Building Foundations initiatives are active in the most marginalised communities of Northern Ireland and the southern border counties, working to create the conditions for reconciliation and a long-term shared future.

Each of the programmes addresses key issues of deprivation, social cohesion, and community leadership in order to help make community-led change possible and sustainable.

The Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration Programme

The Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration Programme aims to help the most socially and economically disadvantaged regions in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties achieve community development and sustainable reconciliation through the funding of cross-community and cross-border projects capable of delivering real change for those living within the area.

This Programme is now closed to applications from Northern Ireland and from the Southern Border Counties.

Case Study:

Dromore, County Down At the start of the second phase of the Communities in Transition Programme, the town of Dromore, some 19 miles south west of Belfast, had only one small community development group. It was located in one housing estate and focused mainly on community safety issues and bonfires. Broader community issues were not being addressed. Read full story

The Community Leadership Programme

Established in 1993, the Community Leadership Programme is now in its fourth phase and continues to offer exciting and innovative training and learning opportunities which aim to strengthen the leadership capacity of community groups. The Programme goal is to empower communities to develop their leadership skills, and in turn to enable them to build more effective communities and improve the social, economic and community relation conditions within which they live.

The current Programme, which started in 2009, will be delivered to 30-35 groups per year over three years in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties, in areas of weak community infrastructure and disadvantage. The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has been appointed to deliver the Programme and will recruit community-based organisations according to greatest need, stage of development, potential to gain from the Programme and commitment to learning and development, including willingness to network with others.

For further information about the Community Leadership Programme and/or an expression of interest form to take part in the 2011 Programme, go to www.communityleadershipprogramme.org or please contact:

Nuala Muldoon
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
61 Duncairn Gardens
Belfast
BT15 2GB
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 9087 7777
www.communityleadershipprogramme.org

Case Study:

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Killybegs Women’s Group (KWG) Killybegs Women’s Group (KWG) in County Donegal was formed in 1997 and provides a broad range of support for women within the Killybegs and district area. Much of their work focuses on making women feel physically and mentally well to cope with a largely isolated and lonely life as a woman in a fishing community. Read full story

Woman Ahead Woman Ahead came onto the Community Leadership Programme (CLP) looking for new skills, more confidence and help to work towards improving their local community in Bowtown, Newtownards, County Down. Read full story

The Communities in Transition Programme

The Communities in Transition Programme is one of the Fund’s key initiatives that seeks to address deeply rooted social, economic and political problems. The Programme focuses on areas with poor community infrastructure which experience ongoing community tension and alienation. It operates at a grassroots level and mobilises local people to encourage self-help within these marginalised communities.

The Communities in Transition Programme has proved successful in empowering communities to exercise a greater influence on developments in their own area. The Communities in Transition Programme is delivered on behalf of the Fund by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

For further information on the Communities in Transition Programme please contact:

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
Units 3 & 4 Rath Mor Centre
Bligh's Lane
Londonderry / Derry
BT48 OLZ
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 7137 1547
Fax: + 44 (0) 28 7137 1565
www.communityfoundationni.org