Adult Learners' Festival

AONTAS STAR Award Winners 2023

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Learner Voice
Sponsored by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

Winner Small/medium category

The Liberties Weavers

The Liberties Weavers, supported by City of Dublin Education and Training Board, encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to learn the craft of weaving and create new, beautiful handmade textiles that reflect 21st-century lives.

Winner Small/medium category The Liberties Weavers

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Learner Voice
Sponsored by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

Winner Large category

DAVINA Project

An initiative of the SAOL Project, DAVINA helps women identify abusive behaviour they’ve experienced, heal from trauma, and develop skills to protect themselves from abuse in future relationships

Winner Large category DAVINA Project

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Health and Wellbeing
Sponsored by Mental Health Ireland

Winner Small/medium category

Sailing Into Wellness, supported by Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board

Sailing Into Wellness uses sailing and the sea to support people in their recovery from addiction and poor mental health.

Winner Small/medium category Sailing Into Wellness, supported by Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board

Winner Large category

Special Olympics Ireland - Health Promotion Programme

Special Olympics Ireland's Health Promotion Programme helps athletes with intellectual disabilities to learn about nutrition and wellbeing, among other skills, which has a great impact on their quality of life.

Winner Large category Special Olympics Ireland - Health Promotion Programme

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Third-level Access and Engagement

Winner

Whidden Workshops: It’s Kushti to Rokker

This initiative, meaning “The Chatting Workshops: It’s Good to Talk”, links people from Traveller and Roma communities with others from their own communities who help with accessing university and offer support during a university course.

Winner  Whidden Workshops: It’s Kushti to Rokker

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Social Inclusion
Sponsored by Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI)

Winner Small/medium category

Digi Money from Advice NI

Digi Money is a programme that helps people seeking refuge in Ireland to develop digital skills, who can then share their learning in digital skills sessions with others from their communities.

Winner Small/medium category  Digi Money from Advice NI

Winner Large category

An Cosán’s Workability programme

Workability providing transferable skills for flexible employment, addressing problems of low education and high unemployment in underserviced and marginalised communities.

Winner Large category An Cosán’s Workability programme

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Global Citizenship Education
Sponsored by SAOLTA

Winner

St. Vincent’s Centre: Stand Up to Climate Change

This programme for people with intellectual disabilities uses interpretative dance to explore the impact of environmental issues on everyone.

Winner  St. Vincent’s Centre: Stand Up to Climate Change

Special Recognition Award for Shared Island and Peace Building Initiatives
Sponsored by The Open University in Ireland

Winner

Start360's Engage Women’s Services Recovery Group

Start360's project supports women connected with the justice system both in custody and in the community. The programme further supports women affected by paramilitarism who face increased community isolation, intimidation and violence.

Winner  Start360's Engage Women’s Services Recovery Group

Special Recognition for a European Social Fund (ESF) Initiative
Sponsored by the European Social Fund

Winner

New Futures Online Employability Programme from One Family

The New Futures programme empowers lone parents to take advantage of training opportunities and a personalised assessment and action plan.

Winner  New Futures Online Employability Programme from One Family