ITV Signpost Meet Learner of the Year Regional Winner

ITV Signpost have met with Ryan Williams, Learner of the Year for the North East, from Sunderland Football Club's Foundation. You can see the report by clicking here.

Ryan started with Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC) Foundation as a trainee within the coaching department and later became involved with the sign language program within the Making Moves/Coaching team. As part of the programme, Ryan visits schools in the North East on a daily basis and practices basic sign language with groups of children from reception through to Year 6 pupils. Ryan has been instrumental in developing the programme so that SAFC Foundation is now in a position to deliver fully accredited Introduction to British Sign Language (unit BSL101) at the club.

Now aged 18, Ryan is currently attending evening classes at South Tyneside College in order to gain his full Level 1 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification. Despite a busy working schedule, Ryan's desire for learning has lead him to develop his own personal skills in British Sign Language and better support the programme.

Ryan has proved himself as a positive role model to the young children he meets. The teachers and schools he has worked with comment that Ryan conducts himself professionally within classes and through his own example, has inspired the children in the programme.

Read more interesting and inspiring stories here.