Community Education
Community Education Facilitator:
Nuala O'Brien
Adult Education Centre,
7 Pearse Street,
Athlone.
Phone 090 649 7004 or 086 170 0936
Email cef@westmeathvec.ie
Community Education Mission Statement:
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To build the capacity of local communities to engage in diverse, dynamic and accessible learning in order to effect change towards a more just and equal society. |
Community Education Facilitator:
The role of the Community Education Facilitator is to support community education in County Westmeath. Such support can take the form of
- assisting community education groups to access VEC resources through grant aid or the allocation of tuition hours,
- encouraging groups to try new activities,
- assisting new groups to become established,
- facilitating networking between groups,
- helping groups to explore accreditation options,
- organising workshops and activities to celebrate national events such as Positive Ageing Week, Bealtaine and International Women's Day,
- offering supports for groups in areas like community consultation, review & evaluation and strategic planning.
Position Paper by Community Education Facilitators' Association November 2011
Download the main document 'Community Education- Enhancing Learning, Fostering Empowerment and Contributing to Civic Society' here
Download the executive summary document 'Community Education- Enhancing Learning, Fostering Empowerment and Contributing to Civic Society' here
Community Education Grant Aid:
In addition to groups in Mullingar and Athlone, grants are allocated to groups in many rural areas. These include Kinnegad, Delvin, Dalystown, Moate, Mount Temple, Tang, Tyrrellspass, Killucan, Ballinahown, Ballynacargy, Castledaly and Walshestown. All programmes funded under the ALCES budget are part-time. Any group that would like information on grant aid can contact Nuala O'Brien (details above).
SPIDAS (Special Initiative Disadvantaged Adults Scheme):
People in receipt of a Social Welfare payment, or who are on a low income, can receive grant aid to access part-time education courses. For further information contact Nuala O'Brien (details above). N.B. Co. Westmeath VEC will not be offering any further SPIDAS Grant aid in 2011. The next round of SPIDAS grants will be advertised in Spring 2012.
Further Information:
Information about community education groups, their activities and their contact details are published in Westmeath VEC's Adult Education and Guidance booklet every September. These booklets contain information on all the Adult Education Programmes in Westmeath. Copies of this free booklet are available in libraries, Citizen's Information Offices, Community & Resource Centres or from any VEC school or centre.
