Gorbals man, Abel McBride has been presented with a Champion Learner Award 2006 by Learn Direct Scotland.

A client of The Initiative, Abel received the engraved trophy from tv personality Shereen Nanjiani. His achievement was in completing his ECDL qualification with flying colours within ten months and starting on a training course with the NHS which guarantees him a job at the end of it. All of this after being out of work for 16 years.

‘Everyone at The Initiative is really proud of his efforts and seeing how far he’s come,’ said Maureen O’Donnell, assistant manager at the Learning Base in The Initiative’s premises at the Adelphi Centre in Gorbals.

Due to his achievements, he was also presented with a ‘Personal Achiever of the Year’ award. Abel plans to continue his IT training. His ultimate goal is to gain an HND Computing qualification. He aims to continue working full time for the NHS on the Working for Health Greater Glasgow programme (WHIGG) and maintain his college studies on a part-time basis.