DCG Success Stories

Derby College Group trainee teaching assistant Adel Annaeva firmly believes in learning new skills and training your brain to keep it active.

But, as a 45-year-old mum to five children aged from four to 14 returning to education was always going to be a challenge.  

Luckily, Adel, who has a bachelor’s degree from university in her home country of Uzbekistan, qualified for some free adult education courses via the Adult Skills Fund.  

This initiative, run by East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) helps adults gain skills and training in readiness for an apprenticeship or further learning.  

And thanks to the funding initiative, Adel recently started the Level 2 TA course at DCG’s Roundhouse.  

She said: “Getting the course for free has made such a difference. I don’t think I would have been able to do it without the skills fund.  

“I’ve got a big family to feed and clothe and it would have been hard finding the extra money to pay for my studies.”  

Adel, who took the ESOL course at Derby College, speaks Russian as her first language because Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union when she was growing up.  

She trained as an accountant after doing her degree and hadn’t previously considered a career in education.  

She added: “I’ve already done some volunteering in a local primary school earlier this year and enjoyed it.  

“Being a teaching assistant means I’ll be at home with the children during school holidays.  

“It’s also good that my youngest child starts school soon. That means I’ll be able to be in school until 3pm, which will make it easier for me to find a job.  

“It’s many years since I did my degree, but I think it’s important to train your brain and keep learning.  

“My husband is also studying and we tell the children they must work hard at school.  

“I enjoyed doing the ESOL course at Derby College and making new friends. It’s made my life more interesting. 

“I don’t want to be a teacher but I’m looking forward to working as a TA. I’ve only just started my college course but our teacher seems really nice and I like to learn something new.”