CoAction unveils its five-year plan

DETAILS of a new five-year strategic plan for the future development of CoAction were unveiled by its newly appointed CEO, Gobnait Ní Chrualaoí at the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry.

‘The main focus of the five-year plan, entitled The Road Ahead,’ according to Gobnait, ‘is to support people to live the lives of their choosing.’ 

The CEO said the issues, such as accommodation, is just one of six key strategies set out in the plan. She said the organisation would be working with people to find where, and with whom, they would like to live.

In addition to setting out proposals for new child and adult services, the plan will also be looking at the issue of human resources.

‘We employ over 280 staff right across West Cork,’ she  told The Southern Star, ‘and we will be looking at career paths and how best they can fulfil their role, as well as enhancing services.’

Another area to be addressed in the years ahead is CoAction’s obligations to meet the requirements of the charity regulator. And, in terms of finance, Gobnait said: ‘We will be looking at how to make best use of our resources and identify new sources of funding.’

She said: ‘The bulk of our funding comes from the HSE, but we also benefit from ongoing fundraising through the Friends of CoAction.’

Since its origins in Bantry in 1974, CoAction now provides services to 698 children and adults across West Cork.

Since the last strategic plan concluded in 2015, the numbers have increased significantly.

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