The project has been running in the Magherafelt and Antrim council areas since Jan 2010 and targets five key groups: seniors, migrant community, unemployed, parents of special needs children and youth.
The project now in its final year has just enrolled learners on its 1000th course with St. Columbas Camogie Group in Clady. The Healthy Eating course run by Tutor Christina Campbell helps participants learn new ideas for cooking healthy meals.
Christina said “During the last 5 years I have enjoyed and been humbled by all those that I have met. The idea of healthy eating in the community is about giving people choice! Whether it is cooking on a budget, young people off to University or seniors trying new recipes out. The programme is not just about food, it has assisted people to cope after bereavement, low self esteem, carers etc and it gives those who take part, time out for them. The Living & Learning Together project has brought people together, the project aims to reduce isolation, promote integration, and introduce physical activity initiatives; we work with community groups to identify training gaps and to build capacity of groups to be self sustaining. The project also promotes partnership working across agencies in order to try and ensure resources are put to best use, the project regularly works with Magherafelt and Antrim Councils, Police and Community Safety partnerships, NEELB Youth Service, Cookstown & Magherafelt Volunteer centre, Magherafelt Learning Partnership, DADS and CWSAN.
The Living & Learning Together project has reached out to over 25,000 participants whether through courses or by attending one off events. The original project targets were to provide activities for 2,400 individuals. The project has shown what can be achieved when communities are given the support they need to set up courses and activities and offer local people opportunities to take part in. Whether Education, learning new skills, up skilling or fitness classes, the delivery of this project has been an excellent model of partnership working. The range of courses on offer varies as per groups needs, participants who take part in the project are living life to the full, learning new skills, making new friends and having fun. One participant who has taken part in the project stated:
“It is a very relaxed, welcoming group of people who all get on so well together. Everyone is so helpful and kind and full of such wonderful ideas. It has brought such a variety of people together who may live near each other but would never have come in contact with each other but for these classes. I am totally engrossed in my new skills and the enjoyment has been second to none. Life has changed. There is now relaxation, de stress time and time for me.” The Living & Learning Together project is in its final year of funding and project activity will end in June 2015.
The range of courses and activities which are offered and can be accessed through the project website: www.livingandlearningtogether.org
The Living and Learning Together partnership is made up of the following organisations, Northern Regional College-lead partner, Magherafelt District Council, Antrim Borough Council, Magherafelt Learning partnership, Cookstown and Magherafelt Volunteer centre, Cookstown and Western Shores area network, Neelb Youth service, PSNI, Public Health Agency
For further information on the project contact:
Marie Donaghy, Project Manager, Big Lottery Live & Learn Project, Northern Regional College, 22 Moneymore Road, Magherafelt Tel: 02879 395237 or email marie.donaghy@nrc.ac.uk
