The Bricolage Scholarship: FET students awarded a helping hand

FET is for everyone.

Whether you want to learn something new, build on existing skills, progress to third-level education or pursue a personal learning goal, you’ll find a pathway through FET that allows you to balance study with other commitments such as family or a job.

Flexibility and financial stability can be a big consideration for students embarking on a new course so initiatives like the LTC-Bricolage Scholarship can be a huge help.

The LTC-Bricolage Scholarship award is a bursary available to students who have completed a training programme with the Liberties Training Centre (TLC) and have been offered a place on a FET course or apprenticeship.

Partnering with LTC for the first time, Bricolage believe that every individual has the potential to make a unique contribution to the world but understand that not everyone has equal opportunities to do that. This award, and others like it, can help level the playing field, enhance employment and training opportunities, and relieve the financial burden in continuing your FET journey.

Under this scholarship, eligible students can apply for up to €2,000 to cover costs, such as registration fees, purchase of a laptop and books or materials. This year, two of the most promising LTC students were awarded the scholarship, allowing them to take the next educational step on their journey.

Mostafa Fudal

Mostafa moved to Ireland in 2017 from Sudan with one year of high school under his belt. Having always dreamed of becoming an Engineer, Mostafa spent his first year in Ireland, improving and strengthening his English language skills. He applied for the Pre-Apprentice Engineering training course at the LTC and having completed the course, he felt ready to take the next step.

The team at TLC supported Mostafa’s successful application for Coláiste Dhúlaigh’s QQI Level 5 Certificate in Engineering Technology course.

“It was really hard at the start,” he said, “But the instructors made it easy for me. When I started, I didn’t know the meaning of the words for the tools in the engineering workshop, but I could stay late until I’d learned this. It’s great that there is always more than one option, as this means I am going on to further education now.”

Being awarded the scholarship means Mostafa can take the next steps in his education and training and when he finishes this course, he is aiming for a level 7 degree in Engineering at TU Dublin.

Mickala Gumble

Mickala, from Dublin 7, left Stanhope Street Secondary School before finishing her Junior Certificate. On a recommendation from her brother, Mickala signed up for the Explore Programme at LTC, which allowed her to continue her education in all the subjects she needed to progress further: communications, maths, tourism, catering, receptions skills as well as computer skills.

“It was really enjoyable and helped me grow as a person.” She said, “If I had any problems, I’d talk to one of the teachers. Even if it was a personal problem, I had someone to talk to.”

Now that she has graduated this course, Mickala has chosen to stay on at the LTC to undertake a QQI Level 5 Special Needs Assistant: Special Education certificate. She is determined to make a difference and help those who have special needs. The course will include a work placement and Mickala is looking forward to going back to Stanhope Street Secondary School, this time to support other students!

FET Support

There’s a FET course to suit everyone, whether you want to study, parttime, fulltime, online or in the classroom... If you aren’t sure what pathway might suit you, you’re unsure of which course you’d like to do, or you’re not sure how to achieve that goal you’ve set yourself, we can help. Our colleagues at the Adult Education Guidance Service are just a click or a call away to give you the advice you need to move forward.

The AEG Service can also advise on how enrolling on a course might impact on social welfare and point you in the direction of financial supports such as Back To Education Allowance and FET Training Allowances. You can find out more about Grants and Allowances available here.

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