Clondalkin woman Maria Finn will travel to Glasgow today (13.02.18) to learn from the experience of the Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC), a recovery-orientated charity helping support Scottish people out of addiction and into recovery.
Ms Finn works as a project manager in Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme (CASP), a community service for drug users, over 18 years of age, and their families from the North Clondalkin area. At national level, she is involved in the Community Education Network, run by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation.
The trip is taking place as part of the ERASMUS+ ‘Making an Impact at European Level’ project, an EU-funded project organised by AONTAS that supports the professional development of adult education workers.
The purpose of the visit is to learn more about the recovery model that has taken hold in Scotland in last few years. Last year 2,000 people took part in the Recovery Walk Scotland in Dundee, an initiative supported by many organisations and community groups.
Commenting in advance of her trip Ms Finn said: “I’m hoping that this training will inspire me and that I can bring my learning back to our services in Dublin”.
Speaking about the visit AONTAS CEO Niamh O’Reilly said: “This EU project aims to strengthen the work of the AONTAS Community Education Network by giving them an opportunity to partake in learning events across Europe, where they can learn about best practice in adult and community education.
AONTAS is delighted to offer this opportunity to CASP so they can bring back new ideas to their own organisations and communities.”
ENDS
Contact: Katie O’Rourke, Communications Lead AONTAS, Tel: 01-4068220/ 087-9086168, Email: korourke@aontas.com.
Notes to Editor
About AONTAS
AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation. Its mission is to advocate for the right of all adults in Ireland to quality learning throughout their lives, and to promote the value and benefits of lifelong learning. AONTAS has nearly 500 members including Education and Training Boards, community education centres, further education institutions and individual members. Visit www.aontas.com for more information.
About Erasmus+ Project
Within this two year ERASMUS + project, managed by AONTAS, 7 participating Community Education Network (CEN) organisations will send 16 staff members to other European countries to undertake a period of learning or professional development. The learning acquired by those participating in the project will help to increase knowledge, develop new skills and ideas as well increase opportunities to develop innovative projects with partners from around Europe.
Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme (CASP)
The Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme (CASP) was established in 1995 by community members, and workers in local voluntary and youth organisations, as a response to increasing numbers of young heroin users in the North Clondalkin area.
CASP is a community service for drug users, over 18 years of age, and their families from the North Clondalkin area. CASP has adopted a holistic approach in supporting our clients to achieve an addiction free life, and to support them in reaching their full potential. In addition to providing medical assistance for their addiction, our range of services include key working, counselling, outreach, needle exchange, family support, support and assistance with further education/return to work and primary health care. We also offer holistic therapies which include auricular acupuncture, meditation, reflexology, natural facials and massage.