Longford Women’s Link present important study findings for the county

Following on from National Recognition, important study findings for the county of Longford were brought home by Longford Women’s link last week. 

Last week at the launch of the reports held in LWL training and education building, there was a lot of interest from the public, local and national organisations, public representatives, and members of the public who gathered to commemorate the occasion and honour the exceptional work of Longford Women's Link (LWL). 

LWL is now one of the three community education providers in the country, making the day a momentous and  historic occasion for both LWL and Longford.

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Women's Community Education served as the foundation upon which LWL grew, and after nearly 30 years of operation, the vibrant social enterprise is still committed to this all-encompassing approach that empowers learners by putting them at the heart of their education. By addressing skill shortages and regional job openings, LWL increases the employability of women by providing specialised training that is available to them locally. 

LWL partook in two national pieces of research.

The first research report was “The Power of Community Education: Supporting lone parents to fulfill their potential in education, employment and society” (Beachaire Fund and Community Foundation).

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The report reveals the transformative power of community education for lone parents in Longford.

Longford Women’s Link was one of the eight community education providers featured in a report launched last April in the national Concert Hall by Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education, on behalf of The Beachaire Fund and Community Foundation Ireland which revealed that increased and sustained funding for community education could have a transformative effect on the lives of lone parents and their families.  

Lone parents with low levels of education face disproportionate risks of poverty and social exclusion.

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Research conducted between June 2022 and July 2023, by the Centre for Effective Services (CES) on behalf of the Beachaire Fund, found that lone parents engaging in community education programmes experienced a transformative impact on their lives.

 The report, titled ‘The Power of Community Education: Supporting lone parents to fulfill their potential in education, employment, and society”, concluded that by removing barriers to their educational success and personal growth, community education empowers lone parents to create a better future for themselves and their families. 

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The second Research Report was entitled ‘Economic and Social Realities of Migrant Women – a Snapshot from Longford’.

The research focuses on lived experiences of migrant women in rural areas, particularly concerning economic inequalities. 

Together with partners Maynooth University, University of Galway and the National Women’s Council, the project fulfilled its aim of delivering a co-creation process of research and analysis that culminated in a series of policy recommendations to support active participants of migrant women in the economic and social fabric of Longford and a wider aim of promoting equality and opportunity for migrant women in rural communities. 

This was very much a collaborative project with the Longford Migrant Women’s Group at its core.

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