Waterford Leader Partnership

Passage & Crooke Development Association

Waterford LEADER Partnership supported the facilitation of the Passage & Crooke Development Association to embark on the development of a strategic plan for the community, a process which gathered momentum following the groups annual general meeting in January ’09. Ideas that needed exploration, development and action were voiced and a Strategic Plan Task Group was set u p. The Objective was to develop a three year plan of action that would enhance the quality of life of the people of Passage and Crooke. A six person group was established and a facilitator sourced and supported under the Volunteerism Measure of the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme. The Strategic plan is the result of the efforts of the group and promises to be ‘a user friendly document’ using a mission statement that urges ‘Together, Harnessing the Power of the People’.

The Plan was launched at a public meeting in the village’s Community Hall on Tuesday night 7^th July ‘09 at 8pm. A huge attendance filled the hall and listened to how the community can get involved to participate in making the plan a reality. Damien Tiernan, member of the Task Group went through the plan in detail, encouraging feedback from the community and stated that central to the plan was the setting up of seven working groups covering the areas of community development, sustainable development and social and historical development. ‘To make this plan work, we estimate that we need around 25 people to give just about two hours a month’. Names were given on the night for the various task groups and the plan was met with very positive feedback from the local community acknowledging the hard work and commitment of the action group.

The Passage and Crooke Development Association also recently received approval of LEADER Rural Development funding towards the first stage of upgrading the village hall, work which will begin in the coming month as well as the  local Playground Committee been awarded  grant aid to build a community playground adjacent to the hall which will greatly improve facilities for the young and old in the community.

We wish Passage and Crooke every success with their development in the future. The project represents an excellent example of the community working together for the good of their community.