COISTE GHAIRMOIDEACHAIS CHO. LAOISE COUNTY LAOIS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE A Provider of Educational Opportunities Home About Us Committee Administration Current Vacancies Links Contact Us        Schools Adult Education Centres Prison Education Centres Services Community Education Service AEGIS Grants and Scholarships School Transport Partnerships with other Agencies Education Plan Annual Report [download] Partnership Legislation Community Education Service        VEC Offices, Ridge Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois               Community Education Facilitator: Teresa McEvoy The Community Education Service, through the Adult Literacy, Community Education and SPIDAS budget (ALCES) has been in existence since 1985. The White Paper (2000) proposed the appointment of a team of Community Education Facilitators to support the development and maintenance of community activities in the county. In December 2002 Co. Laois VEC appointed a full-time Community Education Facilitator.               Mission Statement:        'The Community Education Service is committed to building the capacity of community groups engaging in diverse, dynamic and accessible community learning to effect social change towards a more just and equal society.'               What is Community Education?        Community Education is an opportunity for collective learning and development of a community. It aims to build confidence and self-esteem to enable participants to participate more fully in their community and address future educational needs. One of the reasons adults are attracted to community education is that it is a completely different way of learning. This is done, primarily, with non-academic activities, which help the group to bond and relax and to associate learning with enjoyment. Classes generally run for 8 to 10 weeks and are organised at times and locations which are suited to the participants.        Who is involved?        Locally based women’s groups, family resource centres, travellers projects, community arts groups, people with disabilities, older people and community groups. The Community Education service also works closely with agencies such as FAS, DSFA, HSE and ADM funded groups to support new and existing projects.        Services        Laois VEC Community Education offers the following services to community groups:        Assists and supports new and existing groups in terms of - Identifying educational needs - Designing programmes - Sourcing tutors Provides funding which is used to cover the cost of tuition hours Develops and promotes partnerships between community education and other providers both nationally and locally.        Download Application Form Word Format PDF format               If you or your group is interested in setting up a community education class, contact:        Community Education, VEC Offices, Ridge Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: (057) 8661890        Fax: (057) 8661801        Email: termc@eircom.net               Disclaimer                 County Laois Vocational Education Committee: Ridge Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.          Telephone: (057) 86 21352        Fax: (057) 86 21877        Email: headoffice@laoisvec.ie        Powered by: go2web