Goal: To develop affordable, accessibile community based education and training opportunities for skills, personal and organisational development, to enable individuals and groups to reach their full potential.
All our programmes operate from the community education principles of being focussed on the learner, seeing education as a group process. We work with people to try and break down barriers which make it difficult for them to participate in education, such as family responsibilities, distance isolation etc. Some of our programmes are listed below and if you are interested in taking part, please contact the centre.
Return to Work / Education programmes
These taster programmes support people in the community who wish to return to the workforce after a time of unemployment and / or caring duties. Participants gain skills and experience in a range of areas such as catering, horticulture, IT, office skills, caring from children and the elderly, work experience, personal development etc. Typically the courses run five mornings per week over a 20 - 40 week period. Participants achieve accrediation for their learning via FETAC foundation or Level 1 modules. The programmes are highly effective and 85% of participants progress to work or further training. We are grateful to FAS for their continued funding of these courses.
Community Arts
Creative Thursday's offers participants an opportunity to develop a variety ot creative activities from planning to clay to drama to batik to puppetry etc. In tandem with this they develop their own spirituality, and carry out a community project such as St Patrick's Day Parade, Street Theatre, Children's puppet show, Art exhibition etc. We are grateful to the Blessed Edmund Rice Trust for their continued support.
Foundation / Literacy programmes
The centre also offers foundation programmes to support people whose literacy and numeracy inhibits them from continuing education. Working closely with the South Tipperary Adult Literacy Service, the programmes offer participants an opportunity to build their skills in a confidential and welcoming environment. Participants also develop othe skills such as horticulture, computers, nutrition etc.
I.T. Training
Our IT training centre offers a wide range of courses from absolute beginners to advanced ECDL. We specialise in helping people who have no prior experience of computers to overcome their fears and become competent. Our average class size is 10 -12 people to ensure more personal attention.Our courses run mornings and nights to facilitate learners.
Specific skills training
The centre offers a range of hobby and skills development classes in topics such as parenting, health and hygiene, first aid and many more. Many of these courses are accredited via FETAC, WIT, SEHB, Red Cross etc.
Policy Work
The centre is active in promoting community education at policy level where possible. We are members of Aontas, the National Adult Learning organisation and network with other community education centres. In Tipperary Town we work closely with the RAPID programme, and were recently involved in bringing together a local education stakeholders network to provide a forum for all agencies involved in education from cradle to grave to come together. Working in these policy fora, our agenda is to ensure that the needs of people who have been marginalized by the education system are heard, and that the value of community education is recognised and understood.
The main funders of our Training and Education section are FAS, Edmund Rice Trust, Tipperary S.R. V.E.C.,The Department of An Toaiseach and The Department of Education and Science.
