Mum-of-two Adele Tilley has overcome a tough childhood in care, drug and alcohol problems, and domestic abuse.

However, after having her two children, she decided to try and turn her life around to create a better future for her son and daughter.

Not only did she take GCSEs, she embarked on five more years of study and is now about to begin the final year of her masters degree.

Last year the 26-year-old also started up her own business, called Tilley Solutions, which helps youngsters in care.
For her achievements, she has been personally picked by the Princess Royal as winner of first Adult Learners’ Week Patron’s Award – and she recently met the Princess in person.

Adele said: “If you told me when I was in care that at 26 I would be shaking hands with royalty, I would not have believed you.

“If I can change my life around, lots of other people can too.”

Adele, who lives in Westcotes, Leicester went into foster care at the age of 12 because she was a rebellious teenager.

She said: “I was in and out of care through my teens. I had a rough time.

“I was into drink and drugs. I had really bad behaviour – I was not into school at all. I was just interested in going out.

“I got expelled from school when I was 15.

“After that I did not do much, I carried on with drink and drugs.”

Adele added that when she left care, she was told to go on to benefits and was put into a hostel in Mowmacre.

She added: “I went on to have two kids by two different dads who were very abusive to me.

“I then had another abusive relationship – but it was more psychological.”

Adele said it was after suffering this second bout of abuse that she knew things needed to change.

“That is when I realised I needed to sort myself out and make a better future for my kids.

“I realised that education was how I could better myself. My whole life has been better since I made that decision,” said Adele.

She then enrolled on to a course at the WEA adult education centre, in Hinckley Road, Leicester and put her children into nursery.

She studied GCSEs in ICT, English and maths to get on to an access to business course at Leicester College, which she took in 2011.

Adele then began a four-year course in business and management at De Montfort University, which will give her a degree and masters qualification.

Adele is now going into her fourth year of the course.

She said: “Coming out of care, I was very naive and easily led and duped by men . Now, I have a lot more confidence.”

It was then in March last year that Adele decided to start her own business, Tilley Solutions, balancing that alongside her family life and studies.

At the moment, the main work she does is providing training for people who work with youngsters in care. However, she hopes to expand this once she finishes studying, and plans to work with more young people.

She said: “Really, at the minute it is a micro business. I am devoting most of my time to my education and children.

“My children come first before everything.”

Adele had a seven-year-old daughter Amber and son called Presley, aged five.

Adele has now also been in a happy relationship with her current partner for a few years and has a step-daughter called Mea Jones, eight.

Adele said she has faced many challenges over the years, but they have just made her stronger.

She said: “You have different challenges all the time, especially juggling the different things.

“It is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. But with every challenge I got a bit stronger, and more confident, because I realised my own ability.

“That is one of the messages I want to put across.
Meeting Princess Anne

Adele was the winner of first Adult Learners’ Week Patron’s Award.

She met Princess Anne at an event in May ahead of the awards ceremony last month, during Adult Learners’ Week.

Adele said: “I had just handed in my last assignment and got a phone call to say I had won an award personally chosen by Princess Anne.”

She said she knew she had been nominated for something, but didn’t know what.

She said meeting Princess Anne was “amazing”.

“I was totally humbled and honoured by the award. I did a little curtsy.

“She was so nice and friendly. She seemed genuinely interested.”