Personnel

Education:
National University of Ireland, Galway.

Bachelor of Arts Degree
Sociology & Political Science and Classical Studies

Masters in Rural Development

Training:

Master Trainer Institute Geneva and Irish Management Institute
Master Trainer Certificate
Age and Opportunity
Ageing with Confidence Programme

Her key areas of work in supporting Projects are: Employment & Equality Legislation, HR Management, Project Management, Teambuilding, Community Consultation/Profiling, Strategic Planning & Evaluation.

She has worked as an independent trainer, facilitator and tutor on a wide range of programmes and for organisations such as: NUI, Galway, NUI, Maynooth, University of Limerick, AONTAS, U.C.C., The Combat Poverty Agency, Western Health Board, FÁS, SIPTU, Aer Lingus, An Garda Síochána, Retail & Publishing and on a number of European funded projects – Horizon, New Opportunities for Women (NOW), Equal & Leonardo da Vinci.

Breda is a Fellow of the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD) and is a member of the Board of Changing Ireland Community Media.

Upon commencing work within the organisation Morgan focused on developing inter-Project co-operation, providing training and support relating to social policy work and facilitating a collective contribution from Projects into county/citywide decision-making fora. Morgan continues to support the SPEAK FRC evaluation system at regional level. Other areas of specific interest include social research methodologies and the promotion of active citizenship/voter awareness.

Morgan was awarded a B.A. Degree in Sociology & Political Science and Philosophy and a M.A. Degree in Community Development from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He also has a Certificate in Housing Studies from the Dublin Institute of Technology and the University of Northumbria, Newcastle, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (U.K.).

Morgan is a qualified trainer having received a Foundation Diploma in Training and Education from NUI, Galway and has undertaken regular train the trainers programmes across a range of disciplines including Asset Based Community Development, Advanced Faciliation Approaches, Undertaking Effective Advocacy and Social Inclusion.

Core elements of Mary's work include the delivery of training and support to Voluntary Boards of Directors and staff in the areas of community development practice and principles, roles and responsibilities of Board members, employment practice and company law. Mary has developed considerable skills in conflict resolution and crisis intervention.

She works closely with Projects to enable them to maximise the impact of their work by facilitating regular review, evaluation and planning sessions and promotes strategic alliances with relevant voluntary and statutory agencies. Mary has been responsible for the development of a wide range of organisational policies and procedures – including the Domestic Violence Code of Practice that was adopted nationally by the Community Development Programme and the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme in 2005.

After graduating from NUI, Galway with a B.Sc and H.Dip. in Ed., she worked for a number of years as a researcher in the Department of Oceanography, NUI, Galway.

Mary has been working in the area of community and enterprise development for over ten years. Prior to working with West Training & Development she worked with the LEADER programme in Co. Clare and with the Brothers of Charity in the disability sector.

Mary is a qualified facilitator with Age & Opportunity's Ageing with Confidence Programme and is currently Chairperson of Clare Haven Services Women's Refuge, Clare.

Prior to joining West Training & Development, Noel worked for a number of years as Project Co-ordinator within the Community Development Programme. He held this position in Community Development Projects on Inishbofin and in Portumna, County Galway. He was also a member of a CDP Voluntary Management Committee for a number of years. Noel has many years' experience of management within the private sector and of volunteering with community organisations.

Noel graduated with a B.Sc. in Rural Development from National University of Ireland, Galway in October 2006 and was awrded a Diploma in Bookkeeping in 2009.

Since joining the organisation Elaine has concentrated on developing networks of Older Women in the West of Ireland and on the design and delivery of Advocacy Programmes for Older People.

Alongside her work with Older People, Elaine brings specialised research and report writing skills to the West Training & Development team.

Elaine was conferred in 2007 with a B.A. in English, Sociology & Political Science at NUI, Galway. She has been certified in training delivery, effective communication and also has a Suas 'Global Issues' certificate. As part of her studies, Elaine has researched sustainable ecotourism in the West of Ireland, international networking for women's human rights and H.I.V. testing in Ireland.

During the past year Elaine has undertaken training for trainers programmes in Undertaking Effective Advocacy and in Social Inclusion Approaches.

For many years Elaine has been involved with the music and creative writing community. She was centrally involved in the start up of and development of underage music gigs in Sligo.