A FOSTER mother from Newport who learned sign language after she began caring for a deaf child was named Welsh Learner of the Year.

Lesley Bellew, 40, who started learning sign language at the beginning of the year when she took on the four-year-old, beat off competition to be named Wales’ Learner of the Year award by Signature, the UK’s leading provider of accredited qualifications in sign language.

Mrs Bellew, who has been fostering for six years, took on the challenge at the beginning of the year when she started caring for the four-year-old and took classes at the CHIIC Sign Language Centre, Newport.

She passed her level one qualification in British Sign Language and is now enrolled onto level two.

Mrs Bellew, from Rogerstone, has also helped teach her family the basics of signing and is now working with the CHIIC centre and Newport council to establish a group where families affected by deafness can meet for learning sessions and to socialise.

She said: “I’m really shocked, I wasn’t even expecting to be nominated, let alone won – I’m quite amazed really.”

She now goes on to the National Learner of the Year awards in November, where she will compete against people from across the UK.

See: www.signature.

org.uk/awards