WHO WE ARE

This is our story

St Mary's Community Adult Education Group CLG was formed in 2002, following a meeting organised by St Mary's CDP (now Limerick City CDP) This meeting was attended by all stakeholders with an interest in, or providing, adult education to the local community, this included LES, HSCL, Local Clergy, St Mary's AID, St Mary's CDP and local learners and volunteers. The group worked to ensure cohesion and no duplication of adult education within the area.

In 2005, the group were granted a license from the Sisters of Mercy for the old infant boys school on the Island Road to renovate and open as the designated adult education centre for St Mary's. With funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund, the building was renovated and opened in 2006.

In 2007, with the support of PAUL Partnership and LCEN the group achieved its own FETAC (now QQI) Quality Assurance.

In 2008 the group became a Company Limited by Guarantee and with the support of the RAPID coordinator and The Dept of Employment and Social Protection, the volunteers took on the role of Community Employment Sponsorship, originally with 4 workers which through the years has increased to now employing 27 workers, including a Supervisor, who work in various areas both within the parish and outside including: Kings Island Youth and Community Centre, Redemptorist School of Music, LICP, Focus Ireland, Abbey Rovers, Environmental Workers and within the centre itself.

We are now an Outreach QQI Campus for Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, who provide us with tutors for all our classes, which include Social Activity Classes, i.e., sewing, mosaic's, exercise, art. We have a Literacy program which is highly confidential and suited to the learners needs and we offer QQI Quality Assured programs at Levels 2,3,4 and 5.

The group are grateful to all who have supported them throughout their 20 years and look forward to the next 20.

In St. Mary's we respect your right to privacy, all personal information is treated in accordance with the data protection law.

Our Vision - Working Together with the Community

Our vision is to maintain an Adult Education service that provides pathways to lifelong learning for all our learners to reach their full potential, with the support of statutory and non-statutory organisations. This will include maintaining St. Mary`s Adult Education Centre and its facilities for the community. We achieve this in an open, accessible, and welcoming way.

We also aim to support local organisations and the community by employing local people in training and development roles in the area through best practice management of our Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection funded Community Employment Scheme.