The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) Adult Literacy Learner Day was held at the Clayton Hotel in Cork on the morning of 7 March. It featured a morning workshop series, covering assistive technology, creative writing, self-care and progression opportunities and a NALA student ceremony awards in the afternoon.

Morning talks and workshops

117 adult literacy learners attended the event which involved inputs from adult literacy learner ambassadors and also the opportunity to join one of the following free workshops:

• Your future education and progression opportunities by Joan McSweeney, Adult Education and Guidance Service, Cork Education and Training Board (ETB). Joan presented on how the guidance service works, what the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Framework is and how to progress into education.
• Technology to make learning easier by Deirdre Madden, Disability Supports, University College Cork, explained on how to use apps to read text aloud from hard copy of text, and from digital or online text, as well as typing what you say. See handout on useful apps here.
• The Self-Care kit by Jasmin Stallard, Outdoor Therapist at New Wave Wild Project explored tips for keeping the body and mind healthy and well.
• Creative writing by Bernadette De Courcey, Short Story writer, focused you on how you can get started and develop a practice of writing

NALA’s Student Subcommittee chaired the event and supported learners to take part in the event. Staff from Cork Education and Training Board also had stands at the event providing information on local learning opportunities. Thank you to Cork Education and Training Board for supporting the event and getting the word out to learners. It was a great day for learners to meet each other, hear from literacy learner ambassadors and learn new skills. Our next event will be in Dublin in September.

Learn with NALA Awards ceremony

The Learn with NALA Awards ceremony was held at the Clayton Hotel in Cork on the afternoon of 7 March. The ceremony was for for learners who achieved a NALA certificate or QQI award using the Learn with NALA website between June and December 2023.

NALA’s CEO Colleen Dube opened the Awards Ceremony. This was followed by Tony Moloney, Literacy Ambassador who returned to education with Cork Education and Training Board (ETB), and Joan McSweeney, Guidance Counsellor from the Cork ETB Guidance Service.

Special guest Rory O’Connor, of Rory’s Stories, shared his own story of education and learning before handing out awards to a group of delighted learners.

During the Awards Ceremony 33 learner received their awards on the day and were celebrated by the tutors, friends and families. Congratulations to all learners and centres involved.

We are looking forward to the next Learner Day in September in Dublin.

For information on free courses nationwide:

Freephone NALA at 1 800 20 20 65 or text LEARN to 50050.

You can learn for free in your local Education and Training Board, or Learn with NALA over the phone or online.

For information specifically on Learn with NALA visit www.learnwithnala.ie