Pictured at the Community Leadership Programme final roundtable workshope and presentation of certificates are (left) Úna McKernan from NICVA, and (far right) Rose-Mary Farrell Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland with Bernadette McFadden, Bernie Feeney and May Ward from Dunfanaghy Resource Centre, one of the 27 groups participating in year two of the Community Leadership Programme.

NICVA details some of the organisations which are benefitting from participation in the NICVA managed Community Leadership Programme.

“We are planting the trees; the next generation will get the shade.” You cannot say that Bushmills Ulster Scots Heritage Project isn’t taking the long view of development.  That was one of the comments from the group remarking on its participation in the Community Leadership Programme established and funded by the International Fund for Ireland and managed by NICVA.

In all, 27 community organisations took part in the second year of this three year programme which aims to strengthen communities by building organisational skills.  The groups like Braniel Community Association, Newlodge Schools Cluster, Greater Cloughreagh Community Association, Cavan Community Forum and Dunfanaghy Resource Centre were drawn from across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.

Speaking at the presentation of certificates Fund Board Member, Rose-Mary Farrell said: “The CLP allows the Fund to identify, nurture and train potential community leaders.  The aim of this £2.1 million investment programme is to empower communities to develop their leadership skills enabling them to build more effective communities and improve the conditions in which they live.”

The leadership training programme is designed and delivered by NICVA with its two key partners Stellar Leadership and the University of Ulster.

Another organisation that took part was the Crossfire Trust from Darkley in South Armagh, and after their participation they remarked that they were now better geared to achieve their goals and plans.  “All of us together are bringing peace, hope and reconciliation to our community” and paraphrasing President Obama: “Can we do it?  Yes we can!”

The International Fund for Ireland is supported by international donor governments, the USA, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and Rose-Mary Farrell thanked the donors for their generous support.

All the organisations who get involved have a variety of motives, different objectives, hopes and expectations but the thing they have in common is a desire to improve their communities.  That’s something every community actually has the inherent power to do.

The Bluestack Centre in Drimarone, Donegal aims to promote the overall regeneration of their area.  They provide a range of facilities to meet the cultural, social, educational, training and sporting needs of local people young and old and visitors and tourists too.

Just outside Bessbrook in County Armagh, Cloughreagh Community Association is developing a range of health projects to improve the health of the community.  Success here is a real win-win; a community with better general wellbeing will be less of a demand on primary health care resources.

Back up in Bushmills, the Ulster Scots Heritage Project is running classes in Ulster Scots dancing and music, language and history and they have a keen eye on adding to the offering that is available locally for tourists.

All the participant organisations believe that their organisational and leadership skills have been enhanced and they are feeling much more confident about their own ability and their capacity to take on much bigger challenges.  They are all volunteers in their own communities, holding down day jobs, raising families and building their own lives.

It’s because of that they do what they do.  They instinctively know that building their communities is good for everyone and makes for better places to live; safe, fun and dynamic places that make them proud, and puts a spring in their step.

So if you ever ask yourself “can we?” the answer is “Yes we can”.

 Click here to download press release