Barbara Scourfield

…de la Penarth Times:

Barbara Scourfield from Dinas Powys, was left with multiple disabilities after a neurological illness – but decided to fight back through learning.

And now Barbara has been nominated for an Inspire! Adult Learner of the Year award.

The awards are organised by NIACE Dysgu Cymru, advocates of adult learning in Wales, and recognise learners whose achievements have been inspirational or life-changing.

The awards will be presented by TV’s Sara Edwards and former track and rugby star Nigel Walker in a glittering ceremony at Bangor University tonight, May 7.

After her illness, Barbara’s left hand, foot and leg are impaired, she is plagued by crippling migraines and she lost the ability write or to speak more than a few words at a time.

But she decided to reclaim her life by enrolling on a groundbreaking new Welsh blended learning course at the Welsh Language Centre, Cardiff.

The first of its kind in Wales, the course teaches students to learn language patterns and vocabulary online, before attending intensive classroom sessions. The nature of the course gave Barbara the time and flexibility to learn at her own pace.

She has slowly regained her speech and has built her way up to communicating effectively not only in English, but also in her target language of Welsh...