HELP is at hand for Lancashire residents whose New Year’s resolution was to change their job or learn something new.

Blackburn College has launched a range of adult courses available in a variety of subjects which uniquely start in January.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It offers people the chance to kick-start their new career straight away, for less than £1 a week.

Billy Almond, 33, from Queen Street, Darwen, is now a fully qualified teacher after he enrolled at Blackburn College to retake his English GCSE.

Billy was encouraged to complete his degree in Graphic Design and recently returned to Blackburn College again to for his teaching qualification PGCE.

He said: “From starting an evening-only GCSE English course I’ve been able to become a qualified teacher – and I’ve done this whilst working full-time throughout.

“It’s been a long process that I’ve done in stages but I’m now securing my first teaching roles and have started supply teaching at a range of local schools.

“My income has improved and I’m starting to do something I love.”

Yvonne Latham, of Burnley, thought she would be struggling to make ends meet by going back to study as an adult.

But Yvonne, 31, a busy mother of five all under the age of 13, managed to juggle work, study and family life to achieve her Level 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating.

She also received two awards from Blackburn College for her achievements – the Centre Apprentice Award and the Governor’s Award.

She now works with her partner Derek in his plumbing company and she’s enjoying getting more involved in the business.

She said: “It’s great that women are doing more traditional male-dominated jobs, and proving we’re just as good as they are.

“Going back to college was easier than I thought and there are plenty of ways to get help with funding.”

And a Clitheroe mother-of-three realised her dream of working for the probation service, after graduating with a degree in Criminology from Blackburn College.

Tracey Rigg, 43, started at the college’s University Centre as a mature student, aged 38, with her sights set on becoming a probation officer.

She has now been selected for the graduate probation scheme, and was one of 300people across the UK who were accepted from 8,000 applications.

She said: “When I started at Blackburn College it was my intention to become a probation officer all along. After five years of hard work I can finally say that I have realised my dream.

“Returning to education as a mature student was certainly a challenge, I had a family and ill health to contend with. The support that I received from the department was invaluable, both academically and personally.”

Claire Berry, Head of Marketing at Blackburn College, said: “Most people like a bargain, andIf you weigh up the cost of doing a degree at £4 a month, that’s less than £1 a week.

“For the price of half a lottery ticket, a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar, you could go to college and end up with a degree or qualified in a different career and change your life.”