Northern Region Young Adult Learner Award

Well done to Kieran Creighton, regional winner of Young Adult Learner Award for Festival of Learning.

Kieran found school life challenging. He achieved little academically and found it difficult to develop friendships. With support from Derwentside College, he is now a more confident man with a positive future ahead.

Kieran has complex communication and learning difficulties, and combined with extreme shyness, Kieran developed social anxieties.

Enrolling at Derwentside College helped him gain his confidence. As part of his course, Kieran started a supported internship which gave him the opportunity to progress onto a work placement at University Hospital North Durham.

Kieran initially struggled with the change as he was not comfortable travelling alone, but after completing some travel training, he had the confidence to begin to travel independently. It also helped him quickly settle into the team, complete all his duties and enjoy his new responsibilities.

Kieran soon asked to increase his work placement from two to three days per week. He continued to meet his work challenges head on, and his confidence grew daily.

In February, Kieran started an apprenticeship with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. In a short time, Kieran had transformed from a socially shy person to a committed employee and a confident, able young man.

“My apprenticeship has changed everything about me and my family is really proud of me. The work I do makes me really happy,” said Kieran.

“Kieran has proven that with the correct mix of support, learning and commitment, nothing is impossible,” said his nominator, Julie Eddy, Assistant Manager – Learner Support at Derwentside College.