28 Adult Learning Initiatives Shortlisted for the AONTAS STAR Awards

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the AONTAS STAR Awards 2019. 

The STAR Awards (Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition) are an awards initiative coordinated by AONTAS as part of the annual Adult Learners' Festival to acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by adult learning initiatives throughout Ireland. The awards celebrate the positive contribution that these initiatives make to individual adult learners, local communities and wider society.

Nominations for the 13^th AONTAS STAR Awards were received under four categories:

Adult Learning Initiatives that Support: 

• Health and Wellbeing
• Third Level Access and Engagement - Sponsored by The Teachers' Union of Ireland 
• Social Inclusion - Sponsored by The Open University in Ireland 
• Sustainable Employment - Sponsored by The Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCNNI)

The quality of nominations was exceptional, resulting in a highly competitive process. An independent panel of judges carried out a detailed review of all the nominations. Shortlisted programmes will have the opportunity to meet with the judging panel at an interview day in February. Learners and staff from shortlisted programmes will also be invited to the 13th AONTAS STAR Award ceremony on 4^th March in the Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell St, Dublin 1 where the STAR Award winners will be announced. 

AONTAS STAR Awards Shortlist 2019

Health and Wellbeing

Small/Medium Organisations

• Transformative Recovery College
• Waterford Women's Centre, Health and Wellbeing project, Waterford & Wexford Education & Training Board (WWETB)
• Kickstart Your Way to a Healthier Lifestyle, Tipperary ETB/Place4U

Large Organisations

• Dublin Simon Health and Wellbeing
• Belfast Recovery College
• Community Facilitators Programme, Women's Resource Development Agency

Social Inclusion

Small/Medium Organisations

• Change Makers, Inishowen Development Partnership, Donegal ETB and Self Help Africa
• AK Inspired Ability Ltd
• Mohill Computer Training (MCT), Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB
• The Dillon's Cross Project, Cork ETB

Large Organisations

• Dublin Simon Community; Participation and Development Service
• Spirasi
• One Family
• Turn to Teaching, Maynooth University

Sustainable Employment

Small/Medium Organisations

• Career Paths for Dyslexia
• Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) - Building Futures
• Secret Street Tours  

Large Organisations

• Healthcare Opportunities for Women, Ballyhoura Development CLG
• EXPLORE, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB
• Your Time to Shine, Dublin North West Area Partnership
• WISE Project, People First

Third Level Access and Engagement

Small/Medium Organisations

• Longford Women's Link (LWL) IT Carlow Lifelong Learning Partnership
• Tipperary PPN Champions Initiative
• Inclusive Education Partnership Model, Brothers of Charity

Large Organisations

• Preparation for College programme, South Dublin County Partnership and IT Tallaght
• The Bessborough Centre Adult Leaving Certificate
• An Cosán Virtual Community College
• ACE at University College Cork (UCC) Certificate in Mental Health in the Community

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