In 2023, the LifeLong Learning team in Dublin South City Partnership secured accreditation with Erasmus+, as a Community Adult Education provider. This results in funding each year to promote learning opportunities for the various teams of people we work with.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
The programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda. The programme also supports the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Having accreditation is providing us with the opportunity to widen our horizons, as learners and practitioners in adult education; to see how other countries and organisations work and what they do; and to share our experience both away and when we come back.

In November 2025, Dublin South City Partnership was delighted to host a group of adult learners from Studiefrämjandet in Sweden for a week-long cultural exchange programme in Dublin. The programme was developed by staff and learners involved in the Lifelong Learning activities.

The programme began with a welcome Coffee Morning prepared by DSCP’s learners participating in Peer Group projects. The visitors were introduced to the work of DSCP and the Lifelong Learning (LLL) team. There were hectolitres of excellent coffee, home baked goods (including famous local Gur Cake and a secret ingredient Coffee Cake), gentle interactive activities and plenty of conversations and laughs.

DSCP Peers then brought the visitors out for a Crumlin Quest, an outdoor activity designed to explore the local area and become familiar with the neighbourhood.

During the week, the learners had a chance to take part in a wide range of educational and cultural activities. These included presentations from the Erasmus+ group on best spots in Dublin, creating souvenirs during an art workshop entitled “Irish Patterns on Wood”, a Cultural Food Morning celebrating flavours and traditions from different cultures, and an impromptu dance session to learn great dance moves from all over the world.

Participants also attended practical learning experiences such as: a Mobile Photography Workshop – to uncover the basic of composition, framing and exposure and to take the best shots possible of their newly met friends and amazing sites visited; and an English Conversation class which offered an informal and welcoming space to polish their language skills and learn some must-known Irish songs.

Finally, they also joined a guided tour of the National Gallery of Ireland to discover some of the masterpieces in the collection.

The week was a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange, learning, and connection. DSCP was proud to support this international collaboration and looks forward to welcoming future learner groups.