Stepping stones on life’s journey in Nenagh

Over 50 certificates awarded at Community Training Centre

Another happy occasion was celebrated at Nenagh Community Training Centre last Thursday as 51 young adult learners were presented with certificates.

For many in the group, it was a chance to meet up and renew friendships since moving on from the CTC over the last few years.

The major awards included QQI Levels 3 and 4, along with VTCT (information technology) certs and diplomas. Courses ranged from Catering & Hospitality to Woodwork and Childcare. Also part of the group last Thursday were members of Avista/St Anne's, who engaged with the CTC through a community involvement programme.

Addressing those gathered, Nenagh CTC Manager Rose Nunan and Tipperary ETB Training Services Manager Matthew Ryan congratulated all on their success. Mr Ryan pointed out that many of the graduates have already secured employment. He encouraged all of the former CTC Learners to maintain their link with the team at the Nenagh centre, the members of which would be there for them if they ever need support.

Mr Ryan thanked Ms Nunan, her staff and the board for their hard work and support over the years.

Among those receiving certs was Silvermines man Adam Monaghan, who joined Nenagh Community Training Centre when he was 16. He completed the Catering & Hospitality course and learned about everything from setting up cutlery on tables in restaurants, to workplace hygiene.

He found the course very beneficial and through it secured a trial work placement at a local restaurant. Adam said he would “100% recommend” Nenagh CTC to anyone who leaves school in search of an alternative means of learning.

Of a similar view was Daniel Sheridan, who did the same course and is now hoping to gain cheffing experience at a new restaurant opening locally. “I got a passion for food from it,” said Daniel, who now cooks for himself every say. He spoke highly of the attention every Learner gets from the dedicated team at Nenagh CTC, and of the life skills they all receive there.

Indeed, not all Learners go on to work in the area they trained in but they do discover a lot about what path they want their life to take. Nenagh's Alanis Walsh spent two years doing the Childcare course but since went on to do a Level 5 course in animal care. She thoroughly enjoyed the many aspects of learning at the CTC, which included work experience at a creche and in a shop. Alanis really enjoyed the familial camaraderie between staff and learners at the CTC, where many of the group have remained in touch with one another even after moving on.

Megan Elebert of Nenagh said it was great for everyone to come back and meet up again last Thursday. She did Catering & Hospitality at the John's Lane centre between 2018 and 2021 and regarded the experience as a beneficial “stepping stone” to move on with life's education, in her case a security course. Megan felt she did not benefit from school to the same extent as she has done with young adult learning at the CTC, which she described as a very different experience to school.

OPEN EVENING

The presentation party was followed by an open evening, during which the extensive range of programmes at Nenagh CTC was showcased.

Providing a ‘second chance’ education, training and work experience to young people aged between 16 and 21 years, who have left school with incomplete or no formal qualifications, Nenagh CTC offers wide-ranging opportunities to those for whom mainstream schooling did not work. Building on the foundations laid by Peadar Walsh in the 1980s, the John's Lane centre has grown and diversified to offer a range of VTCT and QQI qualifications, in which participants receive a training allowance.

Nenagh CTC is now enrolling for Barbering, Hair & Beauty, Woodcraft & Art, Culinary & Life Skills, Retail Knowledge and Catering & Hospitality courses commencing in September. It is hoped that some of Nenagh's new Ukrainian residents will be among those starting in September, and three Ukrainian young people this week began English classes and a taster programme at the centre.