“I like the centre because the staff is friendly and patient and we’re treated like adults. You can have a laugh with them, but we also learn and get new skills at the same time.” Britney Gallagher
Meet Britney Gallagher and Whitney Mongan from Blanchardstown Community Training Centre.
In a recent interview with Traveller Voice magazine Britney said she was “unhappy at school,” like pal Whitney, she too left before completing her Junior Cert. “My sister was a learner here and she told me all about it. I really liked the idea of the training they were giving, and I’m here since 2017.” Due to graduate early next year, Britney says that when she has completed all of her modules, she too has plans to become a beauty therapist. “My main module is Catering because I enjoy cooking, but I don’t want to make a career of it. I want to do beauty therapy and I’m currently doing work experience at a local salon. I’m also doing IT at the centre and that’ll help me to get a job. I like the centre because the staff is friendly and patient and we’re treated like adults. You can have a laugh with them, but we also learn and get new skills at the same time.”
Whitney dream is to become a beauty therapist. “I first heard about the centre from my cousins. Three of them were going here and as I had left school before I did my Junior Cert I felt I still wanted to take part in some kind of training because I want to get a job. I started here in June 2018 and I love it. The instructors are more like friends than teachers and I find it very easy to talk to them. I’m being trained in catering and IT, and I plan to do Sports too. I’m also doing a Level 4 in Communications and I’ll be starting a Level 4 in Maths in January. I completed my Level 3 and got my full credits, and that’s now the equivalent of the Junior Cert that I didn’t do at school. When I leave I want to leave here with the skills to become a beauty therapist and a hair stylist. I’m hoping to get work experience in a local hair and beauty salon.”