STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING APART
‘Staying connected while staying apart’. This is the mantra that Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) are striving to instil with the help of their new online programme, Creative Steps to Wellbeing, which was launched last Friday.
With unprecedented numbers of people reporting poor mental health, loneliness and isolation as we collectively navigate our third Covid-19 lockdown, the new programme aims to provide a positive focus by encouraging users to learn and develop fulfilling lifelong skills. These skills are taught and explored through a series of workshops, which people can access in their own time and study at their own pace.
The workshops cover a variety of topics across the realms of health, wellbeing and the arts and each session will be presented in a clear, concise and accessible format to maximise user engagement and benefit.
FILLING A VOID
Speaking following the launch of the programme, Ger Canning, Adult Education Officer with Cork ETB and coordinator of the project, said: “Many people who – for a variety of reasons including but not limited to; literacy difficulties, marginalisation, disability and anxiety – would normally be able to access Cork ETB’s extensive community education services across Cork city and county, are now missing the engagement and benefits of face-to-face group contact. Through this project, we are attempting to fill this void while providing an opportunity to learn and develop within an online space.”
The workshops, which are delivered by professional tutors and trainers, cover the following areas: Crushing Anxiety; Defeating the Ego; Stress Reduction; Dealing with Grief & Loss; Goal Setting; Yoga – Building Your Immune System; Reflections/Meditations; Mindfulness; Art Therapies; Life Stories.
The resource was developed thanks to funding provided by the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage (MAED) fund.
‘Creative Steps to Wellbeing’ is now live and available to access on www.corketb.ie or see Cork Education and Training Board or CorkETB on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn with the hashtag #keepwell.