Action Mental Health commended as its vocational learners reap rewards for their labours

Hard-working clients at Action Mental Health have been lauded for their labours to attain recognised qualifications, as the organisation was commended for providing them with the opportunity to achieve them.

Seven clients who attend a variety of Action Mental Health’s nine New Horizons Services around Northern Ireland received their Open College Network NI (OCN NI) vocational qualifications at its first Recognising Learning Endeavour Awards ceremony at Belfast’s Stormont Hotel on March 5.

All seven clients received ‘Highly Commended’ awards at the ceremony, while Action Mental Health also received a ‘Highly Commended’ Award in the ‘Provider of the Year’ Category.

OCN NI is a UK regulated awarding organisation and educational charity that designs and awards vocational qualifications for adults and young people across all sector areas. It awards professional and technical qualifications, tackling educational underachievement and addressing skills gaps in Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive of Action Mental Health, David Babington added: “AMH New Horizons have been a longstanding provider of OCN qualifications, which have acted as a catalyst for participants to engage in other service programmes with the ultimate goal of improving their well-being and quality of life.

“We’re delighted with these inaugural awards and look forward to celebrating the achievements of our learners.  Supporting this event helps us contribute to realising our vision – a society which actively values and supports people on their journey to positive mental health,” he added.

AMH New Horizons is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy. 

Martin Flynn, CEO of OCNI said: “At OCN NI, we are continually inspired by the hard work, perseverance and accomplishments of our learners and approved centres. The Awards recognise the achievements of learners who seek to achieve their goals in life and work and their tutors/teachers and educational providers who help enable them to succeed. The OCN NI has a commitment to ensure that as many people as possible, irrespective of their background get an opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills in their chosen field of endeavour.”