Range of ages and nationalities discover what LWETB can offer
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Mary Ahearn, Valerie Beck (tutor of horticulture at Belvedere House and Gardens) and Breda Martin.Image 2 of 7
LWETB guidance counsellor Caroline Cornally and information officer John Doherty at the open day in the Annebrook House Hotel on March 14.Image 3 of 7
Executive librarian Deirdre Broderick and senior library assistant Claire Gavin from the Westmeath Library Service.Image 4 of 7
Colleen Clinton, Ciara Jackson and Kirsten Beegan from the LWETB early learning and childcare special needs course.Image 5 of 7
Agne Vasilevska, Niamh Dunning, Amy Sheerin, Adilya McCabe and Oleksandra Petrenko from the LWETB’s beauty therapy and nail technology course.Image 6 of 7
Jean Cole, Aisling Mortell Beglan, Louise Matthews and Anita Murray from Women’s Collective Ireland.Image 7 of 7
Holly McLoughlin, youth outreach officer Bridget Geoghegan and Megan Crichton.The Longford and Westmeath Educational Training Board (LWETB) were “blown away” by the high attendance at their open day last week.
Guidance counsellor Caroline Cornally said there were people of “all ages and nationalities” at the event, which took place in the Annebrook House Hotel on March 14.
There were around 20 information stalls at the open day engaging with the public on different aspects of LWETB services, complimented by a range of specialised speakers. Ms Cornally said the event was a “fantastic” success.
“We were absolutely blown away by the turnout,” she said. “We had lots of different schools here, school leavers and people of all ages and nationalities.
“There has been huge interest in our courses and services and we were blown away by it.”
Ms Cornally said the LWETB provide lots of different training and upskilling options to people across all sectors.
“We provide [QQI] levels one, two, three four and five courses across our three campuses in Mullingar,” she said.
“We have our training centre in Garrycastle in Athlone, which does all our vocational apprenticeships, traineeships, and all the different types of trades you can do.
“We had colleagues from other agencies that we work with here at the open day, like the libraries, Women’s Community Projects, Westmeath Community Development, Intreo and CTC.
“We also have a youth reach and community training centre, which provides second chance education for school leavers, people who school didn’t suit and need an alternative.”
Ms Cornally said their guidance counselling service is open to all.
“If anybody is a bit confused as to where they are at or where they fit in with this, they can meet with us for guidance counselling,” she said.
“We provide impartial, confidential, free guidance, counselling and advice to empower adults in making the best decision for themselves.
“While we work with the LWETB, it doesn’t have to be about the LWETB.
“We help adults with reading, writing, spelling, right up until those looking at applying to the CAO or a third-level college.”
The LWETB provide courses in Mullingar at their campuses in Marlinstown, O’Growney Drive and Mullingar Community College.
They also provide help in learning English to those from other nationalities, such as the town’s growing Ukrainian community.