TFE was established in the 1987 to provide a stepping stone for women who wished to return to the workplace. The course is run as a FAS Local Training Initiative, sponsored by Westmeath Community Development, with support from other agencies including DSFA, the VEC, and the LDSIP. The aim of the course is to progress its participants to further education, training and ultimately employment and has consistently achieved progression rates of over 70%.  The course includes both  full time and part time programmes.   

TFE participants are recruited from all areas of Athlone and environs including a significant number from the RAPID area. The course includes women of all ages and is ideal for single parents, women whose children have started school and those who have their children reared and wish to return to the workforce. Some participants are early school leavers and others wish to upgrade their existing standard of education.  The TFE course offers training at all levels from basic through to FETAC Level 5 and 6. The full time course runs for 36 weeks, from 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. five days per week. Participants on the full time course attend Athlone Institute of Technology one day per week, where they take part in a component certificate in Business Studies. This strand of the training is also supported by the Radisson SAS Hotel in Athlone.  

Outline of Services available:

All training is fully accredited and participants are offered a choice of subjects and levels of certification.  They are encouraged to attain the higher level of FETAC accreditation, with the majority achieving a major award on completion of the course.

The part time courses, all at level 5, cover various accredited modules including the full certificate in Childcare.

Training provided includes the following: