Waterford Adult Education Centre offers five education modules that together provide access to high quality training for a broad range of candidates. Whether you wish to return to work, progress within your current job or develop a skill for personal satisfaction, there is very probably a course to suit your needs and resources.
Full-time tuition is available under the Voluntary Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) to over-21s who have been unemployed for six months. It is also available to lone parents, those in receipt of disability benefits or anyone married to a qualifying candidate.
Subjects available for study include a two-year Leaving Certificate Programme, a course in computer and office procedures, information processing, media studies, outdoor pursuits, tourism and bed and breakfast services and dressmaking and design. For those with less time to devote to study, a wide range of part-time courses are on offer. The areas covered range from cordon bleu cookery to computers, and can be applied to the development of a hobby or the enhancement of a CV.
Over 12 weeks, one morning per week from 10.15 a.m. to 12.15, participants can enjoy tuition in interior design, French, bible studies, physical fitness, English literature, art, philosophy or one of a number of interesting disciplines.
Adults with a specific interest in dance are well catered for in Waterford with a number of dance classes beginning this September.
Interested parties can learn creative movement, ballet or modern dance at the Adult Educaton Centre in College Street for as little as £45 for 15 weeks of tuition. Enrolment for beginners takes place on September 16th in College Street between 9.30 a.m. and noon, from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., and again at 7 p.m. until 8 p.m.
If you or someone you know has difficulties with reading or writing, confidential advice is available from Waterford Adult Education Centre. Tuition in these and other areas including maths, letter-writing, form-filling or computers is available. Candidates work at their own pace in a friendly and informal setting, and a free daytime creche is available to those with young children. Sessions last for two hours and take place once a week. Interested parties can choose from morning, afternoon or evening sessions depending on their availability.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer tutor should contact the Waterford Adult Education Centre. No formal qualifications are necessary.
A number of special interest groups have established their own programmes to meet their shared needs, and have received financial help from the Adult Education Centre for their efforts. Waterford groups such as the Deise Active Retirement Association, the Women's Community Group and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, for example, have set up training groups for their members with subsidy from the AEC.
Any disadvantaged group in Waterford with members that would benefit from a specific training programme should submit a proposal outlining their ideas.
