Henry boosts his skills

When Henry joined Midsummer Skills his confidence was low - now he says he's never looked back.

Henry has been on the Midsummer Skills project from the beginning. When he started he was unable to spell his surname or Conniburrow, the estate on which he lives.

Midsummer Skills is a ‘Skills for Life’ educational project, provided in partnership by Midsummer Housing Association and Milton Keynes College. The project is available to anyone who wants to get back into education, providing an informal, open and family-like environment where people can learn in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere,

'I wasn't sure what sort of reaction I would get at Midsummer Skills in the beginning, but now I feel it's better than a family, and I've never looked back.'

Based in Milton Keynes, it includes classes like basic English and Maths, IT and English for Speakers of Other Languages,

It was not from want of trying that meant Henry was not able to read until he joined Midsummer Skills.

'On the day I was due to sign up, I walked up and down past the building for a while, because I was too embarrassed to come in. I was scared that people would take the Mickey out of me. It’s like starting a new school or new job.'

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