ABOUT US
What is a Partnership?
A Partnership is the coming together of local organisations to promote the development of an area, in this case, North West Kildare and North Offaly. Partnerships are funded via the National Development Plan through the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, ADM, and other sources.
Who are our Partners?
OAK Partnership is made up of representatives from statutory agencies, community groups, social partners, and locally-elected representatives. Decisions are made by our Board of Directors and Committees, and then carried out by our staff.
What do we do?
Partnerships are modelled on the social partnership structure at a national level with state agencies, social partners, elected representatives and the community sector all making up local boards of management. The Companies are located, owned and run by the local community in designated disadvantaged areas around the country receiving resources from the Government and the European Union to implement their multi-annual integrated area action plans. These Actions Plans are developed in consultation with local people and span a wide range of employment, enterprise, community development and education strategies focused on tackling these problem areas. The success of the Partnership approach has been built on the identification of the needs of the most disadvantaged at a local level by all of the stakeholders in social and economic development. The consultation with and participation of local people in creating solutions to problems in their area is vital for the sustainability of local communities and the successful tackling of disadvantage among the target groups of this programme.
Who are our target groups?
The Partnership primarily targets:
- Long-term unemployed people
- Young people at risk
- Older people
- People with Disabilities
- Low Income Farm Families
- People Parenting Alone
- The underemployed
- Disadvantaged communities
