A YOUNG mother from a travelling community has received a national basic skills award.

Vicky Price won the learning against all the odds category in the recent Basic Skills in Local Communities National Celebration Event, held in Nottingham.

Organised by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the event was held to recognise the achievements of learners and tutors who have participated in basic skills in community projects across the country.

Ms Price's award, which included a framed certificate and cash prize, recognises the obstacles she has overcome to return to learning.

The 21-year-old mother-of-three has found time to improve her literacy through training delivered by Sandra Stabler and other tutors from Bishop Auckland College, in County Durham.

They visit the East Howle travellers' site in Ferryhill each week to work with members of the travelling community.

Funded by the LSC County Durham, the project at East Howle is nearing completion, but Ms Stabler is hoping that the college will eventually be able to roll out the training to other travellers' sites in the county.

She said: "This is an excellent way to engage members of the travelling community in learning and we hope that by seeing what people like Vicky have achieved, it will spur other people on."

David Lane, LSC County Durham's head of skills development, said: "Projects like this play a vital role in engaging more people in learning.

"We are very proud that Vicky has received a national LSC award and, hopefully, it will encourage even more people to return to learning in the future."