THE curtain has come down on a hugely successful adult learning initiative after its funding ran out.

A celebration was held at the Tontine Hotel to mark the end of a series of inspirational courses which helped so many parents.

The Positive Futures series organised by Enterprise Childcare had been running for 10 years thanks to cash from the Big Lottery but the funding has now come to an end.

Parents gathered to share their experiences of the programme and told the Tele how it changed their lives.

Mum-of-two Gill Cummings, 47, completed the Speakeasy sexual health and Positive Vibes wellbeing courses.

She said: "They were brilliant.

"The Speakeasy course helps parents to speak to children about sexual health.

"My son Liam is autistic and this made it easier to approach him and made me confident in speaking to him.

"Positive Vibes is exactly what it says - it teaches you how to get over your worries and replace them with positive thoughts.

Gill, of Oxford Road, says the courses 'helped me to turn my life around'.

She added: "I had low self-esteem and depression and the course was life-changing.

"It helped me see things slightly differently - it wasn't just words but showed you how to do it.

"It's a shame there's not any more funding for people to benefit from this course."

Steven and Anne Keenan,. who have a 15-year-old daughter Demi-Lee, completed the Handling Teenage Behaviour course.

Steven, 66, of Larkfield, said: "It was fantastic and I think more fathers should become involved in this kind of thing.

"It helped me understand what teenagers are going through, how they are feeling.

"We watched videos that showed scenarios on how to cope with situations and gave us practical help.

"We're closer to our daughter now, there's been a great improvement.

"It's so sad the courses have come to an end.

"If I had the funding I would run them myself."

Jeanette Knox of the Positive Futures project says the courses helped many people over the years and the celebration was a fitting way to mark the end of the scheme.

She said: "We have run the courses for nearly 10 years with lottery funding.

"We had a great celebration with afternoon tea and the parents made it a very happy occasion."