Stacy Mckeown

Fourteen years ago, Stacy was unemployed and faced an uncertain future. A place on the Future Jobs Fund gave her an opportunity to change this. After developing a passion for helping others, she completed an apprenticeship and degree in adult social care. Despite losing her father and grandmother, Stacy has found strength in her learning and now uses her experience to support families experiencing grief. She is a proud, independent working mother and an inspiration to her daughter who is now in her second year of university.

The Get the Nation Learning Awards are part of Get the Nation Learning Week, running from 2–6 November. Led by Learning and Work Institute and backed by more than 220 organisations, the Get the Nation Learning campaign celebrates the power of lifelong learning to change lives, strengthen communities and support better work.

Stacy Mckeown said:
“I’m still in shock. If you’d told me 14 years ago that I’d be receiving an award from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in London, I’d have asked if you had the right person. Looking back at where I started and where I am now, it’s been quite a journey. Learning through the Future Jobs Fund gave me opportunities I never imagined possible, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in me along the way. I’m especially proud that my daughter has seen first-hand that you don’t need to have everything figured out, you just need the courage to keep going. I hope my story shows other young mums that having children doesn’t mean your dreams stop. Sometimes you have to take the long way round, but with determination, hard work and a bit of belief in yourself, and from others, you can achieve far more than you ever thought possible.”

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“Stacy’s learning journey is incredibly inspiring and it is a real privilege to celebrate her achievements at this year’s Get the Nation Learning Awards. She has shown how learning can enable people to fulfil their potential and make an immeasurable difference to the lives of others. We are thrilled that she is our Patron’s Award winner and has been recognised by L&W’s Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.”

Councillor Michele Barnes, Lead Member for Skills, Work, Workforce and Industrial Relations at Salford City Council, said:
“Stacy’s story is a powerful example of how learning can transform lives. Her determination to help others embodies everything this award stands for. We are incredibly proud that her achievements have been recognised on a national stage, and we hope her journey inspires others across Salford to believe in their own potential.”