There was a double celebration for Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Learning and Skills Service (CLaSS) team.

It has just received a good Ofsted report following a recent inspection of the service and its high achievers have celebrated successful learning journeys at the National Adult Learners’ Week Celebration Awards at County Hall.

Some of those receiving awards overcame addictions as well as learning, including Mansfield woman Louise Wightman (35).

A member of Nottingham-based Double Impact Team, which helps people overcome drug and alcohol addictions, she escaped an abusive relationship, quit drugs and started a new life in Mansfield.

Louise, a mother of two, said: “I had left school without taking my exams so had no formal qualifications and within a few years I was in a living hell. I am very pleased at how far I have come and the support I have had and the support of organisations such as the county council, Double Impact and Infused Learning has been invaluable to help get me on the right path.

“I would like to help others with recovery as I have been there and come through it. These community courses are great as they give people in vulnerable situations an opportunity to learn they might not other wise get.”

Louise is also the editor of Sumo magazine, the official magazine for the Double Impact organisation’s recovery community.