Members of the Committee with BNS staff and Dr Pat Bogue at the launch.

On the 25th of October, Thomastown Community Network launched its action plan entitled of 'An Action Plan for Thomastown 2006-2011'. The plan looks towards the future development of Thomastown. It identifies the needs of the local community and presents methods, which can be utilised to address those needs. This document represents a large amount of time and commitment by the Network, in addition to that of Dr. Pat Bogue, who worked with the group for a year. The project was funded by BNS Rural Development under the LEADER+ and NRDP programmes.

Background
Bernie Byrne from BNS was invited to attend a meeting of the network, and from there the process was put in place, for a grant application to fund the project. Funding for 80% of the project was approved by the Board of BNS, and the additional funding was made up with matching funding valuing the hours which community representatives spent working on the project.

How did it happen?
A questionnaire was drafted, distributed and collected by the Network members, Dr. Pat Bogue collated the information, and a number of focus group meetings were held to discuss the findings. These focus groups looked at a broad range of topics from infrastructure to rural tourism, from childcare to care of the older members of the community. A number of actions were identified, and prioritised; these have been recorded in the plan. Some of these actions are already being implemented; others will take a long term approach.

The strategy was launched in Grennan College as stated earlier on the 25th of October; this event coincided with the Volunteer celebrations being held on the night also. It was an evening were members of the community and community groups, could come together, celebrate and share with each other the activities and plans for the future development of Thomastown. A wide selection of groups were represented on the night. Copies of the strategy were circulated.

Local volunteers, and community members in Grennan College at the launch of the Thomastown Action Plan.

What next?
Thomastown now has a five year action plan, which the whole community has bought into. This is only the starting point; it is up to the community to use the document as a tool, to guide the future development of Thomastown. This plan, will only be a good as those who get behind it and drive it, BNS feel that at this point in time there are people in Thomastown, who will work to implement the plan, from time to time they may need assistance from the various agencies who work in the area. But the first big step has been taken, there is no doubt that Thomastown, has the potential to become a place were quality of life is important, the necessary services and facilities exist for the local community, where tourists will stop, and the economic life of the area will grow.