Aontas_Annual_Report_2010

AONTAS National Adult Learning Organisation

2nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6Tel: (01) 406 8220/1Fax: (01) 406 8227Email: [email protected]

AONTASANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2010

Mission stateMent of aontasAONTAS is the National

Adult Learning Organisation,

a voluntary membership

organisation. It exists to

promote the development of

a learning society through

the provision of a quality

and comprehensive system of

adult learning and education

which is accessible to and

inclusive of all.

Core Values• AONTAS is committed

to the concept of lifelong

learning and its role

in enabling people to

participate in the human,

social, economic and

cultural development of

Irish society.

• AONTAS affirms and

supports the key role of

adult and community

education in combating

poverty and social

exclusion and ensuring

that everyone benefits

from, and contributes

to sustainable economic

development.

• AONTAS is committed to

the concept of equality of

access, participation and

outcomes in adult and

community education.



adult and community

education in promoting

democracy and active

citizenship.

• AONTAS is committed,

through a process of

action and reflection, to

its growth as a learning

organisation, a model of

best practice and a leading

centre of expertise in the

field of adult learning.

aontas exeCutiVe CoMMittee MeMbers PresidentMarian Duffy (Co Carlow VEC)

Vice President Loretta Needham (Society of

St Vincent De Paul)

Hon. TreasurerMaria Gorman (Kerry Education

Service)

Hon. SecretaryRuth Smith (Tipperary Women’s

Network)

Organisational MembersLorne Patterson (Longford Women’s Link)

John Ryan (City of Limerick VEC)

Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha (Adult Education Officers’ Association)

Elva O’Callaghan (NCCWN)

Liz Waters (An Cosan)

Linda Greene (Clondalkin Womens Network)

Deborah Brock (Tallaght/Dodder Valley Partnership)

Micheal Murray, NUI/Maynooth

Lorraine Cunningham, Blaney

Blades, Monaghan

Individual MembersLiam Kilbride

Jillian Harrison

Resigned October 2010

aontas staffBerni Brady Director

Jacinta Cuthbert Head of Organisational Development

Niamh O’Reilly Head of Membership Services

Niamh Farren Communications Officer

Jenny Gunning Information and Research Officer, died April 6th 2010

Ciara Murphy Resource and Communications Officer, left September 2010

Eleonora Peruffo Administrator

Dympna Larkin Membership Liaison Officer

Kathryn Laing Receptionist/Clerical Officer

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AONTAS Annual Report 2010

CONTeNTS

FORewORd 5

OveRview 6

SeCTiON 1 OrganisationalDevelopment 9

SeCTiON 2 PolicyandPromotion 15

SeCTiON 3 InformationandResearch 23

SeCTiON 4 Representation 27

FiNANCiAl STATemeNTS 29

AONTAS Annual Report & Financial Statements 2010

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FORewORd

AONTAScurrentlyfocusesitsprioritiesonvoice,

visibilityandvaluefortheadultlearner.Asa

membershiporganisationAONTASplacesthevoice

ofthelearnerattheheartofresearchandpolicy

work.Thevalueofadulteducationandofthe

learneristrulyvisibleinthewonderfuleducational

achievementsthroughoutthecountry.Theseare

highlightedateventssuchastheSTARAwardsand

alsothroughthemanynetworksformedthroughits

membership.

Therearecurrentlymanypeopleinourcountry

whoareexperiencingthepainofdisadvantage.

Thisdisadvantagemaybetheresultofpersonal

andsocialcircumstancesorofeconomic

hardshipresultingfromsuddenredundancyand

unemploymentorindeedboth.

Forthemanyadultswhoarenowfindingthemselves

inthepositionwheretheyhavetoredirecttheir

personal,socialandciviclives,involvementinadult

andcommunityeducationisapivotalfocus.There

arealsomanyadultswhoareseekingtoupskilland

retrainforthelabourmarketwhichonlytheycan

regeneratethroughtheirpositivity,persistenceand

hardwork.

Supportfortheadultandcommunityeducation

sectorhasneverbeenmorenecessaryifweareto

revitalisesocietyandrebuildasustainableeconomy

inIrelandinthisperiodofgreatuncertainty.The

provisionoffundingforthissectormustcontinue

tobemaintainedandtheeffectivenessandimpact

ofthesectormustbehighlightedattheforefrontof

allpoliticaldiscourse.

Foroursocietytoregainitsstrengthandvitality

andnationalself-esteem,itscitizensmusthavethe

opportunitytoaccesseducationandtraining,both

asanendinitselfandasameansofattainment

throughthecreationoffurthereducationand

employmentopportunities.

Whileupskillingandtheregenerationofour

economyisanecessarypriorityatthistime,itisalso

necessarytoreinforceournationalsenseofwell-

being,self-esteemandprideinourselves,sothatwe

areaffirmedasvaluableindividualsandasvaluable

membersofourfamilies,communitiesandsociety

asawhole.

AONTASrecognisesandaffirmsthetremendous

workthatadultlearnersandeducatorsaredoing

individuallyandingroupsaroundthecountry.

Investmentinadultandcommunityeducationis

asoundandpracticalinvestmentwhichwillyield

inspiringideologicalresultsfortherevitalisationof

oursociety,particularlyinatimewhenindividuals

andcommunitiesaresufferingtheill-effectsofthe

economicrecession.

MarianDuffy,

President, AONTAS


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OveRview

introduction2010wasaneventfulyearforAONTASinmany

waysthatwedidn’texpect.Ourbiggestchallenge

wasthelossofJenniferGunning,ourInformation/

ResearchOfficerinApril.Jennyhadbeenwithusfor

fiveyearsandtheshockofherdeathcolouredour

yearlikenothingbeforeandforcedustorevisitour

prioritiesinanunprecedentedway.Wewouldlike

tothankeveryoneforallyourkindmessagesand

supportforusandJenny’sfamilythroughwhatwas

averydifficultperiod.

Strategic Plan 2011-2013Asweenteredthefinalyearofourcurrentstrategic

planakeyactivitywastheconsultationprocess

toinformournewthreeyearplan.Theprocess

whichwaslaunchedattheAGMonMay19thwas

wideandvariedandinvolvedanumberoflayersof

consultationculminatinginthefinalworkshopsat

ourgeneralmeetingonNovember17th.Theseare

describedinthebodyofthereport.Welookforward

totheadoptionofthenewplanatourAGMonMay

10th2011.Aspartoftheprocessweexaminedthe

outcomesofour2007-2010planwhichhadfivekey

objectives;policy,promotion,practice,partnership

andorganisationaldevelopment.Ourachievements

overthepastfouryearsaresummarizedbelow.

Policy• Prioritisedinfluencingpolicyintheareaofadult

andcommunityeducationthroughworking

consistentlytobringissuesofrelevancetothe

attentionoftheMinisterforLifelongLearning

andpartypoliticaleducationspokespeople.

• Builtstrongrelationshipswithanewstaff

teamintheFurtherEducationSectionofthe

DepartmentofEducationandScienceand

developedpartnershipswithkeystakeholdersin

thesector.

• Developedanddisseminated16submissions/

positionpapersandasuiteofmanifestoand

lobbyingtoolsrepresentingtherangeofissuesof

concerntoourmembers.

• Engagedinresearchonarangeofissues

includingthelifelonglearningneedsofolder

people,integratingdevelopmentandadult

educationprogrammesandexploringthe

outcomesofDESfundedcommunityeducation.

• CollaboratedwiththeFurtherEducation

DevelopmentUnitondrawingupguidelinesfor

engagingdisadvantagedmenineducation.

• PublishedtheAdultLearnerJournalonan

annualbasisinpartnershipwiththeAdult

EducationOfficers’Association.

Promotion• Developedanddeliveredastrongpromotional

strategyincludingestablishingtheAdult

Learners’Festivalasakeyeventintheadultand

communityeducationcalendar.

• Developedastrongcommunicationsstrategy

resultinginstrongerlinkswithlocalandnational

mediathroughthewebsite,onlinenetworking,

ebulletinsandpublications.

• Assisted13,000learnersthroughthedeliveryof

theAONTASInformationReferralService.

• Usedtheanalysisofinformationfromthe

InformationReferralServicetoinform

policyandestablishpartnershipswithother

informationprovidersincludingtheNQAI,the

HEAandtheVECAdultGuidanceServices.

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Practice• EstablishedanddevelopedtheAONTAS

CommunityEducationNetworktoraisethe

profileof,gainrecognitionforandresource

communityeducation.

• EstablishedaSeniorLearnerNetworkasaresultof

needsidentifiedintheresearchreport:Don’tStop

meNow–theLifelongLearningNeedsofOlder

People.

• Supportedmemberstodeveloptheirlobbyingskills

throughtraining

• DeliveredtrainingintheuseoftheQuality

AssuranceFrameworkwithWomen’sCommunity

EducationgroupsculminatingintheGuidetoBest

PracticeinWomen’sCommunityEducation.

• Developedanddeliveredamodelofbestpractice

ofprofessionaldevelopmentforCommunity

EducationFacilitatorswhichcanbereplicated

withintheVECContinuousProfessional

DevelopmentProgramme.

Partnership• Hostedconferences,seminarsandnetworking

eventsforAONTASmembersandother

stakeholdersincludingvisitingdelegationsfrom

outsideofIreland.

• RepresentedAONTASatnationalandinternational

events.

• WorkedwithkeystakeholderssuchasIVEA,NALA

andNCCWNinthedevelopmentofpolicyand

advocacyforthesector.

• BuiltanetworkofpartnerswhosupporttheAdult

Learners’Festivalinavarietyofways.

Organisational development• StrengthenedtheStaffTeamthroughcontinuous

professionaldevelopment.

• Managedtightlyandmadethebestuseoffinancial

resourcesavailabletotheorganisation,inparticular

developingvalueformoneypracticesinthecurrent

economicclimate.

• StrengthenedtheAONTASExecutiveCommittee

throughtrainingingovernanceanddrawingon

theirexperienceaspractitionersinthesector.

moving ForwardThenewplanwhichwilltakeusthroughuntilthe

endof2013willfocusAONTASworkonthreekey

themes,Voice,VisibilityandValueasidentifiedby

themembership.

Adult learners’ FestivalInFebruaryweheldourfourthAdultLearners’

Festivalwhichwasverysuccessfulwithover320

eventsheldaroundthecountry.TheSTARawards

celebrationwhichkickedofftheFestivalproved

tobeaspopularaseverwith110nominations

resultingin13finalawards.LearningCommunities

DaysawthelaunchoftheDVD,Beyondthe

Classroom,documentingtheworkofcommunity

educationandonthefinaldayoftheFestivalwe

heldanAdultEducationClinictomarkourLobby

forLearningday.Thisprovedtobeagreatsuccess

withrepresentativesofthefourmainpolitical

partieslisteningtotheconcernsofbothlearnersand

providers.Inparticular,adultlearnersbroughtto

theattentionofthepoliticianstheeffectofchanges

tofinancialsupportsforadultlearners,anissue

whichAONTASchampionedonbehalfofmature

studentsduringtheyear,whileprovidersraisedthe

issueofrisingdemandinthecontextofdiminishing

resources.

information Referral ServiceBecauseofthelossofJennyourInformation

ReferralServicehadtobesuspendedforaperiod

oftimeandprospectivelearnersweredirected

towardstheinformationsectionofthewebsite.

Thisprovedtobesurprisinglypopular,recording

over30,000visitorsduringtheyear.AONTASwill

bereconfiguringtheserviceinthelightofthe

newstrategicplananddirectinglearnerstoother

websitessuchasQualifaxandtheHEAstudent

supportservices.TheVECguidanceservices

howeverremainakeypointoffirstcontactfor

learners.Accessingaccurateandappropriate

informationremainsakeybarrierforadultlearners

especiallyinthecontextofthecurrentrecession

wheredemandforadulteducationandtraininghas

beenunprecedentlyhigh.


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issues for membersThroughtheyearwekeptinclosecontactwithour

memberswho,throughourvariousconsultation

processes,informedusaboutissuesaffectingthem.

Foradultlearners,keyissuesarefinance,accessing

accurateinformation,childcareandtransport.

Thehighdemandforadultlearningopportunities

alsopresentedlogisticalchallengesforproviders

astheysoughttoprovideaserviceinthecontext

ofdiminishingfundsandtheeffectsofthePublic

ServiceRecruitmentEmbargo.Thesewillbekey

issuesforAONTASaswemoveintooneofthemost

challengingphasesofourdevelopmentoverthenext

threeyears.

ConclusionMuchmoreneedstobedoneatgovernmentlevel

toensurethatthefurther,adultandcommunity

educationsectorachievesparityofesteemwith

othersectorswithintheformalsystemsinceitis

expectedtorespondtotheneedsoflargesections

ofthepopulationwhohaveeitherbeenfailedby

thatsystemorforwhomitisunsuitableasawayof

learning.Inthetargetingofresourcesgovernment

shouldlooktothetrackrecordandcapacityofthe

sectortodeliveraquality,holisticandintegrated

servicetoadultlearners.Theolddivisionsbetween

vocationaltrainingandfurthereducation,withtheir

disproportionatebudgetsmustfinallybelaidtorest

andcollaborativeandintegratedwaysofworking

mustberecognisedandsupported.

ArecentproposalputforwardbytheDepartment

fortheestablishmentofaBacktoEducation

Foruminanattempttoprovideaspacein

whichadministrators,providersandstakeholder

representativescoulddiscussanyandallissues

pertainingtoadultliteracy,communityeducation

andBTEI,andcouldassistinprovidingaclear

structureforinformingpolicywaswelcomed

byAONTAS.Suchthinkingisforwardlooking

andessentialtotheoverallvisionandlong-term

developmentofservicestoadultlearners.Withthe

transferofFÁStrainingservicestotheDepartment

ofEducationandSkillsthereisnowaclear

opportunitytodevelopabroaderforumwhich

wouldincorporatebotheducationandtraining

andwhichwouldestablishthesectorinthewayit

deserves.AONTASiswillingtocontributeourideas,

experienceandexpertisetosuchaplanoverthe

courseofthenextthreeyears.

BerniBrady,

Director, AONTAS

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SeCTiON 1ORGANiSATiONAl develOPmeNT

AONTAS membership ServicesAsof31stDecembertheAONTASmembership

comprised589members.Thebreakdownof

membershipillustratedinthepiechartbelow,now

comprises300organisations,285individualsand4

associatemembers.AfulllistofAONTASmembers

isavailableonlineatwww.aontas.com/membership/

Inpercentagetermsmembershiptypecanbe

brokendownasfollows:51%organisations,48%

individualsand1%associate.However,manyadult

educatorsorlearnerswhoarepartoforganisations

subscribeasindividualmembersandtheseaccount

for43%ofthetotalindividualmembership.

Geographical representation of members excluding dublin which accounts for 39%

51% Organisations

48% Individuals

1% Associate


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membership Recruitment Accordingtothetrendinmemberapplications,

thereisasignificantincreaseinorganisational

membershipapplicationsinFebruaryandApril.

Thiscouldbeattributedtothepromotionalwork

doneaspartoftheAdultLearners’Festival.

Therewasareadjustmentofmembersfollowinga

reviewofmembershippayments,thereforethetotal

numberofmemberslapsedduring2010was46–

8%oftheprevioustotalmembership.Thenumber

ofnewmembersthatjoinedAONTASin2010was

72–12%ofthetotalmembership.

Theapproachtakenregardingmembership

recruitmentisbasedonthegoalofcreatinggreater

geographicalrepresentation,rangeandspreadof

organisationalmembers.Tothisendthefollowing

strategiesareemployedtogrowtheAONTAS

membership:encouragingexistingmembersto

encourageotherstojoin,organisationofregional

meetings,throughtheSTARawardapplications,

networkingduringtheAdultLearners’Festivaland

atallnationalmeetings.

membership meetings Over420membersparticipatedinvarious

membershipmeetingactivitiesduring2010

(excludingAdultLearners’Festivalactivities).

Fromnationalandregionalmeetings,community

educationnetworkmeetingstolearnerfocused

meetings,ahighlyengagedmembershipsoughtto

shapethenewAONTASstrategicplanandadvocate

forbetterrecognitionandresourcesfortheadult

andcommunityeducationsector.

General membership meetingsNewmembersoftheAONTASExecutiveCommittee

werewelcomedattheAnnualGeneralMeeting.

ThefollowingOfficerBoardpositionswerefilled:

MarianDuffy(President),LorettaNeedham(Vice

President),RuthSmith(Hon.Secretary)andMaria

Gorman(Hon.Treasurer).Organisationalmembers

included:LorraineCunningham,MichaelMurray,

LornePattersonandJohnRyan.Oneelectiontook

placefortheindividualCommitteememberwith

LiamKilbridebeingelectedtotheposition.

BoththeAnnualGeneral,andtheGeneral

Meeting,oftheAONTASmembershipactedas

keyconsultationforafordevelopingtheAONTAS

strategicplan.Theoutcomesofthediscussionsat

theAnnualGeneralMeetingshapedthestrategic

planquestionnaire.ThethreethemesofVoice,

VisibilityandValueemergedandwereidentified

askeyareasforAONTAStoconcentrateonover

thecourseof2011-2013.TheGeneralMeetingin

Novemberactedasthefinalnationalconsultation

spaceandassistedinfinetuningtheplantoensure

thatitishighlyrepresentativeoftheadultand

communityeducationsector.

Consultation Process for AONTAS Strategic Plan 2011-2013Furthertothenationalmembershipmeetingsa

numberofstrategieswereemployedtocreatethe

mosttimely,effectiveandrepresentativestrategic

planwhichwouldguidetheworkofAONTASinthe

challengingtimesahead.

Firstly,adetailedmembershipanalysiswascarried

outinordertocreateaneffectiveconsultationplan.

Secondly,anumberofconsultationstrategieswere

employedtofacilitatemembersincontributing

totheconsultation,asummaryofwhichis

detailedinthetablebelow.Finallyanalysisofall

theinformationreceivedfromtheconsultation

processeswascarriedout.

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• 573–Questionnairestomembers

• 1AdultLearners’Festivalinformationevent

• 7Interviews(IVEA,CEOA,AEOA,CEFA,TUI,

DESandFEDU)

• 8StakeholderSurveys(NALA,FETAC,AEGI,

NCCWN,ASTI,FÁS,PobalandNationalAccess

Office)

• 1FocusGroup(keystakeholdersandkey

organisations)

• 2RegionalSeminars(KerryandLimerick)

• 1AONTASGeneralMeeting

• 1CommunityEducationMeeting

• 1LearnerNetworkForum

• 4Communityeducationworkshops–Limerick,

Clare,GalwayandDublin

• AONTASExecutiveCommitteemeetings

Forfurtherinformationpleasesee

http://www.aontas.com/membership/

strategicplan20.html

Outcomes:• The AONTAS Strategic Plan 2011-2013.

• Greater engagement with members, and

understanding of the current issues facing the

adult and community education sector, across

Ireland.

Community education Network TheIrishCommunityEducationNetwork(CEN),

whichwasestablishedin2007,isapoliticalplatform

ofindependentcommunityeducationgroupswithin

theAONTASmembershipandservesunderthe

organisationaldevelopmentsectionoftheAONTAS

StrategicPlan.Itdrawsontheexperienceofits

memberstodevelopstrategiestocreateagreater

publicunderstandingofcommunityeducationandto

advocateforadistinctfundingstreamforthesector.

TheworkoftheNetworkisguidedbyasteering

group,foritsoveralldevelopmentanddirection,

andbythemedsubgroupstosupportstrategicwork

e.g.apolicysubgroup.Thisistheonlynetwork

dedicatedtoindependentcommunityeducation

groupsatnationallevelanditconstantlyworksto

ensurethatitoperateseffectivelythroughengaging

inongoingevaluationandcriticalreflection.

TheNetworkisinexistenceforover3yearsand

hasmeton10occasions.Areportanddetailsofall

meetingsareavailablefromtheAONTASwebsite.

http://www.aontas.com/commed/networkcen.html

CeN work in 20102010wasamomentousyearfortheNetwork,having

completedapositionpaperonafundingmechanism

forcommunityeducation,asitconsolidatedtherange

ofadvocacyactivitiesundertakenoverthecourse

ofthreeyears.Thefollowingdiagramillustratesthe

outcomeofthediscussionsonacomprehensive

fundingmechanismandhowfundingisused.

Otherkeyactivitiesincludedlaunching‘Beyondthe

Classroom’televisionprogrammesoncommunity

education;deliveringregionalseminarstoengage

newgroups;creatinganewmanifestoforadvocacy;

andpresentationsabouttheNetworkatan

internationalconference.During2010theCENheld

threenationalmeetings,onelaunchfor‘Beyondthe

Classroom’andfourregionaloutreachseminars.It

wassupportedby6steeringgroupmeetings,and

threepolicysubgroupmeetings.

RINGFENCED FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION

STAFFING

LEA

RN

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PR

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ISIO

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SUPPORT & SUPERVISION

STAFF

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AL M

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AG

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OVERHEADS

GuidanceOutreach

Pre-development WorkChildcareTransport

Celebratory EventsStudy Skills

PremisesLight & Heat

InsuranceFixtures & Fittings

Teaching EquipmentPromotional Materials

Organisational EvaluationFinance inc. Funding Applications

HETAC/HETAC AccreditationGovernance Structures

Quality AssurancesProcesses

Sta� & VolunteerSupport & Supervision

Training & Development

Co-ordinatorTutors

VolunteersAdministration

Recruitment

Course Admin.Education Planning,

Development & ProgressionEvaluation & Outcome

MeasurementAssignments


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Strategic work Plan for the Community education Network Astrategicworkplanoutlinestheaimsandobjectives

oftheCommunityEducationNetworkwhichare

dividedintothreethemes:Resource community

education,Recognitionforthevalueanddistinctive

natureofcommunityeducationandRaise Profile of

communityeducationandlobbyforitsneeds.Further

informationisavailableontheAONTASwebsite:

http://www.aontas.com/commed/network.html

Outcomes: • Three national action-focused meetings were

held: Collective action and partnership work for

progressing Community Education, Creating a

vision for funding Community Education and

The Position Paper for Funding Community

Education. Reports are available online:

http://www.aontas.com/commed/networkcen/

meetingscen.html

• Outcomes from the national meetings include

creating a stronger connection with the

Department of Education and Skills, developing

a representative and clear mechanism for funding

community education and shaping an effective

lobbying plan for community education.

• Established an active, participative policy

subgroup to guide the development of the Position

Paper for Funding Community Education.

• Launched the television programmes on

community education ‘Beyond the Classroom’. All

programmes are available online:

http://www.aontas.com/commed/networkcen/

workofcen.html

• Created a paper on the CEN outlining its history,

work and achievements. The paper charts the work

and development of the network over the past 3

years and is used as a promotional and advocacy

tool. It is available for download from the website:

http://www.aontas.com/commed/networkcen.html

• Completed a yearly evaluation of CEN meetings

with views from Network members.

• Redesigned the Community Education Network

section of the website: http://www.aontas.com/

commed/networkcen.html

international Promotion of the Community education Network AONTASwasrequestedtoshareourexperience

ofdevelopinganationalnetworkofnon-formal

educationprovidersatakeyinternationalconference.

NiamhO’Reillypresented‘Developing a voice for the

non-formal adult education sector – A case study of the

AONTAS Community Education Network’attheDARE

(DemocracyandHumanRightsEducation,Europe)

conferenceinGlasgowinMarch:TacklingPoverty

andSocialExclusioninEuropethroughEducationfor

DemocraticCitizenshipandHumanRightsEducation

inAdultLearning.

Outcomes:• Greater international awareness of the Community

Education Network.

• Promotion of ‘Beyond the Classroom’ television

programmes.

• Built links with the non-formal adult education

sector across Europe.

learner NetworksLearnerNetworkswerefirstcreatedin2006anddue

totheirsuccesswereidentifiedasaspecificareafor

workintheAONTASStrategicPlan2007-2010.A

frameworkfordevelopingNetworkswasproduced

inordertocreateeffectivespacesforlearnerstocome

togetherandshareexperience,identifytheirneeds

andtoworkcollectivelytocreatebetterconditions

andopportunitiesforlearning.TheLearnerNetwork

steeringgroupcontinuedtoworkduring2010,holding

6meetings,mainlyconcentratingondevelopingthe

firstNationalAdultLearnerForum.AONTASalso

maintainedstrategicallianceswithotherorganisations

withtheaimofusingcollaborativeworkthatresponds

totheneedsoflearners.

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AONTAS Senior learner Network TheSeniorLearnerNetworkstartedtheyearby

workingtocreatealogoforseniorlearningwhich

servesadualpurpose.Firstlyitwouldactasan

indicatorforolderpeople,whoareconsidering

goingbacktolearning,thatthecoursewas‘senior

learnerfriendly’,andsecondlywouldensurethat

educationprovidersmeettherequirementsthatthe

seniorlearnernetworkdevelopedasoutlinedinits

LearnerCharter.Followingthiswork,astheSenior

LearnerNetworkhasstrengthenedandgrownover

thepast2½years,itwastimetomoveintoan

excitinglargerforumthatwillactasacommunityof

adultlearners,theNationalAdultLearnerForum.

AONTASwasrequestedtoshareourexperienceof

developingaseniorlearnernetworkatthe‘Learning

AgeConference:LearninginLaterLife’,inJune

2010.NiamhO’ReillyandPJGallagherco-presented

atthisWEAorganisedconferencebysharingour

experienceofestablishingandgrowinganeffective

networkforseniorlearners.

Outcomes:• A logo for senior learning.

• A national meeting of the Senior Learner

Network, report available at

http://www.aontas.com/download/pdf/final_sln_

report_may.pdf

• Consolidation of the Senior Learner Network

into the National Adult Learner Forum.

• Presenting the achievements of the senior

learner network at a high profile conference.

AONTAS Senior learner Network

National Adult learner Forum ThefirstNationalAdultLearnerForumwas

establishedasakeyspaceforalllearnerstopromote

adultlearning,tocometogethertoidentifythe

challengestheyfaceandtoactcollectivelyto

improvethis.Over60adultlearnersfromacross

Ireland,maturestudents,communityeducation

learners,seniorlearnersandmanymoreattended

thelaunchoftheAONTASNationalAdultLearners’

ForumwhichtookplaceonNovember3rdin

Athlone.AONTAScommittedtodevelopthevoice

ofadultlearnersthroughitsappointmentofa

LearningAdvocacyOfficer,whoseresponsibilityis

todevelopstrategiestobuildthecapacityoflearners

toarticulatetheirissuesandcreateamovementto

affectchange.

Outcomes:• A National Adult Learners’ Forum Meeting.

• Expanded the Learner Network steering group

to include another learner.

• Developed a workplan.

Thereportisavailableonline:

http://www.aontas.com/download/pdf/final_nalf_

report_ver_2.pdf


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SeCTiON 2POliCY ANd PROmOTiON

Policy/Promotion TeamDuring2010AONTASestablishedapolicy/

promotionteamledbyBerniBradyandincluding

NiamhFarren,CommunicationsOfficer,Jennifer

Gunning,Information/ResearchOfficerandCiara

Murphy,AdministrationandResourcesOfficer.

ThePPteammeetsonaregularbasisatleastonce

everyfourweeks.Theteammeetingsareopento

anymemberofstaffwhowishestocontributeideas

orinformthemselvesaboutongoingissues.During

theyeartheworkoftheteamwaschallengedbythe

lossofJennyinAprilandthedepartureofCiara

toanewjoblaterintheyear.Ithassincebeen

reconstitutedtoincludeDamienWalshe,Learning

AdvocacyOfficerwhowasrecruitedbyAONTASin

NovemberandEleonoraPeruffowhohastakenup

theroleofAdministrationandResourcesOfficerin

areconfiguringofstaffroles.

TheobjectivesofthePPteamareto:-

• keepabreastofpolicyissuesanddevelopments

relatingtoadultandcommunityeducation

• developanddeliveronapolicy/promotion

strategyinaccordancewiththeobjectivesofthe

strategicplan

• monitorthepolicy/promotionstrategyand

respondactivelytonewissuesthatmightarise.

Policy issues identified by AONTAS membership in 2010• Budget2011–Forinformationabouthowthe

Budgetwillaffectadultlearnersandthesector

seehttp://www.aontas.com/information

• RetainingaMinisterforLifelongLearning.

• ActivationMeasures–Tworoundsofactivation

measureswereannouncedovertheyear2010.

TheMinisterforFinanceindicatedthatmore

placeswouldbeallocatedaspartofBudget2011.

• Realignmentofrelevantprogrammeswithin

governmentdepartmentsinparticularthe

changingroleofFÁS.

• PublicSectorRecruitmentEmbargo/

RationalisationofVECs–andhowbothwill

affectthedemandforadultlearning.

• Supportstomaturestudents–Changestothe

grant,andtheStudentAssistanceFund.The

newschemeisexpectedtobeintroducedbefore

summer2011–itisexpectedthatgrantswillbe

administeredbyasingleentity.

• TheHuntReportandthenewHigherEducation

Strategy.

• Parityofesteemforpart-timethirdlevel

students.

• TheNewEuropeanActionPlanonLifelong

Learning.

• Aneffectivefundingmechanismforcommunity

education.

• Recognitionofthevalueofaccreditedand

non-accreditedlearninginfosteringalifelong

learningculture.

• OECD(PISA)reportonliteracyatsecond

level.Linktothereportisherehttp://

www.oecd.org/document/61/0,3343,

en_2649_35845621_46567613_1_1_1_1,00.html


16

Promoting PolicyBoththestrategicplanningprocessandtheAdult

Learners’Festivalprovidetheopportunityfor

AONTAStofocusonkeypolicyissuesforthesector

andpromotetheseissuesinthepoliticalarena.The

increasingdemandforadultlearningpresentsadult

educationproviderswithparticularchallenges,and

policychangesinBudget2010alsohavehadan

impactonadultlearners.Forthetraditionalclosing

eventoftheFestival,AONTASrecreatedtheconcept

ofaconstituencyclinictofocusonissuesparticular

tothesectorandadultlearners.Thiseventprovided

thoseparticipatingwiththeopportunitytointeract

directlywithspokespeoplefromtheGreenParty,

theLabourParty,FineGaelandwithMinisterfor

LifelongLearning,SeanHaughey.

AONTASinvitedprovidersandlearnerswitha

broadspectrumofexperiencetoparticipate,and

facilitatedtheminadvancetoidentifyandarticulate

issues.Keyissueswhichemergedonthedayinclude:

• Thepublicsectorrecruitmentembargoand

itsimpactonstaffwithintheadulteducation

services,asstaffexcludingtutorsarenot

considered‘frontline’

• Changestothefinancialsupportsforadult

learners,specificallytheremovalofeligibilityfor

aHigherEducationGrantforthoseontheBack

toEducationAllowance

• Lackofinformationonadultlearning

opportunities

• Theneedforgreaterco-ordinationat

Departmentallevel,specificallybetweenthe

DepartmentofSocialandCommunityAffairs

andtheDepartmentofEducationandSkills.

AONTASpreparedanddisseminatedashortbriefing

document ‘Adult Education – a Current Diagnosis’ on

thedayandsubsequentlyonthewebsite.Feedbackon

theeventfrombothparticipantsandspokespeople

wasextremelypositiveandtheeventwascoveredby

theIrishTimes.

Progressing PolicyFollowingthiseventAONTASworkedclosely

withtheUSI(UnionofStudentsinIreland)and

theGrantsforMatureStudentsCampaignto

focusontheremovalofeligibilityfortheHigher

EducationGrant.USIinvitedAONTAStochaira

publicmeetingontheissueandweraisedtheissue

formallywithboththeDepartmentofEducation

andSkillsandtheDepartmentofSocialProtection.

InMay2010AONTASproducedabriefingpaperon

theBTEAissueandtheSocialWelfareBill.Thiswas

alsocirculatedtoSocialProtectionSpokespeople

fromtheOppositionparties.

InJuneAONTASwasinvitedtomeetwithMinister

forSocialProtection,EamonÓCuiv.Oneofthe

adultlearnerswhoparticipatedintheConstituency

Clinicalsoattendedthemeeting.

Althoughthemeetingwasnotsuccessfulin

reversingthedecision,AONTAScontinuedto

highlightthebroaderissueoffinancialsupportsfor

adultlearnersthroughouttheyear.

InadvanceofBudget2010AONTASprepareda

detailedbriefingdocumentonthemainpolicy

issuesaffectingbothlearnersandproviders,which

wasdisseminatedtoEducationspokespeoplefrom

allparties.

InNovember2010AONTASwasinvitedtogive

apresentationtoLabourpartymembersinDún

Laoghaire,whereweagainraisedthepublicsector

recruitmentembargoandtheissueoffinancial

supportsforadultlearners.Labourpartyleader

EamonGilmorewasinattendance.

AllAONTASbriefingpapersareavailableinthe

policysectionoftheAONTASwebsite.

Aswellasitsregularmeetings,in2011AONTASwill

establishajointpolicyworkinggroupwithNALA

toadvanceourcommonagendafortheadultand

communityeducationsector.Detailsofthisprocess

willbeworkedoutwithNALAearlyin2011.The

PPteamwillalsoconsolidatecollaborativeworking

relationshipswithotherstakeholdersaspartofthe

17

ongoingworkofthestrategicplan.Wewillbuildon

workwehavealreadystartedasillustratedbelow.

Organisations engaged with in 2010• Wecontinuedtodevelopourrelationships

withVECs,throughourmembershipstrategy,

consultationprocesses,theFestival,Exploreand

research.

• WeworkedwithICTU,throughtheFestival,

disseminatinginformationandgeneralsupport

fortheircampaigns.

• EqualityRightsAlliance;wedisseminatedtheir

materials,linkedtheminwithourmembership

andattendedsomemeetings.

• USI/GrantsforMatureStudentsCampaign;we

workedwiththemregardingtheBTEAchanges

andcampaign.

• INOU;wemetwiththeirstaffatvariousevents,

attendedtheirseminaronActivationmeasures.

• SocialPolicyNetwork;NFattendedtwooftheir

meetingsusingtheopportunitytomeetwith

organisationssuchastheCIC,OlderandBolder

etc.

• HEAAccessAdvisoryGroup;BBisamember

attendingfourmeetingsperyearand

contributingactivelytopolicydiscussions.

• AdultEducationGuidanceInitiative;we

developedourrelationshipformallywiththe

NCGE.BBhasbeenanactivememberofthe

AEGIAdvisoryGroupsince2000.

• NALA;Wearerepresentedonthesteeringgroup

fortheNALAdistancelearningprogramme

fundedundertheLMAmeasures.Weplanto

developandstrengthenourlinkswithNALA

duringthenextstrategicplanthroughthe

establishmentofthejointpolicyworkinggroup.

• TheNQAI;wehaveworkedcloselywiththem

throughtheconsultativegroup,respondingto

policypapersanddevelopingtheadulteducation

informationsectionofQualifax.

• NationalLibraryCouncil;BBparticipatesonthe

advisorygroupfortheirnewe-learninginitiative

togetherwithFÁS.

• YoungBallymunGroup;BBisamemberofthe

LiteracivicBursaryCommitteewhichdispenses

fundingtolocalprojectsinBallymun.

AONTAS Communications StrategyAONTASCommunicationsstrategyencompasses

abroadrangeofactivities,fromissuingpress

releasesandbriefings,throughtothemanagement

oftwowebsites,andproductionoftheAONTAS

quarterlymagazineExplore.Thecommunications

strategywithintheorganisationalsoproposesto

developrelationshipswithrelevantagenciesand

organisations,aswellasliaisingwithrelevantpolicy

makersandelectedrepresentativesasdescribedabove.

Thedevelopmentofthepolicypromotionteam

hasalsomadeanimpactonthecommunications

strategy,reflectedthroughlongertermengagement

withparticularissues,campaigningactivitiesand

strengtheningofrelationshipswithdecisionmakers

andelectedrepresentatives

Theobjectivesofthecommunicationsstrategyover

theperiod2010were:-

• toprovideclearinformationonadultlearning

throughmainstreamandonlinemedia

• tohighlighttheparticularchallengesfacingadult

learnersandadultlearningproviders.

Using Social mediaThedevelopmentofnewtechnologies,inparticular

socialnetworkingtoolshasbeenofinteresttothe

NGOsectoringeneralandAONTAShasbeenquick

toexploreitspotential.Theabilitytocreate,publish

andsharecontentonlineinavarietyofformats

presentssignificantopportunitiesforAONTAS

inabusyandoftenchaoticmainstreammedia

environment.Thesetechnologiesalsoallowusto

engagewithexistingmembersandsupportersand

buildabroaderfollowing.

During2010wemadeextensiveuseofsocial

networkingtoolsTwitterandFacebook.AONTAS


18

FacebookpagesandanewAdultLearners’Festival

pageinDecember2010togetherprovideda

followingofover400people.InDecember2010

thenumberofTwitterfollowerswas450.These

toolsprovidemoreopportunitiestodisseminate

informationandpromoteAONTASmessages–but

thereareadditionaloutcomes.Socialnetworking

activityduring2010supportedthedevelopmentof

relationshipswithotherNGOS,helpedAONTAS

makecontactwithjournalistsandengageotherson

policyissues.Useofsocialnetworkingalsoincreases

traffictotheAONTASandFestivalwebsites.As

useofthistechnologyincreases,sotoodowaysof

measuringitsimpactandeffectiveness.Weplanto

developthisfurtheroverthenextthreeyears.

websitesBothwww.aontas.comandwww.

adultlearnersfestival.comareimportant

communicationstoolsforAONTAS.In2010we

upgradedandimprovedtheFestivalwebsite,

integratingsocialmediatoolsandtargetingthree

keyaudiences:

• STARAwardsnominees

• eventorganisers

• adultlearners.

ThemainAONTASwebsitewasalsoupgradedto

includesocialmediatools.

General media workDuring2010AONTASissued12pressreleases,

whichresultedinarticlesandinterviewsinlocal

andcommunitymediathroughoutthecountry.

Moretargetedengagementwithmediaresultedin

coverageintheIrishIndependentduringFebruary

andApril,andagaininAugust/September.During

thisperiodAONTASalsofeaturedintheEvening

Herald,theSundayIndependent,theSunday

BusinessPostandtheSundayTribune.

Peaktimesforcoverageforadultlearningissuesare

January,August,SeptemberandduringtheAdult

Learners’Festival.AONTASalsoissuedpressreleases

tocoincidewiththeAGMinMayandGeneral

MeetinginNovember2010.

explore magazineThreeissuesoftheAONTASmagazineExplorewere

producedanddisseminatedin2010withafourth

inproductionbytheendoftheyear.Themagazine

isanimportantpublicationasitfocusesonissues

ofrelevancetoadultlearnersandadultlearning

organisations,showcasingmodelsofgoodpractice,

disseminatinginformationfromEuropeand

communicatingwiththemembership.1,000copies

ofeacheditionofthemagazinearedisseminatedto

themembershipandthepublicationisalsomade

availableonline.Articlesfocusedoneverything

fromhowtoengagewithmedia,toupdatesonthe

AONTASstrategicplanningconsultationprocess.

Featuresshowcasedmethodologies,practiceand

outcomesofadultlearningindifferentcontexts

fromtheworkplacetocommunityeducation.

Oireachtas and media monitoringAONTASmaintainsanOireachtasandMedia

Monitoringsystemenablingittorespondquickly

torelevantpolicyissuesastheyarisethroughnews

releases,letterstotheeditorandParliamentary

Questions.

media TrainingWesupportourmemberstopromotetheirworkby

offeringmediatrainingandpromotionalsupport.

TheAdultLearners’FestivalInformationDayin

Januaryprovidedashortsessionontheuseof

onlineandtraditionalmediatoeventorganisers,

membersandgroupsinterestedintheFestival.

InMarch2010AONTASdeliveredadaylongmedia

trainingsessionintheAdultandCommunity

EducationServiceinJigginstown,whichwas

attendedbytwelvelocalrepresentativesinvolvedin

thedeliveryofeducationinKildare.

InJune2010AONTASsupportedtheworkofthe

SeniorTravellerTrainingCentresinpromoting

thefindingsofthe‘TeachReport’,amajorresearch

reportonTravellereducation.AONTASworked

withDrNiamhHouriganwhoconductedthe

researchtodisseminatethefindingstolocaland

nationalmedia.

19

ThroughouttheyearAONTASofferedfreemedia

trainingtomembersthroughtheAONTAS

weeklyupdate.Althoughanumberofmembers

indicatedtheirinterestinpursuingthistraining,

thiswasnottakenupduetothelimitedcapacityof

organisations.AONTASisplanningtopilotregional

mediatrainingworkshopsin2011toaddressthis

capacityissue.

Adult learners’ Festival 2010TheAdultLearners’Festivalhasbeenestablished

asakeynationalpromotionaleventforthesector

andthefourthannualAdultLearners’Festivaltook

placefrom22–26February2010Theoveralltheme

oftheFestivalwas‘BetterTogether’,promoting

greatercollaborationwithinthebroadadultand

communityeducationsectoraswellasworkingin

partnershipwitharangeofexternalorganisations.

ThroughouttheFestivalweekAONTASpromoteda

differentadultlearningthemeasfollows:-

• CelebrateLearning–Monday,22February2010

• GreenLearning–Tuesday,23February2010

• LearningCommunities–Wednesday,24

February2010

• Learn@Work–Thursday,25February2010

• LobbyforLearning–Friday,26February2010.

National Festival Activities• TheSTARAwardsCeremonyforAdultLearning

Projects.

• TheLaunchoftheDVDseries‘Beyondthe

Classroom’.

• TheAdultEducationCliniconLobbyfor

Learningday.

• NationalandLocalPublicRelationsand

AdvertisingCampaign.

• SupportingandencouragingAONTASmembers

andadultlearninginitiativestoholdeventsand

activities.

• Partnershipswithotherorganisations.

The STAR Awards CeremonyTheSTARAwardsCeremonymarkedtheofficial

launchoftheAdultLearners’Festivalandtook

placeintheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians,Kildare

StreetDublin.MinisterforLifelongLearning,Sean

HaugheyTDofficiallyopenedtheFestivalwhile

NewstalkBroadcaster,OrlaBarrywastheguest

speaker.Thirteenawardswerepresentedoutofa

totalof110nominatedprojects.

launch of Beyond the Classroom BeyondtheClassroomisaseriesoffourtelevision

programmesthatprovideaninsightintocommunity

educationinDublinasitwasexperiencedbythe

communitiesofTallaght,KilbarrackandDublin’s

InnerCity.ThelaunchtookplaceintheLighthouse

CinemaonLearningCommunitiesDay.Lord

MayorofDublin,Cllr.EmerCostellolaunched

theprogrammeswhichwereproducedbyDublin

CommunityTelevision(DCTV)inpartnershipwith

theAONTASCommunityEducationNetwork,with

theaidoffundsobtainedthroughtheBroadcasting

AuthorityofIreland’sSoundandVisionprogramme.

TheserieswasbroadcasteveryWednesdayevening

inMarch2010byDCTVandcanbeaccessedviathe

AONTASwebsite.

lobby for learning day: The Adult education Clinic TheAdultEducationClinictookplaceonFriday,

26February2010aspartoftheLobbyforLearning

Day.TheClinicwhichwastheclosingeventofthe

FestivalwasmodelledonTDsconstituencyclinics

withrepresentativesofthetwoconstituenciesinthe

sector(learnersandproviders)giventheopportunity

tomeetwithelectedrepresentativesincluding

MinisterforLifelongLearningSeanHaughey,Fine

GaelSpokespersononEducationBrianHayes,Green

PartySpokespersononEducation,PaulGogartyand

LabourPartyCouncillor,AodhanO‘Riordain.The

overallaimoftheeventwastofacilitatedialogueon

thekeyissuesforthesectorwithaviewtoinforming

thecontentoffuturepartymanifestos,briefings,

responsesandplans.


20

National and local PR and Advertising CampaignReleasingashortlistofSTARnominated

projectstorelevantlocalmediainadvanceof

theFestivalcreatedlocalmediainterestandbuilt

upmomentumaboutthenamesofthewinning

projects.Broadcasterandpresenterofthepopular

‘WeekendBlend’onNewstalk,OrlaBarrysupported

theFestivalbyspeakingattheSTARAwards

ceremony,recordinganad,presentingtheawards

andmakingherselfavailableforphotographs.

MediacoveragefortheFestivalwascapturedusing

Kantarmediamonitoringservice,whichwasused

overatwomonthperiodbefore,afterandduring

theFestival.Inadditiontopaidadvertising,the

Festivalwaswidelycoveredinvariousmedia

throughoutthecountryasfollows:-

• RTE’sDrivetimeprogrammeontheFriday

beforetheFestival.

• Inadvanceoftheweek,theFestivalandrelevant

themeswerecoveredbytheSundayBusiness

Post,theSundayTribune,theIrishIndependent,

andtheExaminer.

• DuringtheweekoftheFestival,coveragewas

securedinTheExaminer,theIrishTimes

Magazine,TheIrishIndependentandtheIrish

Times.

• Duringtheweektwophotosappearedinthe

MetroHerald.

• TheFestivalfeaturedonLMFM,Highland

Radio,GalwayBayFM,SouthEastRadio,

InishowenCommunityRadio,ClareFM,West

LimerickRadio,LimerickLive95,KCLRFM,

RaidioCorcaBaiscinn,NEARfm,Dublin

SouthFM,GalwayBayFMandClaremorris

CommunityRadio.

• CityChannelinterviewedBBaspartoftheir

eveningnewsprogramme.

• TheFestivalwascoveredextensivelyinlocal

mediain27countiesthroughoutthecountry.

180separatenewsarticlesfromaroundthe

countrywerecapturedthroughthemedia

monitoringservice.

• Evaluationformsreceivedtodatefromevent

organisersindicatesthattheFestivalandlocal

eventsreceivedgoodcoveragefromlocal

andcommunityradioandnewspapers.Our

evaluationindicatesthat51%ofeventorganisers

weresuccessfulingettingtheireventscovered

throughlocalmedia.

• TheFestivalwascoveredon15differentradio

stationsandalmost200printarticlesaboutthe

Festivalweredocumented.

• AlloftheSTARAwardwinnersgained

substantialmediacoverage.SincetheFestivalthe

project‘ASongForAll’hasreceivedextensive

mediacoveragewiththewinnersperforming

inCarnegieHall,NewYork,whiletheOpen

TrainingCollege(Nationwidewinner)featured

onRTE’smagazineprogramme‘OutsidetheBox’.

• TheFestivalmadeextensiveuseofonlineand

socialmedia.IntheleaduptotheFestival

AONTASbuiltupaTwitterfollowingofalmost

200,andestablishedaFestivalFacebookpage

foreventorganiserstostayconnectedandshare

resources.

• TheFestivalwebsiterecordedover4000visitors

duringthemonthofFebruary.

• Localeventorganiserspromotedtheirevents

throughlocalmediaincludingnewspapers

andcommunityradioArangeofsupportsand

resourcesweredevelopedtoencourageadultand

communityeducationproviders’participation

including:-

–The“EventinaBag”promotionalmaterials,

withballoons,postersandgiveaways

–OnlineResourcesincludingWeeklyezine,

Festivalideasandactivities,Facebookand

Twitter

–TheAdultLearners’FestivalInformationDay

fullofideasonhowtoparticipateandhost

events

–MembershipRegionalMeetingpresentations

ontheFestivalandhowtobecomeinvolved.

21

Number and Range of eventsAsthegraphbelowdemonstrates,therehasbeena

steadyincreaseinthenumberofeventstakingplace

duringtheFestivalsinceitsinception:

Awiderangeoforganisations,businesses,local

servicesandadultandcommunityeducation

providersorganisedeventsforFestivalweek.Event

organisersindicatedthattheireventswereprimarily

toprovideinformation,highlightfacilitiesavailable

locallyandpromoteandcelebrateadultlearning.A

sampleof50eventsshowedparticipationof4,000

prospectivelearners.Giventhatover320eventstook

place,manyofwhichwere‘informationevents’,the

numbersofpeopleseekinginformationonadultand

communityeducationislikelytobe30,000forthat

week.Thediversityofeventshostedbygroupsand

organisationshighlightsthebroadscopeofadultand

communityeducationopportunitiesavailable.

Partnership and SponsorsAONTASthroughtheFestivalhasdevelopeda

numberofrelationshipswithkeyagenciesand

organisationswithaninterestinadultlearning.In

somecasestheFestivalprovidedtheopportunity

tostrengthenanexistingrelationship,whilein

othercasesnewrelationshipswereformedsuch

aswiththeArtsCouncilandGrowitYourself

(GIY).FundingfortheFestivalisverytightandhas

reducedoverthefouryearsofthestrategicplanas

fundinghasdiminishedacrosstheboard.AONTAS

isthereforeextremelygratefultoitssponsorsfor

theirsupportandendeavourstoproduceverygood

valuefortheirmoney.Theyinclude:-

• DepartmentofEducationandSkills

• FETAC–FurtherEducationandTrainingAwards

Council

• ICTU–IrishCongressofTradeUnions

• InstitutesofTechnologyIreland–

www.bluebrick.ie

• ASTI–AssociationofSecondaryTeachers,

Ireland

• TUI–TeachersUnionofIreland.

Workingpartnershipswerealsodevelopedwithkey

agenciesandorganisationswithavestedinterestin

adultlearning.Theyinclude:-

• TheNationalLibraryCouncilofIreland.The

CouncildisseminatedFestivalinformationtoall

librariesaswellasincludinganarticleinLibrary

News.Asaresult,32%oftheFestivaleventstook

placeinlibrariesnationwide.AONTASDirector,

BerniBradywasinvitedtoparticipateaworking

grouponthenewe-learninginitiativebetween

LibrariesandFÁS.

50

2007 2008 2009 2010

100

150

200

250

300

350


22

• TheSmallFirmsAssociation/IBEC

AvineMcNally,AssistantDirectorrepresented

theSmallFirmsAssociationontheSTARAwards

JudgingPanel.Sheidentified3companieswho

incorporateinhousetrainingandupskilling

fortheirstaffandwerewillingtoassistin

promotionalworkinadvanceofLearn@

Workday.ShealsopromotedtheSTARAwards

WorkplaceLearningcategoryamongtheSFA

members.TheFestivalwasalsopromoted

throughtheSFAezine,websiteandmagazine.

• GrowitYourself(GIY)

AONTASpartneredwithGIYIrelandtocelebrate

GreenLearningDay(Tuesday,22February

2010).6%ofeventswereorganisedbyGIY

groups.

• TheNQAI,AEOA,NUI/Maynooth,NCCP,

ActiveRetirementIreland,VTOS,Community

EducationFacilitators,PobalandFÁSwerealso

representedontheSTARAwardsJudgingPanel.

• TheIrishHeartFoundationprovidedlinkstothe

educationsectionsoftheirwebsitefortheevent

andactivitysectionofthewebsite.

• TheNationalConcertHallprovidedeventand

activityideasincluding‘BlowtheDustofYour

Trumpet’.

• TheArtsCounciladvertisedtheFestival

totheHeritageSites,ArtsOfficersinLocal

DevelopmentBoardsandtheirownoverarching

Education,CommunityandOutreachGroup,

resultingin7eventsinHeritagesitesbeingrun.

AONTASalsometwithothercompaniesand

organisationstoencouragetheirparticipation

duringtheFestivalweekincluding:-

• ThePortobelloInstitute,CREATE,National

FederationofVoluntaryBodiesinIreland,

CampusEngage,Cultivate,McDonalds,FIT,

MigrantsWorkersCentreandENFO.

• AbbottIrelandwhoteamedupwithlocalIOTs

andLibrariestohosteventsthroughouttheweek

intheirplantsaroundthecountry.

• TheNationalFederationofVoluntary

OrganisationstheumbrellabodyforNational

DisabilityGroupsencouragedtheirmembers

throughwebsiteandezinepromotiontohost

events.

23

SeCTiON 3iNFORmATiON ANd ReSeARCH

AONTAS information Referral ServiceTheInformationReferralServiceprovidesbothdirect

andreferralinformationonadulteducationissues

toindividualsandgroups.AONTASreceivescalls,

emailsandwebsitevisitsfromprospectivelearners

seekinginformationoncourses,entitlements,grants

andgovernmentinitiativessuchastheLabourMarket

ActivationMeasures.

BecauseofthelossofJennywhorantheAONTAS

InformationReferralServicetheservicewas

suspendedforaperiodoftimein2010whilewe

reconfigureditsdeliveryasbestwecould.Thedirect

telephoneresponsewasreallocatedtootherstaffand

wealsobegantopromoteourinformationresources

throughthewebwithinterestingresults.

Use of web-based informationOverthepastyearinformationonwww.aontas.com

hasbeencontinuallyupdatedtoreflectnew

developmentsinadulteducation.Engagement

withmembersofthepublicsincetheonsetofthe

downturneitherbyphoneoremailindicatesthe

particulargapsorinformationdeficitsthatexist.

Duringtheyearthisinformationwascollated

andpresentedintheformofFAQs(Frequently

AskedQuestions)onthewebsite.AGoogleMap,

highlightingthenewLabourMarketActivation

Measureswasintegratedintothewebsite.

InAugust2010AONTASproduced3onepage

documentsfordisseminationtothegeneralpublic

andforthewebsite.These3factsheetsincluded

informationonfinancialsupports,theLabour

MarketActivationMeasuresandusefulwebsitesand

resources.Thissectioniskeptuptodatewithrelevant

andcurrentinformationonallaspectsofadult

learningandcontainslinkstootherorganisations

suchasQualifax,HEAandtheNCGE.

Thewebsitecontainsinformationonalladult

learningoptions,financialsupportsandwhereto

accessguidance.

AONTAShasseenashiftinthewaythatlearnersare

nowcontactingtheorganisationwithahugeincrease

inthenumberofoverallhitsonthewebsite.Overthe

pasttwelvemonthstheinformationsectionofthe

websitehad31,342visitors.AONTAShasfoundthat

itreceivedincreasedqueriesduringthemonthsof

FebruaryandbetweenAugustandOctober.Thepeak

inFebruaryisaccreditedtothesuccessoftheAdult

Learners’Festivalswhichisnowafirmfixtureonthe

adultlearningcalendar.528telephonequerieswere

receivedduringFestivalWeekandmorethan4000

visitswererecordedontheFestivalwebsite.

Nature of enquiriesAtInformationEvents,41%ofparticipantsrequested

informationaboutupskillingorretrainingand22%

requestedinformationaboutCommunityEducation,

asrecordedontheeventorganisersevaluationform.

AONTASalsoprovidedafreetextlineforpeopleto

requesttheInformationBookletduringtheFestival

and260requestsforthebookletwerereceived.

TheincreasedqueriesduringtheAugusttoOctober

periodweredueinparttotheintroductionofthe

LabourMarketActivationMeasures.InAugust

2010therewere4,424visitorscomparedto2,119in

August2009.TheinterestintheLMAMeasureswas

highuntilmidOctober2010with500visitsperday.

AONTASmovedquicklytoputinformationabout

themeasuresonthewebsiteandtherewascontinual

interestintheinformationsection,inparticularthe

LabourActivationMeasureswithanaverageofone

thousandvisitorsperweekfrommid-augusttomid

September2010.


24

Throughout the year the top 3 information pages

were:

• FAQs–10,545pageviews

• Adultlearningoptions–5,945pageviews

• Financialsupport–1745pageviews.

Top 3 FAQs:

• Howtobecomeacounsellor–2,983pageviews

• Howtorepeatyourleavingcertificate–2,685

pageviews

• Howtobecomeateachingassistant–1,969

pageviews.

Top 3 queries by email and phone from June to

December:

• FinancialSupport

• Howtorepeatyourleavingcertificate

• Howtobecomeanadulteducationtutor.

The information BookletTheInformationBookletaimstointroducealladult

learnersandpotentialadultlearnerstotheoptions

availabletotheminadultlearninginawaythat

iscomprehensiveandeasytounderstand.From

abroadfinancialsupportssection,toathorough

listoflearningopportunitiesavailablethroughto

anextensivecontactslist,thebookletprovidesall

theinformationaprospectiveadultlearnermight

need.Thebookletalsoincludesinspirationalstories

fromadultlearnerswhohavestartedtheirlifelong

learningjourneyandareencouragingotherstodo

thesame.Theinformationbookletwasdownloaded

1052times(partialdata,thetrackingstartedinApril

2010)and923hardcopiesweredistributed(partial

data,astheservicewassuspendedfromApriltill

June2010)

Other information Sources

AONTAS UpdateTheAONTASUpdateisaweeklyebulletindesigned

tokeepmembersinformedaboutcurrentlifelong

learningissuesaswellaswhat’shappeninginAONTAS.

Thebulletinaimsto:

• ensureAONTASstaff,Executiveandmembersare

wellinformedaboutcurrentlifelonglearningissues

byprovidingaweeklyround-upofthelatestnews

gatheredthroughthemediaandtheOireachtas

monitoring

• actasavehicleforAONTASstaff,Executiveand

memberstocommunicatewithoneanotherona

weeklybasis

• bereaderfriendlybyusingphotos,hyperlinksand

shortsnappysynopsis.

Thebulletinisdividedintofoursections:Policy,

Promotion,MembershipandInformationinlinewith

theAONTASResourcePack.Itisemailedtomembers

everyTuesdayafternoon.Feedbackispositivewith

95%ofrespondentsin2010satisfiedwiththetype

ofinformationthebulletinprovides.ThePolicyand

Informationsectionsarethemostpopularwith60%

ofrespondentsfindingthePolicysectionusefulor

veryusefuland72.2%ofrespondentsfindingthe

Informationsectionusefulorveryuseful.

Resources and PublicationsSince2000allAONTASpublicationsareavailable

onthewebsiteandthePublicationsandLinks

sectionistheonemostfrequentlyvisitedafter

theInformationSection.AONTASalsomaintains

asmallcollectionoflibraryresourceswhichare

usedbyAONTASstaffandExecutivemembers

toassisttheminthecompletionofsubmissions,

policypapersandresearch.Publicrequestsusually

comefromstudentsandresearchersinadultand

communityeducation.Mostresourcerequestscome

throughthewebsitebuthardcopypublications

whicharenotonthewebsitebecausetheywere

publishedbefore2000areoftenrequestedby

researchers.Publicationsmostoftendownloadedfor

2010includedtheAdultLearner,thestrategicplan

consultationdocumentandpolicysubmissions.

25

The Adult learnerTheAdultLearneristheIrishJournalofAdultand

CommunityEducationfoundedinthemid1980s

asacollaborativeprojectbetweenAONTASandthe

AdultEducationOfficers’Association.Itispublished

annuallyandaimsprimarilytoservetheneedsofthe

adulteducationcommunityinIrelandbyproviding

aforumforcriticalreflectiononthepracticesof

teachingandlearning.Thejournalaimstocontinue

tomakeknowledge,researchandwritingaccessible

tothewidestpossibleaudienceandemphasisesthe

implicationsofcritiqueforpractice.Thejournal

hasalongestablishedpracticeofgivingpriorityto

subjectmatterthataddressesdisadvantage,social

exclusion,equality,workplacelearningandthestudy

oftheteacher/studentrelationship.Community

education,literacy,citizenshipandaccessissuesare

alsoofimportanceinthejournal.Whilethejournal

givesprioritytopapersfromIrelanditalsowelcomes

papersfromthoseworkingintheinternationalarena

whichmaybeofinterestintheIrishcontext.The

journal,callsforpapersandguidelinesforwriters

canbeaccessedontheAONTASwebsiteunderthe

publicationsandlinkssection.

in-house designAONTASendeavourstomakethebestuseofits

resourcesthroughstafftraininganddevelopment.

In2010thisenabledustodesignanumberof

publicationsandresourcesinternallyincluding:

• AdultLearners’FestivalResources

• TeachingCouncilSubmission

• BudgetSubmission

• AGM/GMMaterials

• SeniorLearnerNetworkMaterials

• CommunityEducationReport

• StrategicPlanConsultationMaterials.

ResearchFromSeptember2009toJune2010,AONTAScarried

outamajorpieceofresearchexploringtheoutcomes

andimpactofDepartmentofEducationandSkills

(DES)fundedcommunityeducation.

Thisresearchisthefirstnationalstudyexploringthe

outcomesofcommunityeducation.Thestudylooked

atwhetherlearnersexperiencebenefitsrelatedto:

Progression(e.gmovingontootherlearning),

• Civicandpoliticalengagement(e.g.votingand

volunteering);

• Socialengagement(e.g.developingtrustand

toleranceofothers);

• Health(e.g.self-esteemandeatingmore

nutritiousfoods).

Therewereover700participantsinthisresearch,

683ofwhomwerecommunityeducationlearners

whocompletedthemainresearchtoolwhich

wasaquantitativesurvey.Theresultsprovide

policy-makers,providersandlearnersalikewith

evidencetomakedecisionsaboutthesupportof

andparticipationincommunityeducation.This

informationisofvitalimportanceasdifficult

decisionsaremadeaboutfundingstatutoryservices.

Findingsshowthatcommunityeducation:

• Motivates learners to continue their learning.

Halfthelearnerssurveyedsaidtheywantedto

continueontodoanaccreditedcoursewiththeir

currentproviderandalmosthalfindicatedthat

everytimesomeonedoesacoursetheyshould

beabletogaincertification.Seventypercentof

learnerssurveyedsaidtheywantedtocontinueon

tolearnanewskillasaresultoftheirtimeintheir

communityeducation.

• Pays for itself. Manycommunitylearnersbegin

tovolunteerasaresultoftheirparticipationin

communityeducation.Evenwithconservative

estimates,whenthisworkisvaluedthereturnto

theStateonthisvolunteerworkalmostequals

thefundingprovidedforcommunityeducation

byDES.


26

• Is very effective at developing the self-confidence

of learners.Eight-fivepercentoflearners

surveyedexperiencedpositivechangeintheir

self-confidenceand80%experiencedapositive

changeintheirsenseofpurposeorhope.

• Helps develop trust and tolerance in Irish

society. Sixty-fourpercentoflearnerssurveyed

indicatedthattheyhadexperiencedapositive

changeinacceptingandunderstandingbeliefs

differenttotheirown,while60%saidthatthey

hadexperiencedapositivechangeinbeing

acceptingandunderstandingofothercultures.

• Helps some learners make healthier choices.

Forty-sixpercentoflearnerssurveyedsaidthey

hadstartedtoexerciseabitmorebecauseoftheir

experienceincommunityeducationwhile41%

saidtheyhadstartedtoeatmorefruitandveg.

Thestudyfoundthisoutandmore,aswellas

makingrecommendationsforthecontinued

contributionofcommunityeducationandstrategies

forenhancingitseffectiveness.Theresearchreport

entitled‘More than just a Course’willbelaunched

duringtheAONTASAdultLearner’sFestivalin2011

andwillbeavailableontheAONTASwebsite.

27

SeCTiON 4RePReSeNTATiON

AONTAScontinuestorepresenttheadultand

communityeducationsectorinIrelandatnational

andinternationalvenues,inparticularrepresenting

thevoiceofadultlearners.Organisationsengaged

withatannationallevelin2010aredocumentedin

thepolicy/promotionsectionofthisreport.

international engagementAONTASisamemberoftheEuropeanAssociation

ofEducationforAdultsandtheInternational

CouncilforAdultEducation.Howeverwedidnot

attendtheAnnualGeneralassemblyoftheEAEA

in2010whichwasheldinArmenia,duetofunding

constraints.HoweverBBrepresentedtheEAEAata

seminarinBrusselsontheActionPlanforLifelong

Learningwhiletheassemblywasgoingon.She

waspartofapanelidentifyingpolicyissuesforthe

futureoflifelonglearninginEurope.

InJanuaryandNovemberBBattendedconferences

inBrusselsandCopenhagenrespectivelyonthe

evaluationandfuturedevelopmentoftheGrundtvig

programme.

iNFONeTInfoNetisaEuropeannetworkofeditorsinthefield

ofAdultEducationandLifeLongLearninganda

projectwithintheframeworkofLifelongLearning/

Grundtvig4(2005-2008/2008-2011).It:-

• providesacomprehensive,constantlygrowing

database(InfoService)withreports(news,articles,

backgroundarticles,interviews,etc.)relatedto

adulteducation(currentlyaround600articles)

• providesathematicinformationletter

(InfoLetter),issuedeverytwomonthsasaPDF

filewithlinkstotheInfoServicedatabase

• hasanetworkofaround25correspondents

(journalists/experts)allacrossEurope

• cooperateswithimportantorganisationsand

networks(e.g.EAEA).

InfoNetmaterialisdesignedtobeusedbythemedia,

aswellasbeingusedasasourceofinformation

forEuropeaninstitutionsandothersinterested

inEuropeanadulteducationissues.Alltextsare

availableinEnglishandtheoriginallanguage,and

theyarewritteninaccordancewithspecialquality

standards.InfoNetcancurrentlybeusedfreeof

charge,includingreprintingthetextsinthemedia.

InfoNetcanbeaccessedthroughitswebsiteat

www.infonet-ae.eu

BerniBradyactsastheIrishcorrespondentandduring

theyearcontributedfourarticlesandonebackground

reportasfollows:-

A New Vision for Irish Education (05.01.2011, Article)

Teaching Adults: Profession or Vocation (15.02.2010,

Article)

“This is why it’s worth it” (19.04.2010, Article)

Welcome to our World: Serving the Educational needs of

Migrants in Ireland(27.09.2010, Article)

Adult Education in Ireland (09.2010, Background report)

TheInfoNetNetworkholdsanannualMilestone

Conferencewhichincludestrainingworkshopsfor

correspondentsandinformationinputsonadult

educationfromthehostcountry.The2010conference

washeldinNaplesinOctoberandwasattendedby

BerniBrady.


28

Study visitsAONTASisregularlyinvitedtodeliverpresentations

andinputsforstudygroupsfromabroad,through

Leargasandotherorganisations.AONTASwas

invitedbyLeargastogivetwopresentationsto

visitingdelegationsinAprilandNovember2010.

AONTASalsoorganisedprogrammesfor

twolanguageDenmark.Thesevisitsincluded

presentationsonvariousaspectsofadultlearning

andorganisedvisitstoAONTASmembers.

Grundtvig learning PartnershipInAugust2010AONTASwassuccessfulinan

applicationforaGrundtvigLearningPartnership

projecttogetherwithanumberofotherEuropean

organisations.Theproject,entitled‘Sowing the

Learning Seeds’aimstosharebestpracticeof

organisingadultlearningcampaignsthrough

speciallythemedweeksorFestivals.Participating

learningorganisationsintheprojectarebasedin

France,Estonia,Hungary,Slovenia,Turkeyand

theNetherlands.Theprojectincludesaseriesof

seminarsonrelevantthemestoadultlearning

campaigns,whichwillbeorganisedduringAdult

Learners’Weeks/Festivalsintheparticipating

countries.Thefirstprojectplanningmeetingtook

placeinRheims,FranceinOctober2010withthe

secondmeetingorganisedtocoincidewiththe

AONTASAdultLearners’Festivalin2011.Learning

andexamplesofbestpracticeduringtheprojectwill

bedocumentedthroughaspecialFestivalwebsite.

Conference Presentations ‘Developing a voice for the non-formal adult

education sector – A case study of the AONTAS

Community Education Network.’

DARE(DemocracyandHumanRightsEducation

Europe)conference:TacklingPovertyandSocial

ExclusioninEuropethroughEducationfor

DemocraticCitizenshipandHumanRights

EducationinAdultLearning,Glasgow.March28th–

30th.NiamhO’Reilly,HeadofMembershipServices

‘Our way of the highway – Analysing non-formal

education as an alternative provider of higher level

education.’

PathwaystoEducation:ConnectionsConference.

UniversityCollegeCorkandCorkInstituteof

Technology.April28th-29th.NiamhO’Reilly

‘AONTAS Senior Learner Network.’

LearningAgeConference:LearninginLaterLife.

WEA,Belfast9thJune.NiamhO’Reillyand

PJGallagher.

‘Method of assessing and describing informal and

non-formal learning. Sharing the experience of the

Irish Context.’

TheDAREFocusMeeting“CitizenshipReloaded:

TheDemandfor`ActiveCitizenship´inEurope

anditsImplicationsforEducationforDemocratic

CitizenshipandHumanRightsEducation(EDC/

HRE)”.Vilnius,Lithuania,July1-3.NiamhO’Reilly

‘The integration of Non-Formal Adult Learning in

the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.’

EAEA/NVLConference2010Theintegrationof

non-formaladultlearninginNationalQualification

Frameworks(NQFs).Brussels,25th–26th

November.NiamhO’Reilly

‘Networks in Adult Education.’

GrundtvigLectureSeries,UniversityofEssen24th

November.BerniBrady

Adult and Community Education in Ireland; the Role

of the NGO,

PresentationtostaffoftheGermanInstituteof

AdultEducation(DIE),Bonn,November2010.

BerniBrady

29

Registration Number 80958

Charity Number 6719

Company informationDirectors Ms.MarianDuffy(President)

Ms.LorettaNeedham(Vice -

President) (appointed May 2010)

Ms.MariaGorman

(Hon. Treasurer)

Ms.RuthSmith(Hon. Secretary)

Ms.DeborahBrock

Ms.LorraineCunningham

(appointed May 2010)

Ms.LindaGreene

Mr.MichaelMurray


Ms.EithneNicDhonnchadha

Ms.ElvaO’Callaghan

Mr.LornePatterson

Mr.JohnRyan

Ms.LizWaters

Mr.LiamKilbride


Ms.JillianHarrison

(resigned October 2010)

Ms.UnaBuckley

(term completed May 2010)

Ms.MarySweeney

(term completed May 2010)

Secretary Ms.RuthSmith

Auditors AnneBradyMcQuillansDFK

CharteredAccountants

&RegisteredAuditors

IveaghCourt

HarcourtRoad

Dublin2

Business Address 83-87MainStreet

Ranelagh

Dublin6

Bankers BankofIreland

LowerBaggotStreet

Dublin2

Solicitors P.J.Walsh&Company

Solictors

12UpperFitzwilliamStreet

Dublin2

Registered Office 83-87MainStreet

Ranelagh

Dublin6

AONTAS FiNANCiAl STATemeNTS 2010

AONTAS (A company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)


30

directors’ Report for the year ended 31st december 2010

Thedirectors’presenttheirreportandtheauditedfinancialstatementsfortheyearended31stDecember2010.

Principal Activities, Business Review and Future developmentsTheprincipalactivityofthecompanyistoensurethateveryadultinIrelandhasaccesstoappropriateand

affordablelearningopportunitiesthroughouttheirlives,thusenablingthemtocontributetoandparticipate

intheeconomic,socialandculturaldevelopmentofIrishsociety.Thecompanyislimitedbyguaranteeand

nothavingasharecapital.Boththelevelofactivityandtheyearendfinancialpositionweresatisfactoryand

thedirectors’expectthatthepresentlevelofactivitywillbesustainedfortheforeseeablefuture.

ResultsThesurplusfortheyearafterprovidingfordepreciationandtaxationamountedto€8,157(2009-€4,687).

Going ConcernThecompanyisdependantonincomeprovidedfromsemistateandgovernmentfunders.Aswithmany

governmentfundedcharities,thecompanyisaffectedbyboththebudgetaryconstraintsimplementedby

thenationalgovernmentandthedeterioratingexternaleconomicrestraints.Thedirectorshavereviewed

allrelevantinformationandareconfidentthatthecompanyhasadequatefinancialresourcestocontinuein

operationalexistencefortheforeseeablefuture.Consequently,thedirectorsconsideritappropriatetoprepare

thefinancialstatementsonagoingconcernbasis.

directorsTheliabilityofmembersislimited.Everymemberofthecompanyundertakestocontributetotheassetsof

thecompanyintheeventofitsbeingwoundupwhiletheyaremembersorwithinoneyearthereafterforthe

paymentofthedebtsandliabilitiesofthecompanycontractedbeforetheyceasedtobemembersandthe

costs,chargesandexpensesofwindingupandfortheadjustmentoftherightsofthecontributorsamong

themselvessuchamountasmayberequired,notexceeding€6.35.

31



TheExecutiveCommitteeconstitutestheBoardofDirectors’ofthecompanyunderthetermsofArticle28of

theArticlesofAssociationofthecompany:

Ms.MarianDuffy(President)

Ms.LorettaNeedham(Vice-President)

Ms.MariaGorman(Hon. Treasurer)

Ms.RuthSmith(Hon. Secretary)

Ms.DeborahBrock

Ms.LorraineCunningham

Ms.LindaGreene

Mr.MichaelMurray

Ms.EithneNicDhonnchadha

Ms.ElvaO’Callaghan

Mr.LornePatterson

Mr.JohnRyan

Ms.LizWaters

Mr.LiamKilbride

Therewerenochangesinmembersbetween31stDecember2010andthedateofsigningthefinancialstatements.

Books of AccountThemeasurestakenbythedirectors’toensurecompliancewiththerequirementsofSection202,Companies

Act,1990,regardingproperbooksofaccountaretheimplementationofnecessarypoliciesandprocedures

forrecordingtransactions,theemploymentofcompetentaccountingpersonnelwithappropriateexpertise

andtheprovisionofadequateresourcestothefinancialfunction.Thebooksofaccountofthecompanyare

maintainedatthebusinessaddress.


32


Principal Risks and UncertaintiesThedirectors’haveassessedtherisksandhavetakenmeasurestomanagetheserisksinAONTASasfollows:

market RiskIncommonwithmanygovernmentfundedcharities,thecompanyisaffectedbyboththebudgetary

constraintsimplementedbythenationalgovernmentandthedeterioratingexternaleconomicconditions.

Thedirectors’areconfidentthatthecompanyhasadequatefinancialresourcestocontinueinoperational

existencefortheforeseeablefuture.

Fraud RiskThisriskismitigatedbymaintainingsegregationofdutiesforreceiptoffundsandthepaymentofcreditors.

Thedirectors’haveputprocessesandcontrolsinplacetoensurethatdetailedcheckingiscarriedoutatall

stagestoensuretheaccuracyandvalidityofalltransactions.

AuditorsTheauditors,AnneBradyMcQuillansDFK,haveindicatedtheirwillingnesstocontinueinofficein

accordancewiththeprovisionsofSection160(2)oftheCompaniesAct,1963.

Section 40(1) Companies Act, 1983Section40(1)oftheCompanies(Amendment)Act1983doesnotapplyasthecompanyislimitedbyguarantee.

events after the Balance Sheet dateTherehavebeennocircumstancesoreventssubsequenttotheyearend,whichrequireadjustmenttoor

disclosureinthefinancialstatementsorinthenotesthereto.

OnbehalfoftheBoard

Ms. Marian Duffy Ms. Maria Gorman

President Hon. Treasurer

Date: 2nd April 2011


33

ThedirectorsareresponsibleforpreparingtheAnnualReportandthefinancialstatementsinaccordance

withapplicableIrishlawandGenerallyAcceptedAccountingPracticeinIrelandincludingtheaccounting

standardsissuedbytheAccountingStandardsBoardandpublishedbytheInstituteofCharteredAccountants

inIreland.

IrishCompanyLawrequiresthedirectorstopreparefinancialstatementsforeachfinancialyearwhichgivea

trueandfairviewofthestateofaffairsofthecompanyandoftheprofitorlossofthecompanyforthatperiod.

Inpreparingthosefinancialstatements,thedirectorsarerequiredto:

- selectsuitableaccountingpoliciesandthenapplythemconsistently

- makejudgementsandestimatesthatarereasonableandprudent

- preparethefinancialstatementsonthegoingconcernbasisunlessitisinappropriatetopresumethatthe

companywillcontinueinbusiness.

Thedirectorsconfirmthattheyhavecompliedwiththeaboverequirementsinpreparingthefinancialstatements.

Thedirectorsareresponsibleforkeepingproperbooksofaccountwhichdisclosewithreasonableaccuracy

atanytimethefinancialpositionofthecompanyandtoenablethemtoensurethatthefinancialstatements

arepreparedinaccordancewithaccountingstandardsgenerallyacceptedinIrelandandwithIrishstatute

comprisingtheCompaniesActs,1963to2009.

Theyarealsoresponsibleforsafeguardingtheassetsofthecompanyandhence,fortakingreasonablesteps

forthepreventionanddetectionoffraudandotherirregularities.

OnbehalfoftheBoard




Statement of directors’ Responsibilities


34

independent Auditors’ Report to the members of AONTAS

WehaveauditedthefinancialstatementsofAONTASfortheyearended31stDecember2010which

comprisestheStatementofFinancialActivities,BalanceSheet,CashFlowandtherelatednotes.These

financialstatementshavebeenpreparedundertheaccountingpoliciessetouttherein.

Respective Responsibilities of directors’ and AuditorsAsdescribedintheStatementofDirectors’Responsibilitiesthecompany’sdirectors’areresponsibleforthe

preparationofthefinancialstatementsinaccordancewithapplicablelawandgenerallyacceptedaccounting

practiceinIrelandincludingtheaccountingstandardsissuedbytheAccountingStandardsBoardandpublished

bytheInstituteofCharteredAccountantsinIreland(GenerallyAcceptedAccountingPracticeinIreland).

Ourresponsibilityistoauditthefinancialstatementsinaccordancewithrelevantlegalandregulatory

requirementsandInternationalStandardsonAuditing(UKandIreland).

Thisreportismadesolelytothecompany’smembers,asabody,inaccordancewithsection193ofthe

CompaniesAct,1990.Ourauditworkhasbeenundertakensothatwemightstatetothecompany’smembers

thosematterswearerequiredtostatetotheminanauditor’sreportandfornootherpurpose.Tothefullest

extentpermittedbylaw,wedonotacceptorassumeresponsibilitytoanyoneotherthanthecompanyandthe

company’smembersasabody,forourauditwork,forthisreport,orfortheopinionwehaveformed.

Wereporttoyououropinionastowhetherthefinancialstatementsgiveatrueandfairviewinaccordance

withtheGenerallyAcceptedAccountingPracticeinIrelandandareproperlypreparedinaccordancewiththe

CompaniesActs1963to2009.Wealsoreporttoyouwhetherinouropinion:properbooksofaccounthave

beenkeptbythecompanyandwhethertheinformationgivenintheDirectors’Reportisconsistentwiththe

financialstatements.Inaddition,westatewhetherwehaveobtainedalltheinformationandexplanations

necessaryforthepurposesofouraudit,andwhetherthefinancialstatementsareinagreementwiththebooks

ofaccount.

Wereporttothemembersif,inouropinion,anyinformationspecifiedbylawregardingdirectors’

remunerationordirectors’transactionsisnotdisclosedand,wherepracticable,includesuchinformationin

ourreport.

Wereadthedirectors’reportandconsiderimplicationsforourreportifwebecomeawareofanyapparent

misstatementswithinit.


35

independent Auditors’ Report to the members of AONTAS

Basis of Audit OpinionWeconductedourauditinaccordancewithInternationalStandardsonAuditing(UKandIreland),issuedby

theAuditingPracticesBoard.Anauditincludesexamination,onatestbasis,ofevidencerelevanttotheamounts

anddisclosuresinthefinancialstatements.Italsoincludesanassessmentofthesignificantestimatesand

judgementsmadebythedirectors’inthepreparationofthefinancialstatements,andofwhethertheaccounting

policiesareappropriatetothecompany’scircumstances,consistentlyappliedandadequatelydisclosed.

Weplannedandperformedourauditsoastoobtainalltheinformationandexplanationswhichwe

considerednecessaryinordertoprovideuswithsufficientevidencetogivereasonableassurancethatthe

financialstatementsarefreefrommaterialmisstatement,whethercausedbyfraudorotherirregularityor

error.Informingouropinionwealsoevaluatedtheoveralladequacyofthepresentationofinformationin

thefinancialstatements.

WehaveundertakentheauditinaccordancewiththerequirementsoftheAPBEthicalStandardsincluding

theAPBEthicalStandard,ProvisionsAvailableforSmallEntities.

OpinionInouropinionthefinancialstatements:

- giveatrueandfairview,inaccordancewithGenerallyAcceptedAccountingPracticeinIreland,ofthestate

ofthecompany’saffairsasatthe31stDecember2010andofitsnetincomingresourcesandcashflowsfor

theyearthenended:and

- havebeenproperlypreparedinaccordancewiththerequirementsoftheCompaniesActs,1963to2009.

Wehaveobtainedalltheinformationandexplanationsweconsidernecessaryforthepurposesofouraudit.

Inouropinion,properbooksofaccounthavebeenkeptbythecompany.Thefinancialstatementsarein

agreementwiththebooksofaccount.

Inouropinion,theinformationgiveninthedirectors’reportisconsistentwiththefinancialstatements.

Section40(1)oftheCompanies(Amendment)Act1983doesnotapplyasthecompanyislimitedbyguarantee.

AnneBradyMcQuillansDFK

CharteredAccountants

&RegisteredAuditors

IveaghCourt

HarcourtRoad

Dublin2



36

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st december 2010

2010 2009

Notes a a

INCOME

Restricted and unrestricted funds 2 993,960 1,089,284

Resources Expended

Administration

Salarycosts 168,899 178,382

Pensionscheme 25,882 27,686

Stafftrainingandexpenses 8,310 10,956

Postageandcourierservices 15,460 20,221

Stationery 7,944 10,898

Telephone 8,133 7,702

Travelandsubsistence 5,629 8,625

Executiveandgeneralcommitteeexpenses 11,041 8,932

Legalfees 55 624

Auditandaccountancyfees 6,716 8,359

Bankinterestandcharges 770 824

Representationandaffiliation 9,138 16,888

Miscellaneous 1,494 (438)

Rentofvenuesandequipment 850 1,000

Computercosts 2,271 938

Researchandprojectsapportionments (15,091) (12,707)

257,501 288,890

Premises

Lightandheat 3,718 3,841

Rentandrates 78,911 83,028

Repairsandmaintenance 20,037 18,602

Leasingcharges 6,688 8,829

Insurance 8,022 7,339

Cleaning 3,261 3,634

Depreciationofcomputersandofficeequipment 10,372 10,297

131,009 135,570


37


2010 2009

Notes a a

Development

Salaries 300,653 317,991

Pensionscheme 38,118 40,807

Consultantsandcontractstaff 450 650

Travelandsubsistence 681 3,094

Printingandpublications 40,373 47,430

Conferences/seminars/membershipmeetings 27,453 54,522

Publicrelationsstrategy 5,110 6,434

Adultlearnerfestival 96,932 84,449

Informationresources 5,410 3,069

Recruitment 2,250 -

Childcare 150 255

Researchandprojectapportionment (23,743) (33,130)

493,837 525,571

Research and Projects

Research 63,774 51,088

QualityAssuranceFramework 38,888 41,196

BTEImen'sparticipationresearch - 12,056

Wheeltraininglinksproject - 11,870

InfoNetmilestoneconference 182 18,356

GrundtvigSowingtheLearningSeeds 612 -

103,456 134,566


38


2010 2009

Notes a a

Income

Totalincomingresources 2 993,960 1,089,284

Resources Expended

Totalresourcesexpended (985,803) (1,084,597)

Net surplus resources for year 10 8,157 4,687

Thestatementoffinancialactivitiesincludesallgainsandlossesrecognisedintheyear.Allincoming

resourcesandresourcesexpendedderivefromcontinuingactivities.

Thenotesonpages43-45formpartofthefinancialstatements.

ThefinancialstatementswereapprovedbytheBoardon2ndApril2011andsignedonitsbehalfby




39

Balance Sheet as at 31st december 2010

2010 2009

Notes a a a a

Fixed Assets

TangibleAssets 7 12,128 22,126

Current Assets

Debtors 8 11,652 29,511

Cashatbankandinhand 234,999 231,176

246,651 260,687

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 9 (207,804) (239,995)

Net Current Assets 38,847 20,692

Total Assets Less Current Liabilities 50,975 42,818

Funds

UnrestrictedFunds 13 50,975 42,818

Total Funds 50,975 42,818






40

Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31st december 2010

2010 2009

Notes a a

Reconciliation of surplus to net cash inflow from operating activities

Netincomingresources(beforeinterest) 7,504 4,575

Depreciation 10,372 10,297

Decrease/(increase)indebtors 17,859 (4,382)

(Decrease)/increaseincreditors (32,191) (75,834)

Net cash inflow from operating activities 3,544 (65,344)

Cash Flow Statement

Netcash(outflow)/inflowfromoperatingactivities 3,544 (65,344)

Returnsoninvestmentsandservicingoffinance 11 653 112

Capitalexpenditure 11 (374) -

(Decrease) / Increase in cash in the year 3,823 (65,232)

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds

(Note 12)

Decreaseincashintheyear 3,823 (65,232)

Netfundsat1stJanuary2010 12 231,176 296,408

Net funds at 31st December 2010 234,999 231,176






41

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st december 2010

1. Accounting Policies Thefollowingaccountingpolicieshavebeenappliedconsistentlyindealingwithitemswhichare

consideredmaterialinrelationtothecompany’sfinancialstatements.

1.1. Accounting Convention Theaccountshavebeenpreparedunderthehistoricalcostconventionandwithreferencetothe

recommendationsoftherevisedStatementofRecommendedPractice(SORP)Accountingand

ReportingbyCharitiesissuedbytheCharityCommissionersin2005.

1.2. Tangible Fixed Assets and depreciation Alltangiblefixedassetsareinitiallyrecordedathistoriccost.

Depreciationisprovidedonalltangiblefixedassetsatratescalculatedtowriteoffthecostorvaluation,

lessresidualvalue,ofeachassetoveritsexpectedusefullife,asfollows:

Fixtures,FittingsandEquipment – 20%StraightLine

ComputerEquipment – 20%StraightLine

OfficeEquipment – 20%StraightLine

1.3. leasing Commitments Rentalspayableunderoperatingleasesarechargedagainstincomeonastraightlinebasisovertheleaseterm.

1.4. income Resources GrantincomereceivablefromtheDepartmentofEducationandScienceinrespectoftheWomens

QualityAssuranceFrameworkandgrantincomereceivablefromtheWheelOrganisation,TUI,ASTI,

ICTU,andFETACaretreatedasbeingrestrictedastheincomesareappliedforparticularpurposes.All

otherincomereceivableistreatedasbeingunrestricted.

Voluntaryincomeincludingdonations,giftsandlegaciesandgrantsfromtheDepartmentof

EducationandSciencethatprovidecorefundingorareofgeneralnaturearerecognisedwherethere

isentitlement,certaintyofreceiptandtheamountcanbemeasuredwithsufficientreliability.Such

incomeisonlydeferredwhen:

- Thedonorspecifiesthatthegrantordonationmustonlybeusedinfutureaccountingperiods;

or

- Thedonorhasimposedconditionswhichmustbemetbeforethecharityhas

unconditionalentitlement.


42


1.5. Resources expended Expenditureisrecognisedwhenaliabilityisincurred.Contractualarrangementsandperformance

relatedgrantsarerecognisedasgoodsorservicesaresupplied.Othergrantpaymentsarerecognised

whenaconstructiveobligationarisesthatresultinthepaymentbeingunavoidable.

- Costsofgeneratingfundsarethosecostsincurredinattractingvoluntaryincome,andthose

incurredintradingactivitiesthatraisefunds.

- Charitableactivitiesincludeexpenditureassociatedwiththeeducationalprogrammesinclude

boththedirectcostsandsupportcostsrelatingtothisactivity.

1.6. Pensions

AONTASoperatesadefinedcontributionschemeandpensionbenefitsarefundedovertheemployees’

periodofservicebywayofcontributionsfromthecompanyandemployees.Contributionsarecharged

totheStatementofFinancialActivitiesintheperiodtowhichtheyrelate.


43

2010 2009

a a

Restricted Funds

DepartmentofForeignAffairs-IrishAidResearchGrant 3,545 470

DepartmentofEducationandScienceGrants:

BTEIResearch 4,402 12,055

Research 43,775 51,100

QualityAssuranceFrameworkProject 38,887 41,197

FETACFestivalSponsorship - 17,000

TUIFestivalSponsorship 2,000 -

ICTUFestivalSponsorship 4,500 4,500

ASTIFestivalSponsorship 500 500

IOTFestivalSponsorship 1,500 -

TheWheelTrainingLinksGrant 1,000 7,000

InfoNetMilestoneConference - 18,356

GrundtvigSowingtheLearningSeeds 612 -

100,721 152,178

Unrestricted Funds

DepartmentofEducationandScience: 391,264 477,000

GrantinAid(CoreFunding) 474,764 438,500

S.P.I.D.A.S.supplement 23,678 22,430

Members'subscriptions (200) (2,306)

Nationalconference 653 112

Bankinterestreceived 3,080 1,370

Miscellaneous 893,239 937,106

TotalIncome 993,960 1,089,284



44

3. Net incoming Resources for the year

2010 2009

a a

NetIncomingResourcesfortheyearisstatedaftercharging:

Depreciationoftangibleassets 10,372 10,297

Operating lease rentals

-Officeequipment 6,688 8,829

Auditors'remuneration 6,716 6,840

4. employees

2010 2009

Number of employees

Theaveragemonthlynumbersofemployeesduringtheyearwere: 9 9

Employment costs 2010 2009

a a

Wagesandsalaries 469,552 496,373

Otherpensioncosts 64,000 68,493

533,552 564,866

5. Pension costs Thecompanyoperatesadefinedcontributionpensionscheme.Contributionsaremadebyboththe

employeeandtheemployer.Theassetsoftheschemeareheldseparatelyfromthoseofthecompany

inanindependentlyadministeredfund.Thepensioncostchargerepresentscontributionspayableby

AONTAStothefundandamountto€64,000(2009:€68,493).



45


6. Taxation Nochargetocurrentordeferredtaxationarisesasthecompanyhasbeengrantedexemptionbythe

RevenueauthoritiesinIreland.

7. Tangible Assets

Computer equipment

Office equipment

Fixtures, fittings and equipment Totals

a a a a

Cost

At1stJanuary2010 64,306 33,100 49,519 146,925

Additions - 374 - 374

Disposals (993) (21,761) -

At31stDecember2010 63,313 11,713 49,519 124,545

Depreciation

At1stJanuary2010 48,246 27,034 49,519 124,799

OnDisposals (993) (21,761) -

Chargefortheyear 8,029 2,343 - 10,372

At31stDecember2010 55,282 7,616 49,519 112,417

Net book value

At31stDecember2010 8,031 4,097 - 12,128

At31stDecember2009 16,060 6,066 - 22,126


46

8. debtors

2010 2009

a a

Otherdebtors 11,652 29,511

9. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

2010 2009

a a

Tradecreditors - 9,052

Deferredincome 199,902 222,751

Accruals 7,902 8,192

207,804 239,995

10. Reconciliation of movements in funds

Statement of Financial

ActivitiesTotal

2010 2009

a a

Fundbalanceatbeginningofyear 42,818 38,131

Netmovementinfunds 8,157 4,687

Fundbalanceatendofyear 50,975 42,818



47

11. Gross Cash Flows

2010 2009

a a

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

Interestreceived 653 112

Capital expenditure

Paymentstoacquiretangibleassets 374 -

12. Analysis of changes in net funds

Opening balance

Cash flowsClosing balance

a a a

Cashatbankandinhand 231,176 3,823 234,999

Netfunds 231,176 3,823 234,999

13. Reserves

Balance at begining of

year

Incoming resources

Balance expended

Balance at end of year

a a a a

Specific Funds:

Restrictedgrants - 100,721 100,721 -

Unrestrictedgrants 42,818 893,239 885,082 50,975

42,818 993,960 985,803 50,975

14. Non-Audit Services Provided by Auditors Incommonwithmanyotherbusinessesofoursizeandnatureweuseourauditorstoprepare

andsubmitthefinancialstatements.



48


15. Status Theliabilityofthemembersislimited.

Everymemberofthecompanyundertakestocontributetotheassetsofthecompanyintheeventof

itsbeingwoundupwhiletheyaremembersorwithinoneyearthereafterforthepaymentofthedebts

andliabilitiesofthecompanycontractedbeforetheyceasedtobemembersandthecosts,chargesand

expensesofwindingupandfortheadjustmentoftherightsofthecontributorsamongthemselves

suchamountasmayberequired,notexceeding€6.35.

16. Approval of Financial Statements ThefinancialstatementswereapprovedbytheBoardon2ndApril2011andsignedonitsbehalfby



AONTAS National Adult Learning Organisation

2nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6Tel: (01) 406 8220/1Fax: (01) 406 8227Email: [email protected]


Mission stateMent of aontasAONTAS is the National

Adult Learning Organisation,

a voluntary membership

organisation. It exists to

promote the development of

a learning society through

the provision of a quality

and comprehensive system of

adult learning and education

which is accessible to and

inclusive of all.

Core Values• AONTAS is committed

to the concept of lifelong

learning and its role

in enabling people to

participate in the human,

social, economic and

cultural development of

Irish society.



adult and community

education in combating

poverty and social

exclusion and ensuring

that everyone benefits

from, and contributes

to sustainable economic

development.

• AONTAS is committed to

the concept of equality of

access, participation and

outcomes in adult and

community education.



adult and community

education in promoting

democracy and active

citizenship.

• AONTAS is committed,

through a process of

action and reflection, to

its growth as a learning

organisation, a model of

best practice and a leading

centre of expertise in the

field of adult learning.

aontas exeCutiVe CoMMittee MeMbers PresidentMarian Duffy (Co Carlow VEC)

Vice President Loretta Needham (Society of

St Vincent De Paul)

Hon. TreasurerMaria Gorman (Kerry Education

Service)

Hon. SecretaryRuth Smith (Tipperary Women’s

Network)

Organisational MembersLorne Patterson (Longford Women’s Link)

John Ryan (City of Limerick VEC)

Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha (Adult Education Officers’ Association)

Elva O’Callaghan (NCCWN)

Liz Waters (An Cosan)

Linda Greene (Clondalkin Womens Network)

Deborah Brock (Tallaght/Dodder Valley Partnership)

Micheal Murray, NUI/Maynooth

Lorraine Cunningham, Blaney

Blades, Monaghan

Individual MembersLiam Kilbride

Jillian Harrison

Resigned October 2010

aontas staffBerni Brady Director

Jacinta Cuthbert Head of Organisational Development

Niamh O’Reilly Head of Membership Services

Niamh Farren Communications Officer

Jenny Gunning Information and Research Officer, died April 6th 2010

Ciara Murphy Resource and Communications Officer, left September 2010

Eleonora Peruffo Administrator

Dympna Larkin Membership Liaison Officer

Kathryn Laing Receptionist/Clerical Officer

Documents

Aontas_Annual_Report_2010