Supporting Communities

General information

Supporting Communities origins date back to 1979 as a single Community Project in Ballymena. Today Supporting Communities is a province-wide organisation with staff spread throughout Northern Ireland.

How can we help?

*Promoting, Encouraging and supporting meaningful Community participation,

Supporting Communities supports existing groups and the formation of new groups, enhancing their skills, knowledge and expertise thus enabling them to fully participate in matters impacting on their communities. Embedded within this role is the ethos of partnership work and the need for sustainability.

*Acting as an “Exemplar” for Community participation in Housing at strategic and local level

In partnership with the N.I.H.E, Supporting Communities has established and facilitates a formal Housing Community network. This unique structure ensures that residents have meaningful involvement with N.I.H.E at District, Area and Central (policy) level throughout Northern Ireland.

*Providing an effective Funding Support Service to Staff, Communities and other Stakeholders

Supporting Communities employs a dedicated Funding Officer in addition to providing:
-Funding Fact sheets
-Funding Enquiry Service
-Monthly Funding Bulletin and regular funding updates in our fortnightly E-bulletin and monthly E-zine
-Supporting Communities provide funding information on funding bodies including trusts, companies, business, government departments, local councils and European sources.

*Providing an efficient Information, Research and Policy Support Service to Staff, Communities and other Stakeholders

Supporting Communities provides information to the community in a number of ways.

· Our Communications Team provide a weekly e-bulletin and monthly e-zine highlighting opportunities and best practice throughout the Voluntary and Community Sector, including news, initiatives, NI Assembly and Policy developments, Housing Community network Updates and funding and training information.
· In addition Supporting Communities has a range of Factsheets offering useful tips, advice and guidance on a broad spectrum of topics covering Housing, Environmental, Social and Economic issues. We. also have a comprehensive information bank available to Community Groups.

Supporting Communities assists relevant agencies to develop policies on models of Community Participation. In addition, we provide informed responses to policies and consultation documents based on feedback from the community.

Maximising opportunities for Partnership Workingaximising for Partnership Workin
Supporting Communities facilitate in the region of fifty Inter-Agencies throughout Northern Ireland and our staff actively sit on a number of Statutory and Voluntary partnerships throughout the province.

*Providing a comprehensive, efficient Administrative Service to Staff, Communities and other Stakeholdersother

Supporting Communities also assists external groups as resources permit and administrates for all areas of the Housing Community Network.

*Provide a tailored Training Service to support Staff, Communities and other Stakeholders

Supporting Communities has been recognised for the high standard of training delivered with a National Training Award and is an approved Open College Network Centre.
Supporting Communities offers training to Community Groups and staff from Statutory and Voluntary agencies. Training is available in the form of: -
One to one practical training (as and when required)
Short skilled based training
Accredited Courses
Tailor made packages to suit residential/one or two day courses