Pembrokeshire bakery worker Janette Williams has discovered that learning is the yeast of life as she rises to new challenges in her comeback following serious illness.

Mother-of-two Janette, 42, now divides her time between working in the bakery section of the Co-Op store in Kilgetty and a part-time college course as she takes her first steps on road to becoming a fully qualified teacher.

Janette of Well Park, Cresselly, is one of the Pembrokeshire's champion learners who is backing the New Year campaign by Wales' post-16 education and training body The National Council – ELWa and adult learning promoters, NIACE Dysgu Cymru, to get people to start learning something new in 2003.

The "Sign Up Now" campaign, which will see tens of thousands of leaflets and posters distributed across Wales in the coming weeks, is part of a drive to ignite the interest of adults in lifelong learning this year.

In addition the National Council - ELWa has set a particular target to create thousands of new learners each year in Wales' poorest communities.

Janette recalled how she opted to return to learning: "I didn't do as well as I could have done at school and didn't really get the support needed. After recovering from a serious illness two years ago I re-assessed my life decided to go back to college."

The mother of two teenage girls - Margaret, 17 and Kizzi, 14 - is now studying for A levels in history, English literature and sociology and GCSE maths at Pembrokeshire College.

She said: "It was terrifying for the first couple of months being in class again, and with pupils less than half my age, but now it is great and we get along fine together."

In fact when Janette feels she needs a little extra support for her college work she only has to turn to her daughter Margaret who is also a student at Pembrokeshire College.

Janette, who has a lifelong fascination with history and has managed to trace her family tree back to the 1692, hopes to take up a place at Trinity College, Carmarthen, in the autumn to study for a joint honours degree in history and archaeology.

She then intends to complete a year's post graduate teacher training course and is looking to teach history either at a secondary school or at a sixth form college.

George McKechnie, The National Council – ELWa Director of Participation & Communications said: "Learning does work. There are countless examples of people's lives dramatically changed for the better after signing up for learning. We want many others to follow suit in 2003."

This was supported by Kay Smith, Marketing Manager for NIACE Dysgu Cymru who said: "People from all walks of life have benefited from learning. It boosts confidence, changes outlooks and enhances careers prospects."

A wide range of adult learning opportunities are available across Pembrokeshire in the New Year. Further details can be obtained from learndirect – 0800 100 900.