Community Development - from the NICVA Policy Manifesto
Posted by Feargal O'Kane on Feb 12 2007 under Community development, Policy Manifesto
“Community development in Northern Ireland is a process which embraces community action, community service, community work and other community endeavour — whether geographical or issue-based — with an emphasis towards the disadvantaged, impoverished and powerless within society. Its values include participation, empowerment and self-help and while it is essentially about collective action, it helps to realise the potential of both individuals and groups within communities. In the interest of developing this potential, community development challenges prejudice, sectarianism and the unequal distribution of resources — both in terms of fi nancial resources and of access to skills and knowledge …”
Community Development Review in Northern Ireland, March 1991
Community development is about the participation of communities in the decisions which affect their lives; it is not simply about consultation. The proper process must be in place to ensure that people’s voices are heard. The community development process provides a route for all communities to engage with political parties, elected representatives, local councils and government in Northern Ireland.
