TEENAGED mum Anna Eagle has just become the first person in the country to receive an NVQ Level One in the Young Mums to Be scheme.
And now she's doing her bit to help others by setting up a support group for fellow teenaged mums in Swindon.
Anna, of Whitworth Road, Pine-hurst, left school at 15 with no qualifications.
When the council decided to pilot The Young Mums to Be scheme, aimed at preparing 16 to 18 year-old pregnant women for motherhood, she jumped at the chance of joining.
The course had been running successfully in Gloucester for five years, but until this year all students who passed left with just a certificate.
This year, half way through the Swindon pilot, the course was given accreditation by National Concepts in Further Education, making it equivalent to NVQ Level One and Anna, now 17, was the first person to get it.
Now the mother of a healthy baby boy, Callum, Anna is giving something back to her community by helping the Sure Start Project to set up a support group for other teenage mums in Pinehurst and Penhill.
She said: "The Young Mums to Be course gave me lots of confidence and really helped me get back into the education system. Finding out I was the first person to get the NVQ Level One was brilliant I couldn't have managed any of this without doing the course though."
She continued: "When I was approached by Sure Start about helping to set up a support group for other young mums, I was really thrilled. The course is due to start at the Pinehurst People's Centre in August and I will be giving advice on my experiences as a young mum to the girls who come along.
"They'll also be able to learn practical things about having their babies it's going to be really helpful for them."
Anna is also planning to go back into education to study for GSCEs in Maths, Science and English in September.
Gail McKay, Swindon's Young Mums to Be course organiser, is full of praise for Anna's hard work.
She said: "Anna's done fantastically well. We're delighted for her.
"When you leave school with no qualifications, it's easy to develop low self-esteem.
"But Anna has worked really hard on this course, and being the first person in the country to receive the NVQ Level One was a real boost for her."
She added: "Anna was really spurred on by the course, and we're hoping that she's going to come back to us for more advice on furthering her education.
"The fact that she's now working to help other teenage mums in her area is great."
Swindon has the highest rate of teenage conceptions in the South West.
The Social Services department launched plans in March to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy by 15 per cent by 2004.
Organiser of the Young Mums to Be scheme hope that by showing the girls a life that includes learning and work as well as motherhood, the teenagers will think twice about having more children at a young age.
In 12 modules studied for two hours a week for 12 weeks, students are advised on how to prepare for motherhood and get the help and support they need.
A new intake of students will join the course at the end of September.
For more information, contact Gail McKay on Swindon 437573.
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