As we continue to celebrate #AdultLearnersWeek, we’re inspired by the remarkable journey of Eve Salter, winner of the Learning for Better Health Award at Learning & Work Institute’s Inspire! Awards 2024. Once a young single parent who struggled with depression and low confidence, Eve has shown extraordinary resilience by returning to education in her 30s, transforming her career prospects and building a brighter future for herself and her daughter. Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to learn - and that maturity and life experience can become real strengths in education.
Eve believes she’s better prepared to learn as an adult than she ever was as a teenager and is now developing a career to provide a better life for herself and her family.
As a single parent teenager, she felt left behind as her friends went to college or university, eventually getting good jobs and opportunities.
Worrying about her future career prospects and the responsibility of being a parent at such a young age drove Eve into severe depression. Some life choices left her with post-traumatic stress disorder which damaged her confidence and self-esteem.
After a long recovery, she returned to education in her 30s to complete GCSEs and plucked up the courage to begin a Level 2 Business Administration qualification with Cardiff and Vale College. She completed the qualification two months early and has progressed to Level 3.
Eve, 32, a Public Health Wales business administrator, has progressed to a Band 4 salary at work, after two promotions and is considering a qualification in event planning, a key part of her job.
“If you’re not careful as a young mother, you can lose your identity but returning to learning has really helped to turn everything around,” she said. “It’s only now that my daughter is older that I have the opportunity to think about my career. I want to set a good example to her and inspire other young mums to do the same.”
“Going back to education as an adult is scary and may have felt like I was behind everyone else. However, with maturity and life experience on my side, it has been an interesting and exciting journey at a time in my life when I feel completely ready and committed to learn.”
Eve’s story is just one of many that highlight the life-changing impact of learning as an adult. This Adult Learners’ Week, why not explore the opportunities available and see where learning could take you?
Adult Leaners’ Week - Never Stop Learning
15 - 21 September 2025
