Laois agency with multi-million euro budget appoints new chief
The Laois rural development company which has a multi-million euro budget to support local communities and businesses has appointed a new chief executive.
Laois Partnership Company has welcomed Caroline Lydon to lead the local development company and to build on the work that has been achieved since its inception in 2009.
A native of Co Galway, Ms Lyndon has lived in Laois for the past 14 years and a statement said she is pleased to have the opportunity to work in the community and voluntary sector in her own locality.
With a professional background in Occupational Therapy, Laois Partnership says the new CEO brings over 15 years of experience in a variety of senior management positions in a mixture of healthcare services and community and voluntary organisations.
The Partnership says she has a strong interest in building community capacity at local level and in building a dynamic and responsive team to deliver quality programmes and supports for those who need it most.
A statement says that building on past achievements, Ms Lydon says she is looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the organisation and working with the local community to identify unmet needs.
It says she is excited to announce a new programme being developed by Laois Partnership Programme, Social Prescribing, in conjunction with the HSE and looks forward to promoting this locally once recruitment is successful.
Ms Lydon also wants to raise awareness about LPC and the range of programmes and supports available across Laois.
Laois Partnership, which is funded by the State and EU, adds that the new CEO is looking forward to working with people in the local community and thanks everyone for their support and welcome to date.
Following a recent relocation of the organisation to the old St Francis School premises in Portlaoise, plans for an official launch and a revamped website are also in train. More than 40 staff work for the company.
Laois Partnership Company is a not-for-profit registered charity, that assists communities, rural areas and those living in disadvantage through a number of Government and EU-funded programmes.
It says these programmes aim to make Laois a better place to live by enhancing community life, combatting disadvantage and social exclusion and supporting enterprise development.
The new chief will lead the organisation which will be responsible for overseeing the investment of its share the €5.7 million allocated to Laois over the next four years under the LEADER 2023-2027.
Other areas of deliver include: Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), DEASP funded Job Club; Community Employment Scheme; Tus Programme; Rural Social Scheme; Services to the Elderly Programme(LSTEP); National Childcare Schemes; Back to Education initiative.
When recruiting a new CEO earlier in 2023, Laois Partnership, which is a registered charity, said applicants will take responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the organisation.
The recruitment process was necessitated by the departure of CEO Catherine Cowap. Ms Cowap succeded Ann Goodwin who was was CEO at Laois Partnership until her death in 2020.