An Cosán recognised at annual STAR Awards

An Cósan was among the ten initiatives recognised at the annual STAR Awards, coordinated by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation.

Hosted by Irish international footballers Stephanie Roche and Áine O’Gorman, the awards ceremony took place on Friday at at the Cusack Suite in Croke Park.

Established in 2006, AONTAS’ STAR Awards acknowledge outstanding adult learning initiatives across the island of Ireland. This year, a total of two South Dublin projects were nominated across five categories including Health and Wellbeing; Third-level Access and Engagement; Social Inclusion; Global Citizenship Education; and Learner Voice.

Winner of the Social Inclusion (Large) category, An Cosán’s Workability programme addresses problems of low education and high unemployment in underservices and marginalised communities through education, careers coaching and employment outreach services. The programme offers wraparound supports such as childcare, digital upskilling and mentoring.

Dearbháil Lawless, Chief Executive of AONTAS, commended the winners and nominees of this year’s STAR Awards: “We’ve been blown away by the standard of nominated projects this year, and by the sheer breadth of different communities that they support across the island of Ireland. Our winners today demonstrate the hugely important role that adult education can play to open up new opportunities and to bring communities together.”

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