Centre Co-ordinator, Affiliation Open Door Adult Learning Centre, Sheffield

Terry McHale is a highly respected community activist and a focal contact for many of the fora and groups that operate in Sheffield.  He has voluntarily given up his spare time in supporting local and citywide community organisations, for nearly three decades, and more recently has been working closely with local organisations (south east of Sheffield) in community development  and empowerment activities. Terry has a strong technological computing background, and he uses this to embrace, utilize and design a range of free e-learning materials, to the benefit of everyone.  The implementation of the Minimum Contract Level in 2011 now sees Terry as the Lead partnership provider, for a small consortium of Yorkshire-based ACL providers who all share similar ethos and delivery.

Terry has over 16 years experience of working in adult and community learning, and during this time has transformed his current organisation from a failed FEFC inspection in 1996, to a position of back-to-back “Outstanding” inspections in 2004 and 2008.  The organization was awarded Beacon status in February 2006.  Since 2004 Terry has responded to a number of requests for support from providers across the country, and has travelled extensively to offer advice and suggest areas for improvement.  As a well-established Beacon, Terry has delivered a number of “Innovation” projects, alongside more recently delivering “Sharing Expertise” projects, supporting local providers.  Terry has been involved in an initiative driven by LSIS and ACER to participate in a project in the East of England, aiming to improve equality and diversity, in LSC providers, from “Good to Excellent”. 

A long-standing advocate of Peer Review & Development, he has worked with providers from across the education and training sector, and he has provided advice, support and training to numerous colleges, ACL and WBL providers. 

In May 2009 Terry, on behalf of Open Door Adult Learning Centre, proudly accepted the award for “Effectively Reflecting your Community” category at the prestigious Yorkshire and Humber LSC’s  celebration of learning and skills awards (CoLA’s), in Harrogate.

Terry is the chair of the Excellence Gateway strategy board, currently meetings are held quarterly in Coventry, and are very well attended by a broad spectrum of professional members from across the FE sector. Terry very much appreciates the time and effort that every member of this board contributes.