Waterford Leader Partnership

LDSIP 2009: Women and Lone Parents Support – Lismore

The objective of establishing a women’s group in Lismore was to support and facilitate women and lone parents in the Lismore area in identifying and meeting their own needs in relation to interpersonal skills, academic upskilling and participating in the community.  It also gives them a chance for social interaction and to meet new people.

Waterford LEADER Partnership began working with the women in Lismore in February 2009 under the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme.  A general information meeting was held following a local leaflet drop and letters in through doors.  The initial turn out was good with approximately 13 women signed up to start.  The programme was devised with the assistance of the group who put forward suggestions of training that they would like to cover in tandem with the staff of WLP.  The group started with Basic Computer training, which ran for ten weeks and was FETAC Level 3 accredited.  This was followed with six weeks of Personal Effectiveness which was found to be tough but very beneficial for all concerned.  The group took a break for the summer months and reconvened in September.  There were a few drop outs on re-commencement but we also had three new members who joined in at this stage.  The group carried on with some First Aid and Arts & Crafts, both of which they enjoyed immensely and found the first aid, especially to be very beneficial.   The final weeks of the programme were taken up with Personal Styling  which they found very lighthearted and enjoyable and they learned a lot from it.

All elements of the course proved to be extemely popular with the group and they are now looking forward to carrying on some more training in January 2010, subject to funding being available.  Assistance on this course was given by Co-Waterford VEC through the use of their building in Lismore and by supplying some tutors for the various programme elements.

WLP officers responsible for this programme were Michael Power, Julie O’Donnell and Niamh Budds.