Olympic Gold Medalist Speaks at Final Lifelong Learning Network Conference

• 
  Olympic Gold Medalist, Sarah Ayton OBE
• 
  Nicola Oates from HEFCE
• 
  SWLLN Director, Belinda Payne and Practitioner Ian Sherriff with a guest
• 
  Vivienne Rayner MBE from the Federation of Small Businesses
• 
  Common Threads: IAG Workshop
• 
  Conference Organisers Sophie Neville, Victoria Bennion, Nadine Grimmett, Chris Pateman and Rosie Horsnell receiving bouquets

Olympic Gold Medalist, Sarah Ayton OBE, spoke about her journey to the Olympics and presented awards to Learners at the South West Lifelong Learning Network's (SWLLN) final annual conference on 21^st October at Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club, Exeter.

In 2006 the SWLLN was launched at the Met Office and embarked on a three year initiative to collaborate with education providers and other organisations to improve the quality of choice in higher education for work-based vocational learners as part of a national initiative. The conference celebrated the achievements of the SWLLN and its partners.

SWLLN Director, Belinda Payne, said, "The conference was about highlighting the achievements made in partnership across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset over the last three years to ensure that adults received the best possible information to make informed choices about their education and training requirements.  We were able to share some of the detailed experiences of the partnership with all delegates and celebrate the strength of partnerships that hopefully will continue to grow from strength to strength in the future."

Delegates at the conference also enjoyed speeches from:

• Chair of the National Lifelong Learning Network Steering Committee, Colin Mellors,
• Regional Consultant for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Nicola Oates
• South West Policy Manager, Federation of Small Businesses, Vivienne Rayner MBE.