What happens when you bring together higher education, vocational training, local enterprise, and community leadership under one roof? You get a burst of insight, collaboration, and passion for student and staff well-being!
Momentum recently hosted the MindED project Irish Orientation Day at The Food Hub in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, and the energy in the room was nothing short of electric. With over 25 stakeholders; adult educators, VET and HEI professionals, and regional partners gathering together, the event proved that mental health in education is a shared mission that goes beyond traditional lecture halls.
A Unique Setting for a Unique Collaboration
Choosing The Food Hub was no accident. As a renowned culinary and food product training and development centre for the North West and border region, it offers a living ecosystem where education meets real-world enterprise. Learners, trainers, and partners here interact daily with production, hospitality, food science, and business growth.
With MSLETB acting as an anchor education partner alongside Leitrim Partnership, the venue perfectly mirrored MindED’s core ethos: building collaborative bridges and a holistic approach across sectors. By combining HEI and VET educators rather than focusing solely on traditional campus staff, the day unlocked rich cross-sector conversations about how mental health and workplace well-being intersect across different learning pathways.
The room buzzed with representation from organisations including MSLETB, PPN Leitrim, SkillsNet, ATU Donegal, the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office, and our dedicated Momentum colleagues.
Incredible Interest and Hands-On Insights on the MindED Toolkit
The highlight of the day was the group work phase where we dived straight into the MindED Toolkit using our interactive Opportunity Canvases. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that the toolkit fills a vital need to shift institutions toward a proactive, preventative approach to mental health.
Participants didn’t just review the tools; they rolled up their sleeves and gave us invaluable, practical feedback that will help shape the next phase of the project:
- Sector-Specific Adaptations: Educators highlighted the opportunity to tailor the resources to fit VET environments, apprenticeships, and adult education structures alongside traditional university frameworks.
- Navigation & Quick Guidance: Echoing broader project evaluations, attendees loved the wealth of resources available but indicated the need for quick-access navigation, search functionalities, and clear role boundaries.
- Clear Protocols: Educators asked for step-by-step guidance on how to recognise distress, respond appropriately and refer confidently, and build institutional procedures that protect both students and staff.
- Embedding into CPD: Strong enthusiasm emerged around embedding MindED content directly into Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and staff inductions to normalise help-seeking and tackle stigma head-on.
Looking Ahead: Building Resilient Communities Together
The success of the Drumshanbo orientation day demonstrates that the appetite for proactive mental health support is stronger than ever. By listening closely to our VET, adult education, and HEI partners, the MindED consortium is continuing to refine tools that are practical, localised, and ready for real-world impact.
A massive thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their expertise, and contributed to such an inspiring day. Together, we are laying the groundwork for resilient, supportive learning environments where both learners and educators can thrive!
Want to follow our journey and see where we are heading next?
Visit us at mindedpathways.eu
