Wiltshire tutor finalist for work with vulnerable adults

While most tutors spend their day jobs prepping kids for their GCSEs, Jenny Ham, who is a Family and Community Learning Tutor at Wiltshire Council, works with the most vulnerable learners in the community to help change their lives.

The Wiltshire tutor works specifically with disadvantaged adult learners who struggle to access other more formal learning opportunities due to their rural location, current circumstances or previous negative experiences at school.

This means she is able to build up a relationship with those with poor mental or physical health and low confidence, newly-arrived adults or struggling parents to help them turn their lives around with English language and wellbeing courses.

Jenny's inspirational work has now landed her as a finalist in the annual Festival of Learning Awards, and her colleagues at Wiltshire Council and her tutees could not be more proud.

Jenny works with a whole range of learners to help build up their vital language skills, confidence and general life skills. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

“Jenny puts her heart and soul into teaching, and we are very proud of her and what she supports her learners to achieve," said Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for education.

The award-finalist tutor says she was first inspired to teach from an early age after watching her mother who was a teacher.

Having gained her ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) double degree in 1998, she went on to now teach disadvantaged adults and occasionally their children too.

“I’m so motivated by my learners, seeing them learn, progress and achieve," she explained.

"When you can make a difference to people’s lives, there is no better feeling.

"It is a privilege to work with the diversity of adults and families that I meet which include asylum seekers, Ukrainian guests, Afghan resettlers and Wiltshire residents."

Jenny has been selected as a finalist in the Festival of Learning Awards (Image: Wiltshire Council)

But Wiltshire Council and award judges are not the only ones singing Jenny's praises, as several learners she has helped over the years have come forward to share exactly what Jenny's work has meant to them.

“Jenny makes learning fun and always helped me feel safe, which is vitally important for someone like me who suffers from anxiety," said tutee Sarah.

"She was always patting me on the back and helping me believe in my abilities.”

Parent Claire added: "If you still don't understand, she will not stop until she has found a way for you to learn. 

"Without having Jenny, I wouldn't be able to help my children.”