held to celebrate adult involvement in education and training.

Bradford University will be out in force next week to bring education to city centre shoppers.

Staff and mature students will be offering advice at Kirkgate Shopping Centre next Tuesday to anyone looking to change career. The university is holding a drop-in stand on the first floor of the shopping centre from 9am to 4.30pm. Shoppers can also take part in a spelling test at Waterstone's in the Wool Exchange, with the chance to win £100 in vouchers.

The university's mature student advisor, Joyce Martin, will also be at Waterstone's to talk to people about courses open to adult learners.

She said: "Mature students are a considerable force at the university so we're taking this opportunity to say that it's never too late to learn."

Mature students make up a third of Bradford University's UK or EU full-time undergraduates, with 727 out of 2,213.

For more information about Adult Learners' Week visit Bradford University's website at www.bradford.ac.uk/alw. To find out more about the options available for mature students call Joyce Martin on 01274 235113.

Bradford College has an Adult Information Advice line throughout next week to allow people to find our more about the courses its offers to mature students.

l Anyone interested in finding out more should contact (01274) 433053 next week or e-mail I.services@bradford.college.ac.uk

CASE STUDY

A husband and wife have told how going back into education has given them a new lease of life.

Parents Claire and Nick Parker decided to quit their jobs to go to university two years ago. Now they are looking forward to graduating together next summer.

Claire is studying for a Social Work degree at Bradford University while Nick is training to be a teacher at Trinity & All Saints College in Horsforth.

The couple are in their 30s and have three children but are being supported with childcare from Claire's parents. And she is urging other adults to follow in their footsteps.

She said: "We both had decent jobs but we were going nowhere. Going to university is a massive decision but we are looking to the future.

"It is a lot of hard work. Finances are very tight at times but we are looking at the broader picture and are having such good fun. We are both studying for such worthwhile social jobs, we know there will be work for us at the end of it and we are seeing much more of each other in summer as well.

"I would recommend it to anyone. The first step is scary but then you never look back. Any mature student would tell you the same thing."