Community resilience praised at LEADER grant presentations
THIRTEEN COMMUNITY groups gathered at Wexford County Council for a celebratory event, during which they collected their LEADER grants for community projects.
The groups had applied for funding for community projects including playgrounds, outdoor gyms and multi user games areas. The LEADER programme is coordinated and overseen by Wexford Local Development ( WLD) and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).
CEO of WLD, Brian Kehoe congratulating the groups on their achievements so far and commended them for taking on their various community projects. Chairman of WLD, Michael Wall further outlined the benefits of the LEADER programme and the importance of having that community focus.
Kathleen Codd Nolan, chairperson of the LCDC, explained that her committee had established itself over recent years and had oversight on a number of different initiatives.
Guest speaker Craig Lang, from Riverchapel, spoke of how they had consulted with kids in the local school for input. They had researched the community and found over 300 families had children aged under 15 and so a playground was deemed a vital facility.
David Rice, from All Blacks AFC, spoke of how the soccer club had formed a community group which now ran a cafe at the club. The aim is to add a playground and, down the line, an astro pitch with the idea being to create a community hub at what is a heavily used area.
Ger Mackey, Head of Community Development with the council, highlighted the value of community resilience, such as that being shown by the groups receiving funding.
Two groups received grants for the development of outdoor gyms: Adamstown Community Centre was awarded €10,000, while Fethard Community Development Association CLG was given a grant of €9,980.
Kiltealy Hall Development Group intend to develop a multi user games area (MUGA) and received €32,927. Rosslare Community Development Association CLG received €9,232 which will be put toward the refurbishment of their crazy golf game. The remaining funding went to groups developing playgrounds: Adamstown Community Centre, €10,000; All Blacks AFC Community Group, €37,347; Barntown Community Centre, €33,658; Bree Community Development Group Ltd, €37,029; Clonroche Development Association CLG, €35,921; Monaseed Community Group, €36,494; Murrintown Community Development Group, €37,500; Riverchapel Community Complex Ltd, €33,090; Shelmalier CLG, €30,909; and Tintern Community and Sports Complex Ltd, 35,626.
The total amount awarded under the LEADER programme was €379,713.