Adult Learners' Week 2013: Nominations are now open!

The Adult Learners' Week Awards recognise the achievements of outstanding individuals and innovative learning projects across England.

Recognise the achievements of your inspirational friends, family, colleagues or students by nominating them for the individual learner awards. You can also highlight the outstanding work of your organisation by nominating your learning projects.

There are 2 main award categories:

■ Individual Learners: for adults whose remarkable achievements have made a difference to their lives and have inspired others to take up learning;

■ Learning Projects: for projects which offer innovative learning opportunities that have a positive impact on the lives of their learners

Nominations for both categories may also be eligible for a range of special awards:

■ European Social Fund (ESF) Awards: for individuals who have taken up learning funded by the European Social Fund. Learning projects funded by the ESF are also eligible.

■ Learning through Arts, Craft Skills or Culture Award: for individuals who have benefited from learning focused on arts, crafts skills or culture, and for projects that offer learning opportunities in these areas. Examples: painting, pottery, sewing, millinery, jewellery, carpentry, sculpting, acting, dance, etc.

■ Learning with Family or Community Award: for individuals who have learnt with or for their family, or have benefited from learning in community settings, and for projects that have opened up learning opportunities for these types of learning. Examples: family members learning a new skill together, parents improving skills to help with their children's studies, a reading group bringing members of the community together, voluntary work, etc

■ Learning for Health Award: for individuals whose learning has helped them to improve their physical or mental health, and for projects that offer learning opportunities to help individuals to improve their physical and mental health. Examples: fitness and lifestyle activities, dealing with stress, family health, etc.

■ Learning through Sport Award: for individuals whose learning has been in a sports setting or involved sports based activities, and for projects that provide those learning opportunities. Examples: football coaching, team games, athletics, outdoor adventure, etc.

■ Learning through Technology Award: for individuals who have benefited from learning through or about new technology, innovation and or/broadcasting, and for projects that provide learning activities in these areas. Examples: online learning, learning with the use of new media and new technology gadgets (e-book readers, tablets, etc), etc.

■ Learning for Work Award: for individuals who have improved their prospects in their current role or apprenticeship, or have secured a new job, business or career as a result of their learning, and for projects that provide learning at or for work, helping learners to improve their prospects. Examples: CPD, workplace training, improve existing skills in current job, learn new skills for career progression, change career or set up a business, etc

■ Learning Life Skills Award: for individuals who have taken up learning to improve essential skills for personal development, or for projects that offer learning opportunities for individuals to improve these skills. Examples: practical skills in English, maths and ICT that equip individuals to deal with the demands of everyday life, such as communicating, managing personal expenses, etc.

Everyone nominated for an Adult Learner's Week Award will receive a certificate of achievement in recognition of their learning, and winners will be presented with their awards at national and local awards ceremonies during Adult Learners' Week (18-24 May 2013).

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