Community Development

How We Help

We appreciate that dedicated people run community groups and organisations, and many of them are volunteers, therefore North Down Community Network are committed to supporting community groups and organisations in a range of ways to best meet needs and priorities.

Our Community Development Worker, Ashleigh Hunter, and other staff in NDCN are available to offer services such as:

  • Funding Support & planning

  • Training 1-2-1 and small group support

  • Charity Governance Support

  • Support for Community Events

  • Charity Registration

FUNDING SUPPORT - We know that many groups and organisations need funding to deliver their services, but the funding process can often seem complicated and overwhelming.  We can provide support to groups to search for relevant funding and help them to complete applications. 

TRAINING - We provide a range of training to community groups and organisations, including:

  • Good Governance – especially to make sure charities are aware of, and are meeting Charity Commission NI requirements.

  • Community Policies & Procedures

  • Management Committee Training

  • Taking the Fear out of Finances – basic finance procedures

  • Strategy Planning

Training can be provided on a one-to-one basis with committees or small groups, as well as at an individual level if that works best.  Also, if there are any training needs not mentioned, then please just get in touch and we will work with you to tailor a programme to meet your needs.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

We know that community events can be as large as a fun-day with hundreds of people through to a small focused event such as an Annual General Meeting (AGM), and we are here to support.  Community groups are the experts in what events will work well for their residents/members, but if you need a bit of support with any of the following aspects of event management, do get in touch:

  • Event Planning

  • Practical considerations, e.g. health and safety, accessibility, insurance, photography, etc.

  • Setting and Managing a Budget

  • Promotion, especially through our social media and e-zine.

*  Evaluation after the event – Although it is great to capture the number of people who attended an event, we can also help you to capture people’s experience of the event, especially the positive difference it has made to them. 

For further information on any of the above, please contact Ashleigh Hunter by telephone on 028 9146 1386/ 07746 104870 or email at pcdw@ndcn.co.uk.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOOL KIT

‘North Down Community Network along with Ards and North Down Borough Council, Ards Network and County Down Rural Community Network created a short toolkit and guide to provide some essential information to community groups and charities about some of the most common questions, queries and needs they might have.  Please see the link below to download the document:’

https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/downloads/Community_Development_Toolkit_online.pdf

Helpful numbers from the Community Associations

Get in contact with North Down Community Network for more information about the range of services, support and activity that your local Community Association in the Breezemount, Bloomfield, Conlig, Clandeboye or Conlig areas are providing.

Email: pcdw@ndcn.co.uk or Tel: 028 9146 1386