Stories of Resilience


Tara Furlong Resilience: Stories of Adult Learning is a learner voice co-­‐publicaon between RaPAL and ACAL (Australian Council for Adult Literacy) with support from our respecve Adult Learners Weeks. The project is now in publicaon. However, RaPAL are happy to connue to receive stories to publish in this secon of the journal. Tara can be contacted on webweaver@rapal.org.uk.


Star Painter, Learning in Wiltshire


Hi, I am Star and I guess the very beginning of my journey I don't quite remember due to my very full life. I first embarked on a course set up by the lovely ladies from the Family Learning Team in Wiltshire, very much needed at the me, called Time for U, and have never looked back. They had inspired something in me: not just to go forward but to help other parent carers succeed in a brighter achievable future. Having set a group up, I needed to do something different to all other groups that seemed to be going stale. I do believe without the support of Lucinda and her lovely tutors, I would never have achieved being here wring this. They saw something in me too.


Aer aending several more courses, I became so posive in achieving greater things. I then entered employment aer enrolling on my third course. Sadly my life and health took a turn for the worst, but this did not stop me connuing my learning. I spent a long me also with my parent carers on so much negavity that it has been amazing to put some fantasc posive learning in the mix to filter through and ignite that spark we all have. I feel very proud of my mums, dads and grandparents who share my journey and who are taking my lead and changing their future. Words simply cannot explain how that feels. I have carers who have anxiees, socialising issues to name a few, and they pushed harder than they have before. I am so very proud of all of them.


This is sll the beginning of my journey but my path has changed. I always feel sad to complete a course as today we have all completed our SEAL course. It always leaves me thirsty for more and the lovely team here in Wiltshire keep a ght hold of us and have some amazing courses in the new year for us all. Life and learning stops with you, reach out and take it by both horns and give it some welly.


Tutor Perspecve


Star, 37, lives in Wiltshire. She is a single mother and has two children. Three years ago in 2012, she started a carers’ group aimed at supporng families who have children with special educaonal needs. The group, which began with five members, now has fiy families and it is growing from strength to strength. Star promotes adult learning; both formal and informal. Her passion and belief in improving lives through learning has developed from an oen difficult path.


Star experienced family domesc violence and was a heroin addict. She became estranged from her Cornish family. In 2005 she made the decision to build bridges with her family and to turn her life around. She aended a rehabilitaon project and underwent CBT for a year. Her return to Cornwall led her to supporng vulnerable women; prolific offenders who were involved with repeated pey crimes. She trained the groups to be volunteers, supporng their local community. Her vision to support others stayed with her when she became a mum.


Having moved to Wiltshire, Star then found herself in a challenging partnership which has resulted in her being a single parent. Her daughter was born in 2008 and was diagnosed with ADHD, ausm, a sensory processing disorder and PDA (pathological demand avoidance). Her son, born in 2009, was diagnosed with ausm, low muscle tones and no spaal awareness. Both children have sleep disorders. The diagnosis of her children’s condions was a catalyst for change for Star. It was the birth of her son that started her determined journey to support other families.


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