Education & Training Report 2008
Education Department – Annual Report
This year saw the launch of our Euterpe IV Education and training project funded by the Department of Education and Learning and Belfast Regeneration Office. The project is specifically aimed at enhancing employability skills of women and increasing their access to the labour market. As always we are keenly aware of the challenges for women in gaining and sustaining employment. Hence our programme under the current project attempts to balance the need for gaining appropriate qualifications but also the necessity to develop skills required in a rapidly changing labour market. Our regular programme comprised of courses in:
- Diploma in Health & Safety
- Certificate in Indian Head Massage
- Certificate in Counselling
- Diploma in Counselling
- ESOL (Beginners)
- ESOL (Pre-intermediate)
- ESOL (Intermediate)
- First Aid
- Computer troubleshooting and Maintenance
- GCSE English
For the Year 2 programme we are actively looking into short term employability skills courses as well as arranging work related placements or taster sessions for participants in different fields of work such as Office administration, Care homes, Counselling Centres and Beauty salons.
An important aspect of the Euterpe IV project is measuring the soft outcomes or the distance travelled by participants in their quest for work. In the coming year we hope to concentrate on this aspect by utilising the tools provided by the ESF project staff such as the Rickter Scale model of measuring personal development.
Green Dragon Award: From March 2009 we also undertook to address the environmental issues through an accredited route provided by the voluntary organisation Business in the Community. This award enables us to investigate our current practices in waste management and resource usage and to create a viable environmental policy for the Centre. We are the first community organisation in
Staff News: It is with regret we report the departure of our long term colleague Joan Dougan from the department. Following a period of ill health earlier this year, Joan has decided to reduce her work commitments. Joan served Windsor Women’s Centre for over 15yrs and was instrumental in shaping the current education and training programme and long term funding strategy. We wish her all the best in her recovery and life outside the Women’s Centre and miss her in the team.
Training: Martina successfully completed the Certificate in Mental Health course earlier this year.
Satya successfully completed the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English Language to Adults) in January 2009.
Martina & Satya completed the Rickter Scale Training for measuring soft outcomes.
Both are able to practice the skills gained in these courses almost immediately in the work of the education and training department.
We also wish to thank Wendy Hartley, Administrator, for all her hard work during the year with students and the department. For any course enquiries or to enrol for our September programme contact Wendy.
Our Centre Enrolment and Open day is on Tuesday 8th September when staff and tutors will be available to show prospective students around the Centre and give information on courses on offer.
