A large crowd attended the Open Day at the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre last Thursday, April 25th to find out more about the training options available, view the exhibitions of work by students and participate in the workshops.

The VTOS students were the guides for the day and showed people around the building and guided them to where they could find out more about what they were interested in. An Adult Guidance Counsellor was available to guide people through an online questionnaire to find out what career options might suit them. There was an open art studio where the students demonstrated their painting skills and a horticulture workshop where people could find out more about what the FETAC Level 4 course involves. The centre also launched its Face book page where the public can get up to date information on what is happening in the centre.

The Tourism students did a taste test on different products as part of a Marketing project. There was a facial, make up and manicure demonstration for those who were interested in Beauty Therapy. Refreshments were provided by the Youthreach students. One person who attended the Open Day said he had no idea how much was going on in the centre and he only lives around the corner.

A lot of people applied for courses on the day. The first round of interviews for places will take place in June and people are advised to apply early.

The brochure for 2013/2014 courses is available now. Courses are available on a full-time or part-time basis and offer accreditation from levels 1 to 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The range of courses include General Learning for adults who missed out on second level education, Tourism, Horticulture, Healthcare, Beauty Therapy, Art and English for Speakers of other languages.

In response to demand the centre is putting on a second Taster Course starting on May 7th for four weeks. The Taster course runs on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 to1 and gives participants a chance to sample the courses on offer and find out what is involved without making a long term commitment.

Contact the centre on 024-92804 for further information.

 

Behind the scenes of the making of the new Community Radio Youghal CRY 104FM radio drama series “The Delaney’s — Behind the Mic” featuring the award winning St. Raphael’s Drama Group and staff.
Click on the HD video below to see the making of the radio drama.

“The Delaney’s — Behind the Mic” is Community Radio Youghal’s brand new 4 part drama series made in partnership with the award winning St Raphael’s Drama Group. Written by Drama Coordinators Julie Sharkey and Elinor Rivers and the Drama Group , The four part series is presented in a unique docu-drama style which will see each episode intertwined with interviews with the production crew and cast as they prepare for each episode and the behind the scenes preparations and rehearsals that were involved in making the series.

The drama series focuses on the Delaney family an ordinary Youghal family who end up getting into some extraordinary situations and many of the scenes in the series came about during improvisation sessions with the Drama Group and such was the excitement among the residents and staff of St Raphael’s Centre that the group and Julie and Elinor ended up writing extra scenes for the staff of St Raphael’s centre who wanted parts as extras in the programmes.

CRY104fm’s Community Development Officer Darragh Parker said it was a huge privilege for the station to work with such a talented group of individuals and one of the functions of a Community Radio station is to provide a platform for local talented groups to showcase their talents adding that the finished product really is something that St Raphael’s Drama Group and CRY should really be proud of.

Related Videos below:

‘Harbour View’ — Behind the scenes of the new radio drama on Youghal local radio CRY 104FM

Merrick’s — A new radio documentary on CRY 104FM

SECAD will be running its very successful Time to Change Programme in four centres during Spring 2013.  The centres are Ballincollig, Cobh, Midleton and Youghal.

 

The programme is designed for people who have lost employment in recent years and need support to move forward in a positive way.  It is also for people who have been taking care of children in the home or who have been caring for someone and are starting to look at what they would like to do with the next stage of their lives.

 

The programme focuses on supporting the participants with information and advice about looking for a new job, setting up a business / self-employment or perhaps pursuing a training course or further education

 

The ten week programme, which involves one 3 hour session per week, is funded by SECAD and is free to participants.  The programme focuses on the following: self-esteem and personal strengths, self-confidence and encouragement, setting goals and creating plans for the future and managing change.

 

Inputs by specialists on adult education, career development, CV preparation and social welfare advice form an important part of the programme.  There is one to one support for each participant and confidentiality is assured at all times.

 

SECAD will be holding Opportunities Mornings to promote the programme in Cobh on Monday, 28^th January, Youghal on Tuesday, 29^th, Ballincollig on Wednesday 30^th, and Midleton on Thursday, 31^st January.  One of the aims of the Opportunities Mornings is to highlight the supports and services available in each area.  Support agencies including the Department of Social Protection, VEC, FÁS, Volunteer Centre and SECAD will be present to promote the service they provide in each area.

 

Each Opportunities Morning starts at 10.00 am so that visitors can talk to the personnel on the stands. Then we listen to a key note speaker for around 45 minutes and finally we present the Certs to the participants from the previous course and we also give those participants the opportunity to talk about how the course has helped them.

 

If you would like to know more about “Time to Change” or to book your place at the Opportunities Morning in your area, please contact Sinéad at 021-4613432 or sconroy@secad.ie

South and East Cork Area Development,

Midleton Community Enterpirse Centre,

Knockgriffin,

Midleton,

Co. Cork

 

Tel: 021 4613432

Fax: 021 4613808

www.secad.ie

 

Tourism and heritage have become two of the most important factors in bringing some much needed economic relief to Youghal town, particularly with the recent loss of industries. There has been a concentrated push to highlight Youghal’s unique selling points over the past number of years. In some quarters tourism and heritage have been cited as the future for the town such are its outstanding qualities. Delivering tourism and heritage is another thing with local knowledge and expertise a crucial requirement.

The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre, Youghal are delighted with this new course as can be seen with the happy bunch of students pictured enjoying the Christmas break. This is a one year full time course where students will learn a broad range of skills necessary to work in the tourism industry and will develop the knowledge necessary to start their own business.

TOURISM AND HERITAGE have become two of the most important factors in bringing some much needed economic relief to Youghal town, particularly with the recent loss of industries. There has been a concentrated push to highlight Youghal’s unique selling points over the past number of years.

In some quarters tourism and heritage have been cited as the future for the town such are its outstanding qualities. Delivering tourism and heritage is another thing with local knowledge and expertise a crucial requirement. On the 18th of September at the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre, Youghal the first ever Post Leaving Cert (PLC) course will be launched and at its core is tourism and heritage.

The course offers a unique opportunity for many in Youghal keeping in mind job prospects in the immediate future. County Cork VEC AEO, Nuala Glanton explained. “This is the first time that a PLC course in Tourism has been delivered in Youghal. It aims to take advantage of the fantastic natural resources and rich heritage of Ireland’s finest coastal resort. Participants will be supported in setting up their own businesses, gaining employment locally or progressing on to further education. Applicants can apply for a grant or the Back to Education Allowance to support them while participating on this course.” There are other PLC courses outside of Youghal in both Midleton and Dungarvan but Nuala stressed the advantage of having a very real prospect of career choice for students right on their doorstep. “This course is also a great opportunity for students who have just received their leaving certificate results. For the first time they will be able to attend a Further Education course locally. This course provides an alternative access route to third level education in the Institutes of Technology for students who may not have achieved the points they need this year. It would be an alternative to repeating their leaving certificate year,” she added.

With over a forthnight to go before the course begins limited places are still available. To book a place, please contact Patricia Walters on 086-8287570. Other than offering expertise and local knowledge on Youghal’s heritage, having further education in Youghal means those who have held a long desire to upskill or revisit education or simply want to broaden their horizons now have a door open that could change their futures.

The East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre provides further education to over 300 young people and adults every year. They provide a full range of education opportunities from levels 1-6 on the National Qualifications Framework on a full-time and part-time basis.

Courses running in the centre from September include Tourism, Art, Healthcare, Childcare, Beauty Therapy, VTOS Second Chance Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Youthreach provides education and training to young people aged 15-20 who have left school early. The Adult Basic Education Service provides small group or 1-1 tuition for adults who want to improve their reading, writing, spelling and maths skills and achieve FETAC certification

FETAC Level 4 in Community Radio.

Do you want to gain skills in Community Media , radio programme production and Interviewing and Research Skills . Then a Fetac Level 4 in Community Radio may be what you’re looking for.

This course is particularly suitable for those people who are looking to Return to Education, Upskill or Enhance their CV and will be offered free of charge to those who meet the eligibility criteria.
This FETAC course allows the learner to gain skills in Community Media , radio programme production and Interviewing and Research Skills while also offering a  grounding in both the ethos of Community radio and in the practical skills . By the end of the course learners will understand the basic principles of Community Radio, Understand the basics of Interviewing and Research. Be Capable of recording an interview safely. Be able to define libel and other key legal concepts

This course is a Nationally accredited course leading to a FETAC Level 4 in Community Radio (Component Certificate) on the National Framework of Qualifications.

The course begins on Tuesday the 7th of August 2012 from 2-5pm which  covers 30 Class contact hours including supported assessment .

For more information call CRY104fm on 024 91199/92288 or email programmes@youghalradio.com

VTOS Second Chance Education for Adults
FETAC Level 3 National Certificate in General Learning

This VTOS course is designed to provide second chance education to adults who didn’t compete second level education. The aim is to improve the general education level of participants so that they can progress to further education or employment.

Post Leaving Certificate Course in Tourism
FETAC Level 5 National Certificate in Tourism

This is a one year full time course where students will learn a broad range of skills necessary to work in the tourism industry and will develop the knowledge necessary to start their own business.

Minister of State for Research & Innovation, Sean Sherlock T.D., today officially launched the it@Cork adopt-a-school programme.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Sherlock noted that “this innovative programme will help to develop vibrant and creative relationships between IT-intensive organisations and schools.

“It will excite young students and engage them in IT-based innovation.

“It will also help organisations to contribute to the economic and social development of the regions in which they operate.”

The adopt-a-school initiative is a flexible programme which will allow IT-intensive organisations to get involved with schools in various ways. Examples include the provision of software development classes and of necessary IT support, the donation of IT equipment, and work experience opportunities for transition year students interested in IT.

The programme aims to make students aware of the huge array of career choices available in the ICT sector, particularly for those students with imagination and creativity.

The Minister commended it@Cork and its members for demonstrating the “innovative and effective ways in which industry can partner with the education system.

“Congratulations to all of the adopting organisations and participating schools, and I would like to encourage as many organisations as possible to ‘sign up’ to participate in this exemplary programme”.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today (Thursday 17th May) opened an Anti-Bullying Forum at the Department of Education and Skills, to explore ways to tackle the problem of bullying in schools.
This is the first time that the Department, together with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has hosted a dedicated forum together with students’ and parents’ representatives, rights and anti-bullying activists, and other experts, to address this important issue.

The holding of this major forum co-incides with International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, whose theme this year is homophobic bullying.

Opening the Forum, Minister Quinn said: “Bullying is a problem which I take very seriously.  Bullying in school can ruin a young person’s enjoyment of some of the most important years of their life. In extreme situations it can also, tragically, lead to a young person taking their own life.”

“It is therefore my fervent hope that today’s Forum will provide us with the basis on which to develop a roadmap on how best to tackle all forms of bullying in our schools.”

“I am very anxious that the Forum focuses on identifying the practical steps and recommendations that could be taken in the short term to improve how schools approach and tackle bullying.”

More than 100 stakeholders including representatives of student, parent and school management groups, teacher unions, support groups for victims of bullying, rights activists and bullying experts are attending today’s forum.

The agenda for the Forum sees presentations from a variety of key interest groups.  There is also the opportunity for broad discussion from all attendees in the afternoon session.  Members of the public can make submissions by email to the Department at antibullying@education.gov.ie up to the 29th June 2012. Details of the Forum and the format for submissions are available on the Department’s website www.education.ie.

Alongside the Forum, Minister Quinn has established a Working Group on tackling bullying, including homophobic bullying, cyber bullying and racist bullying. The outcomes and recommendations from the Forum’s work will assist the Working Group in its deliberations.

The Working Group is made up of representatives from the Department of Education & Skills (DES) and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and will also draw upon the expertise of a range of organisations during the course of its work.

The first phase of this will concentrate on homophobic bullying as per the commitment in the Programme for Government.  The Working Group will also be reviewing the 1993 DES Guidelines on Countering Bullying in Schools in order to update them to reflect the realities of modern communication technology and other contemporary issues.

The Forum is being webcast live via the Department’s website www.education.ie