Community Development

What is Community Development?

Community development is a process that seeks to build strong, sustainable communities by bringing people and groups together for the good of the wider community and society. Based on principles of equality, fairness and respect it sets out to influence power structures and remove barriers that prevent people from taking part in decisions that affect their lives.

Our community development team works to help people and communities to build their skills and to build constructive connections with decision making bodies such as the Health Service Executive, Dublin City Council, and other government agencies.

We have a specific focus on individuals and communities that experience social exclusion.

What is Social Exclusion?

The term social exclusion is used to identify individuals and communities that cannot fully participate in society because of a lack of resources that are normally available to the wider population. Social exclusion is often associated with communities that experience social problems such as poor housing, long-term unemployment, low incomes and education levels. It also affects communities that experience discrimination such as the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and bi-sexual community, Travellers, people living with disabilities etc.

Through our work we aim to reduce social exclusion and promote social inclusion.

What is Social Inclusion?

Social Inclusion is the process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in the economic, social and cultural life of the community and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live.

Joint Inclusion Report, 2004

How we are Funded

Tolka Area Partnership’s work in the area of Community Development is funded by the state through the Local and Community Development Programme. We also source funding for specific projects from other agencies. For example we currently employ a Traveller Development worker to support community development activities within the Traveller community. This work is jointly funded through the Local and Community Development Programme, the Health Service Executive and Dublin City Council.

Each year we prepare a work plan that fits within the strategic priorities as set out by the Board of the Partnership. This work plan is approved by the Board and submitted to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs through Pobal. The work plan outlines our aims and objectives for the year. It is prepared in collaboration with a number of advisory groups and committees of the Partnership thus ensuring community participation in the planning process.

The work plan sets out a series of actions under the four key goals of the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).  The four key LCDP goals are:

1. To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services in the area.
2. To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.
3. To increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects.
4. To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities.

Pobal is an intermediary body that manages funding programmes on behalf of the Irish state www.pobal.ie