A LOCAL volunteer homework club predominantly for children with physical and learning difficulties has secured a national award, in recognition of the young people and adults it has helped to gain new skills.

The Vale Parent and Child Homework and Support Club in Rhoose, which provides a weekly homework club for children, secured an Inspire! Award in the community project of the year category in a ceremony held on June 15.

Created by volunteers in 2012, the club's membership has since grown from just two children to currently over 100. There are now a team of volunteers offering a series of pioneering support services for families, as well as additional qualifications for the children, young people and wider community who attend.

The project has no significant funding and depends solely on partnerships and the efforts of their volunteers.

Founder and former Inspire! Award winner Catherine Watkins said: "When I first launched the club I never imagined that it would grow so quickly and have such an impact on the lives of so many people.

"I am so proud of what we have achieved to date and it’s so great to watch some of our members really flourish and become determined to go on to make a success of themselves and accomplish their dreams."

Despite some members having left school with few formal qualifications, many have gone on to achieve vocational qualifications through the project. Many of those have since developed the confidence and self-esteem to go on to further education and training.

Partnerships established with Cardiff Metropolitan University and the Open University have also resulted in 17 members progressing to study degree courses, including law, psychology and maths.

The Inspire! Awards are hosted each year ahead of adult learners’ week, to celebrate the achievements of outstanding learners in Wales who have shown exceptional passion, commitment and drive for learning, as well as employers who champion learning in the workplace.

Adult learners' week took place between June 19 and June 25. For more information, visit the Learning and Work Institute at www.learningandwork.wales.