One year on from winning an Inspire! Award, a Pembrokeshire mum is using her qualification to help other learners with special needs.

There are only a few weeks remaining to nominate individuals, projects and employers in Pembrokeshire who have improved themselves, their community or workplace through learning for the 2017 Inspire! Awards.

The Inspire! Awards celebrate individuals and organisations whose learning achievements have changed lives. People only have until Friday, March 3 to put forward nominations.

In 2016, Rose Probert from Pembrokeshire was awarded the Progression Award for turning her dreams of being a special needs teacher into a reality, despite leaving school with few GCSEs.

Before she started her learning journey, Rose did various cleaning jobs while looking after her severely disabled brother.

While working at a local comprehensive school Rose was given the opportunity to restart her education, by completing a level three in teaching assistance through courses offered at Monkton Priory Community Primary School.

From there she went on to gain a BA (hons) degree with the University of Wales Trinity St David.

A year on from winning the award, Rose is a recognised member of her local community and a role model for other travelers.

Rose said: “People come up to me in the street and congratulate me on my achievements. I have given presentations on adult learning, which was daunting as I have never spoken in front of an audience before, but I want to use my story to help others.”

Rose received her award at a ceremony in Cardiff, where the awards will take place again in 2017 ahead of Adult Learners’ Week, the largest celebration of adult learning in Europe.

On receiving her award, Rose said: “I thought my graduation was the best moment of my life but getting the Inspire! Award was even better. It was a complete surprise and recognition of my hard studies. I am still shocked.”

Rose is currently studying for a post-graduate in special needs teaching.

Rose added: “It is has become really important to me to promote that whatever your background, there really are opportunities out there for you and you can do it. Look what is available in the community and go for it.”

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.learningandwork.wales and click on the Inspire! Nominations link on the homepage.

Nominations are free and open to individuals or organisations involved in any form of adult learning, accredited or non-accredited, in the classroom or in the home.