Empowering Communities Through Learning, Inclusion, and Hope
Written by
Published on
May 19, 2026
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Recently, our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O’Connor, met with our CEN member, ATEC – Adult Training and Education Coordination. Lorraine spoke with Marie Dunne, Coordinator at BRILL Family Resource Centre, and Glenn Lynch, BRILL Family Resource Manager. The meeting highlighted the powerful impact of collaboration, and the role community education plays in transforming lives.
BRILL Family Resource Centre – Wraparound Supports That Make a Difference
BRILL Family Resource Centre provides a wide range of wraparound family supports to the local community, including:
- Family and parenting support services
- Youth and adult education and training
- Employment and job seeking supports.
- Therapeutic and creative programmes
- Social enterprise and horticulture initiatives
- Advocacy, signposting and community wellbeing supports.
Through these services, BRILL creates a welcoming and inclusive space where families are supported holistically, and individuals are encouraged to thrive.
ATEC: Learning Born from Community Need
The ATEC programme was born directly from the needs of the local community. It provides nonformal education in a safe, supportive environment where learners can build confidence at their own pace. For many, these first steps into learning ignite a lifelong appetite for education, with learners returning again and again to take part in new courses. With many learners gaining employment along the way.
ATEC offers more than 31 courses each year, providing education opportunities to over 280 learners, with more than 214 classes delivered. Marie tells me that “These achievements would not be possible without the vital support of WWETB and the REACH Fund, whose investment continues to make a real difference to many individuals, families, and to the local community”.
Learning That Changes Lives
Courses offered through ATEC are diverse and inclusive, supporting both personal growth and employability. These include:
- Creative writing
- Crochet and sewing
- Yoga and wellbeing
- Baking and cookery
- Exhale therapeutic art and ABBA art therapy
- Crochet and crafts
- Horticulture (Gardening)
Notably, many learners from the crochet and craft programmes have gone on to establish small businesses, transforming newly acquired skills into sustainable income and greater independence. What I found particularly powerful is the way ATEC is supported by local businesses across the Waterford area, with trained professionals generously giving their time to deliver classes. This includes well‑known chefs from established restaurants in the city, whose involvement brings real‑world experience into the learning space. This connection with local industry fosters a strong sense of belief, showing learners what is possible and inspiring confidence in their potential.
Community Education in Action
Marie, the project coordinator herself, is a powerful example of what community education can achieve. Marie returned to education through a community employment programme and is now a Coordinator at ATEC, proving that opportunity, when accessible, can change life trajectories.
We also met Anne, the BRILL receptionist, and Pat, the Community Employment Supervisor, who shared their own journeys of returning to education later in life. Their experiences clearly demonstrate the holistic power of community education, its ability to invest in people, draw out potential, build confidence, and lead to meaningful employment.
Learners from the National Learning Network regularly attend ATEC classes, further reinforcing inclusion and ensuring that education remains accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.
Looking Ahead
ATEC is a testament that Community education is a vital service, one that empowers individuals, strengthens families, and creates lasting change across communities. In Waterford, ATEC continues to offer a sense of belonging, inclusion, and hope, ensuring that no one is left behind.
We are incredibly proud to call ATEC a member of AONTAS/ CEN and look forward to continuing our strong engagement in the future. Together with partners like ATEC, we remain committed to strengthening communities through learning, ensuring families see the benefits of education, and creating pathways to employment, confidence, and hope.
Community education changes lives – one learner, one family, and one community at a time.
Learn more at visit BRILL Family Resource Centre: https://www.BRILLfrc.ie/
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Empowering Communities Through Learning, Inclusion, and Hope
Written by
Published on
May 19, 2026
Share This
Recently, our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O’Connor, met with our CEN member, ATEC – Adult Training and Education Coordination. Lorraine spoke with Marie Dunne, Coordinator at BRILL Family Resource Centre, and Glenn Lynch, BRILL Family Resource Manager. The meeting highlighted the powerful impact of collaboration, and the role community education plays in transforming lives.
BRILL Family Resource Centre – Wraparound Supports That Make a Difference
BRILL Family Resource Centre provides a wide range of wraparound family supports to the local community, including:
- Family and parenting support services
- Youth and adult education and training
- Employment and job seeking supports.
- Therapeutic and creative programmes
- Social enterprise and horticulture initiatives
- Advocacy, signposting and community wellbeing supports.
Through these services, BRILL creates a welcoming and inclusive space where families are supported holistically, and individuals are encouraged to thrive.
ATEC: Learning Born from Community Need
The ATEC programme was born directly from the needs of the local community. It provides nonformal education in a safe, supportive environment where learners can build confidence at their own pace. For many, these first steps into learning ignite a lifelong appetite for education, with learners returning again and again to take part in new courses. With many learners gaining employment along the way.
ATEC offers more than 31 courses each year, providing education opportunities to over 280 learners, with more than 214 classes delivered. Marie tells me that “These achievements would not be possible without the vital support of WWETB and the REACH Fund, whose investment continues to make a real difference to many individuals, families, and to the local community”.
Learning That Changes Lives
Courses offered through ATEC are diverse and inclusive, supporting both personal growth and employability. These include:
- Creative writing
- Crochet and sewing
- Yoga and wellbeing
- Baking and cookery
- Exhale therapeutic art and ABBA art therapy
- Crochet and crafts
- Horticulture (Gardening)
Notably, many learners from the crochet and craft programmes have gone on to establish small businesses, transforming newly acquired skills into sustainable income and greater independence. What I found particularly powerful is the way ATEC is supported by local businesses across the Waterford area, with trained professionals generously giving their time to deliver classes. This includes well‑known chefs from established restaurants in the city, whose involvement brings real‑world experience into the learning space. This connection with local industry fosters a strong sense of belief, showing learners what is possible and inspiring confidence in their potential.
Community Education in Action
Marie, the project coordinator herself, is a powerful example of what community education can achieve. Marie returned to education through a community employment programme and is now a Coordinator at ATEC, proving that opportunity, when accessible, can change life trajectories.
We also met Anne, the BRILL receptionist, and Pat, the Community Employment Supervisor, who shared their own journeys of returning to education later in life. Their experiences clearly demonstrate the holistic power of community education, its ability to invest in people, draw out potential, build confidence, and lead to meaningful employment.
Learners from the National Learning Network regularly attend ATEC classes, further reinforcing inclusion and ensuring that education remains accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.
Looking Ahead
ATEC is a testament that Community education is a vital service, one that empowers individuals, strengthens families, and creates lasting change across communities. In Waterford, ATEC continues to offer a sense of belonging, inclusion, and hope, ensuring that no one is left behind.
We are incredibly proud to call ATEC a member of AONTAS/ CEN and look forward to continuing our strong engagement in the future. Together with partners like ATEC, we remain committed to strengthening communities through learning, ensuring families see the benefits of education, and creating pathways to employment, confidence, and hope.
Community education changes lives – one learner, one family, and one community at a time.
Learn more at visit BRILL Family Resource Centre: https://www.BRILLfrc.ie/
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A New Strategy for Tertiary Education: What This Means for Adult Learners & Community Education Written by Conor Thompson Published...
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