Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell has launched our ‘Learning to Power Change’ report, which looks at the experiences of older groups in Kildare, North Leitrim, Wexford and Wicklow who took part in community education courses on civic engagement.

The report found that, across all four sites, people benefitted from the courses through personal growth and increased social interaction. It also found that their level of engagement in their communities and their willingness to become more involved in issues at a local level was greatly increased.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Ann Leahy, our Assistant CEO, explained why courses on civic engagement are so useful: “Older people are tired of being seen as a social problem. Many already play an active role in their families’ lives and volunteer in a range of groups. This research shows that many are also willing and able to get more involved in solving problems in their local communities.”