West Limerick Resources - "Committed to the Community"

Social Inclusion Network

West Limerick Resources currently operates a Social Inclusion Network for the West Limerick Area.  Representatives from twenty two community organisations with a social inclusion remit currently sit on the network which was established to develop discussion around, and possible responses to, emerging social inclusion issues. Community input is essential in the work of the company, so this network is an opportunity for groups on the ground to interact further with West Limerick Resources and to support the development of important linkages.

The Network meets at a minimum twice a year.  While West Limerick Resources coordinates these meetings and introduce topics for discussion, the agenda comes from those working on the ground.  Feedback from the meetings is channeled into the company through the three social inclusion representatives who currently sit on the board and who will continue to play an integral function in its development going forward.

West Limerick was designated a disadvantaged area in 1995 and began administering its first Social Inclusion programme the following year.  Adopting a localised community development approach to countering exclusion and disadvantage, that programme and its two successors, while not grant based programmes, have targeted resources at those facing the most acute barriers to participation, including people with disabilities, the unemployed, disadvantaged young people and marginalised groups such as Travellers, migrants and lone parents.