Minutes South Clare Area Network Meeting, 20/09/2006, RespondBuilding, Rieanna View, Shannon
Attendance: Flan Spaight, Mike Ryan, Aobhan Haverty, Breda O’ Driscoll, Ann Knox, Martina Crowley Hayes, Gloria Callinan, Maire Dempsey, Marcella Casey, Seamus Bane, Louisa Roche, Helen Derham and Joan Markham.
Apologies: Carmel Daly and Bernie Ruane
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Updates: Aobhan (CEF): Mary Flanagan is involved inCitizenship Network. She has prepared a pack of resources to promote voter registration and has sent one to each network member. Note Voter Registration drive. Four of CLLN staff have taken part in Citizenship programme for facilitators. They are willing to provide a module on citizenship for any programme; contact Seamus.
CR&GA have grants for training and equipment; closing date Sept 25th; also grant for refurbishment and no closing date for this but limited finance.
Mike (BTEI):Food and Cookery course will run in Shannon on Thursday mornings 9.30 – 11.00, possible places on this course. A childcare / community care course is taking place in Sixmilebridge on a Wednesday night from 6 – 10pm. Mike brought it to the attention of the group that it is now a DES requirement that anyone individual wishing to work as a special needs assistant needed to have Inter Cert Irish, English and Maths. IT courses will start in the village in 2 – 3 weeks (see website for details). Mike mentioned that he had it in his plan for 2007 to look at expanding computers being used for IT to facilitate individuals with disabilities.
Ann (CLLN)Ann thanked everybody who had updated their courses on the CLLN website. She had password in hand for anyone who needed one and also offered that if anyone needed assistance in updating their information they could contact Breda at 6843490 or herself at 6895422. Ann also mentioned that Harriet Cotter had joined the CLLN team as a Director of Third Level Provision for CountyClare. Harriet role will involve looking at progression within the county for learners wishing to persue level 6 or above. Harriet can be contacted at 065 6895421 / 086 8065545 or . A copy of Promoting Digital Literacy And eLearning in Adult and Community Education compiled by Ann Knox was given to each network member.
Partnership Training: The partnership training will focus on interagency workings i.e. what is expected within organisations with respect to partnership, memoranda of association etc: The next 2 training days will take place on the 19/20th of October. Further details, Tangibles, Remit and Application Form are on the web site Training not confined to attendees at network meetings: members of boards, colleagues, members of management welcome to attend.
Flan (Cairde):Currently working on a social inclusion project which aims to integrate new comers into the community. They are also working on supporting families both educationally and economically and out of this a need for family learning was identified. Maire Dempsey suggested that Flan maybe able to tie in with Mary Flannagan, Family Learning Co-Ordinator with Clare VEC for support around Family Learning. Flan also mentioned that he was involved in network for international exchanges for individuals between the ages of 18 and 25. An exchange to Germany has been arranged for the 13th to the 21st of October and that there were still places available for anyone interested in going. The subject of the exchange is ‘Equality in Mens and Womens Issues’. Helen Derham from Obair mentioned that an after school co-ordinator with Obair was also working on exchanges and maybe interested in sharing information with Flan. Seamus suggested that it would be very useful to other Community groups / organisations if Cairde were to document their experiences.
Flan (The Bridge Complex):Flan told the meeting that he was involved in the setting up of an Adult Education Committee in Sixmilebridge who would be responsible for the investigating and drawing up of a plan of the learning needs of the people of Sixmilebridge and surrounding areas. Once the plan had been drawn up and needs identified the committee would approach funders and facility owners with the view to getting them to host / fund the programmes but the overall management and running of these programmes would remain the responsibility of the Adult Education Committee. Flan thanked the Community Education Service and the BTEI for all their help and support in the past and looked forward to working with them in the future.
Maire(CABES):Really Useful English Class – Sept. 21st 10.30 – 12.00, Venue: Sean Lemass Library, Shannon. Cost €20 – 8 week course.
English Language Classes Accredited programmes FETAC level 3 and 4, Beginners and Intermediate: Tuesday 6 – 8pm; Venue – Clare Reading and Writing Scheme, Unit D6, Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon; registration night Tuesday Sept. 26th; brief assessment class commencing following week; Cost €80 for 8 weeks.
‘4th Annual Information Morning’ interagency event; venue – Sean Lemass Library, Shannon on October 12th 10.30am – 12.00am for public and voluntary service providers.
Family Learning workshops to be held with Parent and Toddler groups in RespondBuilding in Shannon and in Sixmilebridge.
One to One and small group support is also available. Any enquiries regarding the above should be made to Maire Dempsey, CABES Shannon, tel 061-365495
Gloria (Leader):RRD is a county wide organisation which administers the Leader programme for CountyClare. Programme is coming to a close over the next few months. RRD are in the process of drawing up a submission for the next phase 2007 - 2013 so any contributions to this would be very welcome. Gloria can be contacted at 061-361144 or
Beginners and Intermediate computers will be run in rural and remote locations around the county for Oct / Nov, once details have been confirmed the will be available on the RRD website
Central Desktop Publishing programme will take place in Ennis – details to be confirmed, once confirmed details will be available on the RRD website
Leader in conjunction with the Limerick / Clare Energy Agency will run energy efficiency and renewables training aimed at community groups and businesses around more efficient energy costs on buildings etc. – details on website.
Helen (Obair): BTEI computer classes for Beginners and Advanced will commence shortly in Obair. The womens group (local) who are taking Social Studies will continue on from level 5.
Childcare / Community Care level 5 is full. Starting up a new womens group who will look at topics such as stainglass, health issues, interpersonal skills – anyone interested contact Helen Derham in Obair at 061 368030.
Louisa (Clare Supported Employment): Involved in seeking employment for people with disabilities. Interested in the network for information purposes.
Marcella (Shannon FRC): Currently supporting and after school project. Also involved in Parent and Toddler groups. Hoping to increase training opportunities going forward.
Joan (School of Hotel and Catering):School of Hotel and Catering is now accepting FETAC students. One student from FETAC has started with the college this September.
Seamus (CLLN): A level 6 certificate in Community Development (NUI Maynooth) will be provided in Ennis in October subject to numbers. Details on website or contact Seamus at 065 6895420.
FETAC Training Seminars: Tuesday 10th October for Coordinators; Wednesday 18th Oct for Tutors new and experienced. Confirmation of numbers needed within 4 days.
CountyIntegrated Strategy on Lifelong Learning: Work of all network members just been published and will be launched at conference. Attn to page 44: follow on actions. Next network meeting will work on planning.
Martina (CLLN): Conference in Woodstock Hotel Ennis Oct 4th and 5th: opportunity to feed into policymakers; also to consider issues of importance to us as Adult and Community Education providers. Invite to all promoters, tutors and learners to attend all of conference or individual sessions or workshops. Application forms and details of the conference are on the Clare Lifelong Learning Network website under upcoming events
Cert in Adult and Community Education: subject to 15+ applicants this NUIM Cert will commence in early October. Contact Harriet 065 6895421
Learner Forum: Enclosed is detail of brainstorming held in West Clare and East Clare:
Following a robust debate on the learner forum, examples of good practice in this area from a number of people and some suggestions, the following points and suggestions were made in relation to learner fora:
Providing a reflective space for learners and tutors (workshops) to look at course issues.
Based in a local providers programme.
Informal coffee mornings/ informal meeting time/ space with no agenda.
1-2-1 life coaching has been used.
Interconnectedness – progression way beyond just the programme.
Something fun which gives people a voice.
If a student forum is reflective – also need tutors to be reflective practitioners.
Programmes need to fund some “informal” reflective time for learners.
Suggestions included:
an ethos of democracy in the adult education provision
an appropriate method of articulating this ethos to learners (differing from centre to centre) and
coordinator and tutor training.
We need to consider if
a learner charter could be useful
what tools (space, facilitation, training etc) need to be put at disposal of learners and
initial fora should be centre based.
A successful learner forum depends on
an ethos of democracy in the adult education provision
an appropriate method of articulating this ethos to learners (differing from centre to centre) and
coordinator and tutor training.
We need to consider if
a learner charter could be useful
what tools (space, facilitation, training etc) need to be put at disposal of learners and
initial fora should be centre based.
TCA: Anyone interested in travelling to Dijon, France as part of TCA please contact Seamus
AOB
Jimmy Fitzpatrick from the Dept. of Social and Family Affairs has funding available to support individuals returning to learning. Also funding for projects designed to support the family and the back to enterprise allowance. Jimmy can be contacted at 087 6473522 .
Flan suggested in future when running courses we should try and have them fully completed before the summer holidays.
Date of next meeting – Wednesday December 13th at 11.00am in the RespondBuilding, Rieanna View Shannon.