Inspire! Awards winners light up Adult Learners’ Week
English | Cymraeg
Aaron Jones, winner of the Skills for Work Award at the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards.
A highlight of Adult Learners’ Week 2026 – September 21 to 27 – was the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards, held at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff last night (Wednesday).
The awards recognise those who have demonstrated a commitment to never stop learning. One of the winners is Aaron Jones, a part-time, senior waiter who also does occasional kitchen shifts at Penycae Inn, near Swansea. He won the Skills for Work Award.
An inspirational role model for neurodiversity and the transformative power of lifelong learning, Aaron achieved a Hospitality Supervision and Leadership Apprenticeship Level 3 with Cambrian Training Company. He has become a public speaker about his learning journey and neurodiversity.
Aaron spoke at the NTFW networking event held at Cardiff Bay last year and also attended last year’s Apprenticeships Fair at the Senedd with Cambrian Training Company.
The other Inspire! Adult Learning Awards winners were: Shared Futures Award, Yassmein Hussein, Cardiff. New Welsh Speaker Award, Hannah Rowlatt, Cardiff. Learner Voice Award, Honey Jenkins, Abertillery. Life Change Award, Fred Murad, Pembrokeshire. Young Adult Learner Award, Javier Griffiths-Payne, Barry. Hywel Francis Award for Community Impact, Agri-cation CIC, Bangor-on-Dee. Learning for Better Health Award, Daniel Mason, Merthyr Tydfil. Ageing Well Award, Julia Anderson, Tredegar. Essential Skills for Life Award, Shelby Weaver-Slaughter, Cardiff. Highly commended, Georgia Miggins, Swansea.
Everything from digital literacy and essential skills to cookery and calligraphy were on offer across Wales during Adult Learners’ Week.
Hundreds of free online and in-person courses, events, activities and learning opportunities aimed to boost people’s career prospects, skills, confidence and wellbeing.
Adult learning providers and community organisations contributed to the ‘Never Stop Learning’ campaign theme by helping people discover new opportunities.
Adult Learners’ Week is co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with Welsh Government with support from The Open University in Wales, National Centre for Learning Welsh, ACT, Agored Cymru and Adult Learning Wales.
The week provided an opportunity for people to embrace a second chance at education and work. Cambrian Training Company celebrated Adult Learners Week with a week-long social media campaign highlighting the achievements of the company’s adult learners.
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Cefin Campbell MS, said:
“Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the life-changing power of learning. Every day, adults across Wales are gaining new skills, growing in confidence and opening up new opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.
“I am proud organisations across Wales are working together to support Adult Learners’ Week and inspire more people to take the next step on their learning journey. Whether you’re learning to progress in work, trying something new or building your confidence, my message is simple: Never Stop Learning.”
Michelle Matheron, Learning and Work Institute Director for Wales, said:
“Free and available to everyone, Adult Learners’ Week is a chance to inspire adults to take a first step into learning, celebrate learner achievements and make local opportunities easier to find,” explained
“Learning providers and community organisations of all types are taking part this year to offer chances to adults to discover learning opportunities. An event held in Adult Learners’ Week may be the spark that helps someone to rediscover the joy of learning or boosts their confidence to try something new.”
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