VTOS students tackle Galway Hooker

A group of VTOS students are attempting to restore an old 32-foot Galway Hooker as part of their work experience programme at VTOS.

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, which is run by the City of Galway VEC, is designed to offer adults in Galway City the chance to return to full-time education and training while still retaining their social welfare benefits. The scheme is open to anyone over 21 years of age who have been unemployed for six months or more.

The restoration of the Galway Hooker is only one of many work placement programmes available to VTOS students. The aim of the project is to teach people how to restore the boats, how to sail them and, the importance of history and tradition, and its relevance in the modern world.

Design students from VTOS are currently designing and building the website and brochures as part of the project, which they hope to launch early next month.

Students from the VTOS Media and Film Studies course are documenting the build on video and the ‘Claddagh Boatmen’, who are spearheading this project, hope to launch the Hooker in time for the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. Those participating in the project are acquiring new skills to help them re-enter the workplace.

VTOS co-ordinator, Anne Corrigan, said the students greatly benefit from the VTOS programmes, as they enable them to up-skill and retrain in a wide variety of areas, improving their abilities and more importantly their CV.

“Our students really enjoy the work placement element of our courses. We provide them with retraining, new skills and the experience they need to gain employment. Our upcoming open evening will showcase some of our current students’ work and will be an information evening for those hoping to re-enter the working world.”

The VTOS open day runs on Thursday 15 March from 4pm to 8pm at the VTOS campus in Merchants Square, Merchants Road, Galway. The open day will consist of information talks on the college, its programmes and facilities.

All VTOS courses are certified by FETAC and offered to those in receipt of benefits free of charge. VTOS offers a diverse range of courses, such as TV & Film Production, Media/Sound Engineering, Liberal Arts, IT, Business Administration Skills, Interior Design, Visual Communication & Design and Childcare and Community Care. Many individuals may also be eligible for training bonuses, travel and meal allowance and childcare payments.

For more information, contact 091-566885 or log onto www.cgvec.ie/vtos. To follow the VTOS students’ progress, log onto www.claddaghboatmen.com.