Sherkin Island Development Society Limited (SIDS), founded in 1983 as Sherkin Island Community Development Association, was registered in 1994 as a co-operative. Since its first success in 1984 in building and opening the Community Hall, it has researched, submitted and implemented many projects of educational, economic, social and cultural benefit to the community. Both independently and as a member of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann it liaises with and lobbies administrative, development and government bodies at all levels, in relation to island development issues.

While volunteer input continues to be vital to the work of SIDS, the Society was pleased in December 1994 to be able to avail of the Part-time Job Opportunities Programme to further its many projects. Through this scheme, operated in conjunction with FÁS and IARWE (the Institute for Action and Research on Work and Employment) it could offer part-time useful employment to ten otherwise unemployed island people to augment existing but exhausted volunteers and very limited funds. Under the direction of and in co-operation with the SIDS Management Committee, and with other volunteers, the Programme deals with:

The Recycling Project: all glass, cans and plastics are collected and sent for recycling. The Project won an Environmental Awareness Award in 1995 from the Department of the Environment.

Beaches: these are cleaned on a weekly basis and there are barrels conveniently situated to receive any litter which cannot be taken home.

Erosion: the causes and effects of coastal erosion are being researched and possible solutions being formulated.

School Playing Field: the Programme took up the work of the Society and of parent-volunteers, successfully completing the levelling and draining of the field.

Church Garden: Sea-tolerant shrubs and flowers have been planted and the garden is tended regularly.

Wall-building: After tuition, workers rebuilt the collapsing wall leading up from the Abbey. Other walls along the public roadside will be repaired later this year.

Socio-educational and Cultural Matters: SIDS recognises that communities distant from certain amenities need a social focus, so the Programme runs Art and computer classes and provides technical assistance to SIDS in hosting several visiting drama groups each year. Creative and informative articles are published monthly in Sherkin Headline, produced by the Programme with input from all interested. A photographer is taking black and white photographs, recording life on Sherkin over a period of one year. These will be stored in the Hall Library for future reference. Also, a genealogy project is transcribing all the old School Roll Books dating back to 1872, on to computer and analysing island family-trees. It is hoped that the information can be displayed in the re-furbished Abbey at some future date.

Community Cleaning: Hall and School cleaning and maintenance is done on a weekly basis, as is litter-collection on the pier and along the roadside.

Appointment of Development Worker:
In 1995, the funding by the Department of Social Welfare of a full-time Development Worker on a three-year contract, was a major achievement for SIDS. This, in conjunction with new island policies, signalled by the Government in its 1996 Report on Island Development should lead to more economic, social, cultural, educational and infrastructural development in the years ahead. Work on an administrative and resource-centre extension to the Community Hall, (partly grant-aided by the National Lottery), which was started last year has just been completed. This space provides a much needed office for the Development Worker and also houses computers, photo-copier, telephone, fax and other equipment being used by the members of the Work Programme who are involved in providing administrative/secretarial assistance to SIDS and producing the newsletter. Proceeds from the annual regatta helped to fund completion of this building.