Great celebrations at Local Training Initiative (LTI) awards in Cashel

A wonderful evening of marking a huge milestone in the life of those that completed programmes at Spafield Resource Centre was celebrated recently in Cashel. The Local Training Initiative (LTI) programme has been running in Spafield Family Resource Centre since 2006.

 The programme runs for 40 weeks across the school year, for four hours daily from September to June. Over the years there have been many success stories with people progressing from the LTI to Employment and Further Education. Graduates this month are a group apart however as they have navigated a difficult route through Covid and with the support of staff and peers alike emerged resilient.

The students and staff worked together to achieve success. Eight in the group received QQI level 5 distinctions which is the equivalent of 390 Leaving Cert points which highlights what can be obtained within the programme. The skills learned on the programme will be transferable to a whole range of careers.

The Awards night in Spafield Family Resource Centre was particularly moving because of the challenging circumstances for the students. Navigating a path to graduation through the recent pandemic meant this was a group like no other says the LTI Coordinator Betty Coughlan: “We have had so many success stories with people moving on to employment and further education but this particular bunch really deserve great credit because they were launched into online learning because of Covid. Most of them have progressed and got their level 4 and level 5 awards here.

“We are dependent on Tipperary ETB to fund the programme and we are core supported by the voluntary board of management at Spafield Family Resource Centre also,” Betty said. While she was equally proud of all the students, one of the graduates had made an extra special effort which Betty pointed out: “Most of this group progressed from Level 4 to Level 5 here.

“While we don’t ever single any one particular learner out, there is one learner who really deserves to be commended on this occasion. At QQI Level 4, learners complete 9 modules and at Level 5 they complete 8 modules. Out of those 17 modules, one of our learners received 11 distinctions so we would like to congratulate Patrick O’Brien.

“At one point we wondered if they could get further with this programme because they were out for months. It became about logging on and connectivity. So it was daunting for some who may have left school early and felt they had no options and that they might never get to do their leaving cert.

“Some of them will continue with apprenticeships in the Autumn. Others have gained employment already. We have another who is in Dublin now doing an electrical apprenticeship which is why he came to us. He wanted to be an electrician and he is on the path to that despite being an early school leaver so it shows what can be achieved when everyone can work together.”

There was a great atmosphere at the awards night and in some ways that was reflective of the massive efforts made to complete the course in what were tough times for all. Speaking at the awards the LTI Coordinator Betty Coughlan said there were many people to thank: “Of course, all of this would not be possible without the dedication of our Tutors and our funders Tipperary ETB, without whom we wouldn’t be in a position to run the programme. Tipperary ETB have been very supportive of our LTI Programme. We would like to thank Colin Cummins Director of FET with Tipperary ETB and Matthew Ryan Training Services Manager with Tipperary ETB.

“We would also like to mention the Voluntary Board of Management of Spafield Family Resource Centre who give freely of their time to ensure we have a comfortable working environment. On this occasion we would also like to send our good wishes to Sr. Mary Walsh who has recently retired from the Voluntary Board after many years of service .”