Danny Stackhouse

100% do it! The Access to HE course helped me develop my skillset further particularly in time keeping, communication, team work and problem solving; all useful skills which I will carry with me into my degree course at university. The staff are so supportive too, and the course gives you the chance to meet people with common career interests as well. 

Danny left Central Lancaster High School in 2016 and started an Electrical Installation Level 2 course here at LMC. Quickly realising this wasn’t the route for him, he started working in a local care home where he found his passion for care and nursing.

While working as a care assistant in the nursing home Danny discovered a real interest in nursing, and decided that was the career route for him, so set off on his path to progress onto University. Although he had achieved many GCSE’s whilst in high school, he didn’t have his Maths GCSE, which is a strict requirement for any University course in the nursing field, so he came back to LMC part time to complete that.

I knew I needed a GCSE in maths to get onto a University degree course, so coming back to Lancaster & Morecambe College in 2019 to do that was the best option for me, whilst still working at the care home locally.

Once he had passed his GCSE in maths he spoke to the tutors at College about how best to achieve his dreams of becoming a nurse, and mapped out his path to ensure he gained a place at University. This started with Health & Social Care Level 2 in 2021, so that he could progress onto the Access to HE course in 2022. The Access to HE Diploma is specifically designed for people aged 19 and over who want to progress onto university.

I learnt so much on the Access course especially in subjects that I had never come across before such as Psychology, Human Physiology and Sociology and Social Issues in health care. It also introduced me to referencing before getting to University so that I was prepared for the workload that was due to come with the degree.

Danny was able to continue working while studying and found he could apply what he learnt at College into his daily responsibilities as well as respecting the residents' dignity and caring for their needs.

The Access course made it possible for me to apply to university and gain a place at University of Cumbria, where I will be starting in September 2023.

When asked what the best bits of his course were, Danny said:

The Access to HE course helped me develop my skillset particularly in time keeping, communication, team work and problem solving; all useful skills which I will carry with me into my degree course at university. At College I was able to develop my knowledge further, gain new skills and make life long friends too.

When asked what advice he would give to someone who was thinking about taking the Access to HE course, Danny said,

100% do it. The staff are so supportive and it gives you the chance to meet people with common career interests too.

Danny was also nominated by the tutors here at LMC for the National Access to HE Excellence Award via Ascentis and was chosen amongst all entries as the Runner Up for the Outstanding Commitment to Study Award, an amazing accolade to achieve. One of the judges stated,

Working in care through the pandemic and still wanting to progress their career in that direction is a testament to this learner's commitment to improving the lives of others. Through all the challenges this learner has faced, it is clear that their dedication to study is fuelled by a real passion for helping people. They have come a long way, and I hope they continue their journey with the same enthusiasm.

Ian Parkinson, Director of Curriculum and Innovation, presented Danny with his award as well as a £200 cheque for his achievements.

Well done Daniel and good luck from all here at LMC in your adventures at University!