A graduation ceremony for a special NVQ class was held in Romford last Friday.

Health and social care diploma graduates picked up their certificates at the Romford Baptist Church, Main Road – but for many of the class, the course was extra special because it gave them skills to cope in their homes lives too.

The course was led by Adekunle Ogumlaye, from Collier Row, who set up the Romakey charity, to help empower disabled people and their families.

Many of the participants on the course were parents of children with autism and other disabilities.

Graduate Afisa Seidu, from Harold Hill, said: “It wasn’t easy, many of us have children with special needs.

“Mr Ade our tutor showed us that it’s not the end of your life, and you can learn skills that will help others.

“Since I started coming here, my life has improved so much, especially in how I get on with my [autistic] daughter.”

Oluyomi Oluponmule, from Harold Wood, said: “The course is good, it has really helped me and what to do with my boy.

“A group like this shows that you are not alone.”

Adekunle, known as Ade, is a father of two autistic children himself, and founded the Romakey group in 2008 to help people in this country and abroad.

The diploma course at the Baptist Church was run in conjunction with the South East Training College, based in South London.

Ade said: “The course was designed to give people who needed it extra support, so that they could learn how to deal with different situations as well as IT and other useful skills which could help get them back to work after caring for their children.”

He said: “I set it up after seeing other parents were not always well informed about their rights and I wanted to do something about that.”