New Wexford Civic & Cultural Trust Planned following Mayor's Community Forum

The Mayor of Wexford has revealed plans to establish a new Wexford Civic and Cultural Trust aimed at bringing community groups together and helping turn ideas for the town into practical projects.

Mayor Vicky Barron says the proposal has emerged from extensive engagement through her Mayor's Forum during which she has met more than 40 groups and stakeholders to discuss issues and opportunities facing Wexford.

She told South East Radio that while there is considerable community engagement already taking place one of the gaps she has identified is a mechanism capable of bringing organisations together and progressing ideas.

Mayor Barron said the proposed Civic and Cultural Trust would be an independent body with its own governance and funding mechanisms and is expected to be registered as a charity.

She stressed that the initiative would not belong to the Mayor but would ultimately be owned by the people of Wexford.

The organisation is being developed around four main pillars — heritage, culture, people and place — with the Mayor saying the objective is to connect the work already being undertaken by groups across Wexford town.

An executive governing body is currently being assembled.

Several potential projects are already being explored.

Among them is a Junior Historian programme which would train teachers in Wexford's local heritage with the aim of bringing that knowledge into classrooms.

Mayor Barron said an initial course involving 20 teachers could potentially reach around 400 children while over a ten-year period the programme could reach thousands of young people.

A virtual museum for Wexford is also being considered alongside the longer-term possibility of a physical museum and stronger facilities for visitors to the town.

The Mayor also said discussions are progressing around the potential use of a building which could become a focal point for civic and community activity, although details have not yet been finalised.

Other ambitions discussed include stronger tourism promotion, support for community projects, spaces for young people and initiatives aimed at improving the appearance and experience of Wexford town.

Mayor Barron said the Trust could also help community organisations access funding which they may not otherwise be able to secure independently.

She described the project as being at an early stage and issued an invitation to people with an interest in the civic and cultural life of Wexford to become involved.

The Mayor said the ultimate aim is to establish a long-term organisation capable of coordinating ideas, securing funding and delivering projects for Wexford well beyond her own term in office.