WELL – Women, Enterprise & Lifelong Learning

The WELL – Women, Enterprise & Lifelong Learning was a partnership project led by County Mayo VEC, who secured funding under the Equality for Women Measure from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide a training programme for women in two geographical areas of Mayo, North Mayo and South Mayo.

Ninety-five women took part in the project, which was held in four centres, Mayo Abbey, Murrisk, Knockmore and Moygownagh. 

The programme had a particular focus on social inclusion in rural areas and involved a series of labour market interventions designed to meet the needs of women in specific geographical areas and specific circumstances. Two training interventions were undertaken, one with a focus on education and training, to prepare women with limited earlier education for progression to further education and t raining, the second for women with a business idea with an emphasis on skills for self employment and business creation. 

The programme was managed by the VEC in partnership with Women of the North West in North Mayo and Tochar Valley Rural Community Network in South Mayo. The programme commenced in February 2007, concluding by the end of December 2007. The funding was disseminated by POBAL on behalf of DJELR.