Nina is the Development and Marketing Manager at Open Awards, an awarding body and charity whose vision is to change lives through learning. With a background in supporting young people with disabilities and/or learning difficulties to gain meaningful paid employment and live independent lives in their communities, Nina is a values-driven individual who believes that everybody should have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations.
Her role at Open Awards includes the development of meaningful qualifications across vocational sectors and Nina works closely with education providers, learners and employers across England to develop curriculum that meets the individual needs of learners and support progression and achievement of aspirations.
Nina offers support to education providers across England to review and improve curriculum, keeping learner outcomes at the heart of everything she does. This includes Further Education Colleges, schools, private training providers, offender learning providers and the third sector. With a strong passion for the third sector and the important role it plays locally and nationally, Nina leads on funding applications and program developments with partner organist ions to implement the delivery of high-quality education programs that support Open Awards’ vision of changing lives through learning.
Nina also runs a disability social club for young people aged 16-25 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The social club aims to promote independence and choices, and offers and informal and safe environment for young people to learn new skills, improve their confidence in their abilities and to have fun. Nina volunteers her time for other charities, including supporting the management of an SEN Parents Group and providing support with job applications and interview coaching for long-term unemployed adults.