This category, which is sponsored by Mental Health Ireland, is open to adult learning initiatives that support increased health and wellbeing for participants, including mental and physical health, recovery from addiction, nutrition, and sports.
The nominees are:
“The Blocks” from Rialto Community Drug Team and City of Dublin ETB Community Education programme
The Blocks is an arts initiative run in collaboration with the Rialto Community Drug Team and their family support program, with a group of people whose lives have been impacted by addiction. The work on the project began in 2018 and has resulted so far in the production of two animated short films alongside two companion documentary short films looking at the impact of generational trauma on individuals and the wider community of Dublin 8. Although the group is small, the ripple effect from the workbook and films are far reaching. Rialto and Dolphin’s Barn are areas affected by ongoing health and wellbeing issues since the 1980s heroin epidemic. A third film is currently in production due for completion in early 2025. The goal with the final film is to bring the story full circle to the groups’ experience of being parents and raising children during the events of the 1980s/90s in Rialto.
Community Connections Older Women’s Project – Ballybeen Women’s Centre
Community Connections was a one-year project promoting the emotional, physical and social well-being amongst women who are 55 years old and over. It focused on strengthening the capacity and resilience of 32 women, particularly the most marginalised and vulnerable in our community due to their social, economic and personal circumstances. They took part in a range of wellbeing programmes including Mindfulness and Mediation, Cooking on a Budget, and Chair Yoga, and workshops like Coping with the Cost-of-Living Crisis. The Connections Project delivered an integrated, holistic programme that reduced the vulnerability and isolation of these older women and created a safe space where they could come together. There was also a WhatsApp group, which was an unexpectedly positive and beneficial aspect of the project, where participants shared messages of support and encouragement to each other when needed, including pictures or anecdotes of the activities that they did together and of things that have happened in their own lives. Although funding has ended for Community Connections Project, Ballybeen Women’s Centre has ensured that the social connections made between these women continues through space to socialise and the WhatsApp group. Participants reported feeling more confident, better able to cope with stress, and doing more to take care of themselves physically and mentally. They felt less lonely and less isolated. They also reported increased self-esteem and self-worth. The legacy of the Community Connections Project has been the social connections that have been established among participants and the lasting support that this provides.
Integrate Dance Group – Cumas and Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board
This programme offers opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities to delve into the world of dance collaboratively, fostering a truly inclusive and creative environment. The group focuses on inclusive collaboration, bringing together individuals with diverse abilities to collaboratively create in the world of dance. It also focuses on skills building for the general public when working with people with disabilities, particularly in shared spaces. And it looks at integration, assisting participants to seamlessly integrate into the dance programme, fostering a supportive environment for all. The programme’s impact goes beyond traditional dance education by promoting inclusivity, diversity, and breaking down societal barriers. It creates a community where individuals of all abilities can collaborate, learn, and express themselves through dance. It has transformed lives by empowering learners through movement, self-expression, and trust. This trust has allowed learners to use dance as a new language, helping them communicate emotions and experiences they previously struggled to express.
The Clondalkin Recovery Choir – Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force
Clondalkin Recovery Choir is made up of people in recovery, family members, and supporters. The choir’s mission is to create a supportive healing environment through the power of music. They believe that singing plays a therapeutic role which can inspire and uplift people who are in recovery. The choir was established in 2022 by Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force and Station 1 Rehabilitation Programme. The Recovery Choir is designed as a supportive, inclusive environment that harnesses the power of singing to promote health and wellbeing for those in recovery. It is a safe space where individuals can connect, find emotional expression, and experience the therapeutic benefits of singing in a group. Research shows that singing releases endorphins and oxytocin, the body’s “feel-good” chemicals, which contribute to reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced relaxation. Singing also encourages deep, diaphragmatic breathing, which lowers cortisol levels, helping choir members feel more grounded and less anxious. These physiological responses can be particularly powerful for individuals dealing with the challenges of addiction recovery, offering a healthy, positive outlet for emotions. Beyond these individual benefits, the social aspects of the choir are crucial in fostering a sense of belonging. Many in recovery experience feelings of isolation or shame, and group singing offers a non-judgmental environment where participants can connect with others who understand their journey. By coming together regularly, choir members develop a support network, reducing feelings of loneliness and providing a shared purpose. This group cohesion and mutual understanding are central to the wellbeing of members, offering both encouragement and accountability within a compassionate community. The programme embodies the transformative power of education, community, and creativity in addiction recovery.
Start360 SMART Recovery – Start360
SMART Recovery is an internationally renowned programme first rolled out by Start360 in Northern Ireland in 2018. It’s a peer support group helping individuals who have experienced addiction to use self-empowering skills to live a more balanced life. It focuses on managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, coping with urges, building and maintaining motivation. It has been active in the Northern Ireland Prison Estate and the Belfast community, both in-person and online. Recently, Start360 began offering SMART Family & Friends in Ballymena, using similar methodologies to support relatives of those with addictions. This programme aims to reduce isolation and instil hope through shared experiences. Participants have gone on to become leaders and advocates in their own communities, including acting as facilitators and SMART Champions. Overall, SMART Recovery fosters resilience, builds community role models, and inspires healing and support within families and communities.
Recovery through Art, Drama, and Education – RADE
RADE – Recovery through Art, Drama & Education has been running since 2004. It is a community arts programme for people who have been affected by problematic drug and/or alcohol use. The programme uses art-based activities to encourage connection with creativity. Much of their work has a collaborative aspect, particularly theatre productions. This is powerful in promoting self-esteem. They have helped approximately 500 people with substance use and related issues. Participants have produced ten films, an opera, three musical dramas, a radio play, numerous documentaries, and held annual art exhibitions since inception. They manage a Community Employment (CE) scheme that people can join for up to four years, during which time people often make great strides in stabilising lifestyles and becoming more positive, often re-engaging more with communities. They encourage a sense of community, promoting peer support, and also addressing relationships and connection. They have links with the local CDETB at Warrenmount College and the Gaiety School of Acting. Participants benefit from establishing a routine and a sense of belonging. They gain a sense of community, countering feelings of isolation. They believe “creativity is open to everyone”, and particularly focus on people who would generally occupy a space outside what people consider the mainstream arts world.
About the Festival
The Adult Learners’ Festival, happening this year from 3rd to 7th March 2025, is a nationwide celebration of adult learning. This year’s theme is “Connecting Communities”. Adult and community education is the bridge that connects communities across the island of Ireland. Visit this page for more details about the Festival
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