An Cosán community education centre in Jobstown, Tallaght, has provided a Firhouse mother with an anchor following the loss of her husband to cancer two years ago. Sharing her story of empowerment through adult education with over 100 golfers at An Cosán’s 26th Golf Classic at Powerscourt Golf Club, Patricia Bailey said she couldn’t believe the support An Cosán had given her.
“An Cosán has given me an anchor when I felt so untethered in life, and opportunities to get excited again about my future,” she said. “I know the skills and confidence I’m gaining with An Cosán will help me get a good job.”
Ms Bailey, who initially completed a 12-week Discover Your Path course and who is now in her second year of a QQI Level 5 course in Business Administration with Digital Skills for Work, said she was hugely grateful not only for the free courses, but also the additional supports offered by An Cosán. “The community spirit and support of An Cosán is next to none,” she said. “They offer a fully holistic approach to adult community education with one-to-one mentoring and counselling services. I got a loan of a free laptop, and IT support too.”
Ms Bailey said the Discover Your Path course was exactly what she needed after losing her husband Phil. “I had given up my career in beauty therapy to be his carer through his long battle with cancer, as well as looking after our young son,” she said. “A free 12-week course of self-discovery and confidence-building, re-discovering my skills, strengths and values with support to create a path forward to further education and/or work, was exactly what I needed because, somewhere along the line, I had lost my confidence and felt so untethered.
“I met so many lovely women from all different backgrounds on the course, all with their own story to share, all wanting the same thing as me – personal development and a better future through education,” Ms Bailey continued. “I felt a real sense of belonging. I made a promise to myself starting this learning journey and just turning 40, that I’d take up any opportunity that came my way and push myself out of my comfort zone. Well, it worked and I got offered an internship with Goodbody stockbrokers, which was extended throughout the summer. I really enjoyed my time there.”
Reflecting on the past 18 months, Ms Bailey said: “I can honestly say I don’t know where I’d be without the An Cosán team. I tell everyone who will listen just how amazing An Cosán is and how life-changing it has been for me and my family. My 10-year-old son is only delighted I must do homework too, and likes to remind me to get the laptop out and study! It’s been so inspiring watching him look up to me, knowing education doesn’t stop at the school gates and is a lifelong journey.”
An Cosán CEO Heydi Foster said “Patricia is the change we see at An Cosán every day. Her words show the world of possibility we want every individual and family to have access to.”
Recognising that not everyone faced the same odds in life, Ms Foster went on to say that An Cosán worked to remove barriers and support people in overcoming hurdles. “Even if you’re earning the minimum wage in Ireland, you probably make less than €1,700 a month. That could all go on rent in many places. You may be struggling with your mental health. In Tallaght we have the highest rate of suicide for young women in the country. Getting the skills to find a better paid job is not easy for someone who is struggling to hold everything together.
“If you are a migrant, a Traveller, a single parent, trying to beat an addiction or cope with a childhood trauma, the barriers you face are many, even in our ‘affluent’ Ireland,” Ms Foster continued. “At An Cosán we look at each individual person and see what they need to succeed, and we support them so they can do so.”
Anna Durkan, Chair of An Cosán’s Board of Directors, said: “An Cosán is all about giving opportunities to learners – adults and children – to develop skills and confidence so that they have choices in life. Starting off in 1986 with the aim of lifting the people of West Tallaght out of poverty through the empowerment of education, we are now working with communities across the country, supporting learners from every county to achieve their potential, while working at a national and policy level to address the digital divide so that everyone has an equal chance.”
Ms Durkan continued: “We couldn’t do this work without our generous supporters and without funding from SOLAS, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Pobal, Tusla and the Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board.”
To find out more about An Cosán, see www.ancosan.ie.
Pictured: Heydi Foster, CEO of An Cosán, Patricia Bailey, adult learner, and Anna Durkan, Chair of An Cosán’s Board of Directors
