A CAREER change has seen adult learner Leanne Reed win an award.

Miss Reed, from Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, was presented with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Outstanding Learner of the Year award.

After leaving school in 1998 without any GCSEs, Miss Reed found herself in a series of low-paid jobs.

But her career changed when she volunteered for administration work with the Future Regeneration of Grangetown (Frog).

She successfully completed a course in basic bookkeeping, then secured a full-time job with Frog as a finance officer.

She is now working towards an Association of Accountant Technician certificate at Redcar and Cleveland College.

Miss Reed said: "I'm delighted and shocked at the award. I was happy just to be nominated, never mind win overall.

"Even if you haven't any qualifications, you can make a fresh start by doing some courses and getting your life back on the right track. Your dream job can become a reality."

She was nominated for the award by her supervisor at Frog, Carol Moon, for having "the courage and strength to confront her fears, get into learning and turn her life around".

The Learning Partnership, a multi-agency organisation which includes Redcar and Cleveland council, colleges, voluntary and community organisations and employers, organised the celebration event last week at the City Learning Centre, Eston, as part of Adult Learners Week.

Partnership chairman Steven Whitehead said: "Leanne is a great example to anyone wanting to return to education, showing age and experience is not a barrier to learning new skills and achieving goals."

We are also proud of all our award winners. This was their evening and the Partnership was delighted to share it with them."