Chapter 21: Community development

Community development

What is community development?Benefits of business enterpriseCommunity development organisationsEducation and training

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Chapter 21: Community development

What is community development?

Aims of community development (urban and rural development):

To improve quality of life of community To support and develop social and economic activities

in a community To tackle unemployment in a community To promote enterprise and empower the local community

E.g. Community Games, Voluntary groups, Tidy Towns Initiative, Pop up Shops, Achill Greenway

Chapter 21: Community development

Benefits of business enterprise

• Create jobs, reduces unemployment and reduces emigration

• More spin-off jobs in local shops, banks and hotels

• Employees have more disposable income (money to spend) in locality

• Increase demand for housing which boosts the construction industry in an area

and improves infrastructure.

• Creates an ‘enterprise culture’ and encourages people to set up businesses

Chapter 21: Community development

Community development organisations

• Leader Plus Programme

• County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs)

• Area partnership Companies (APCs)

Chapter 21: Community development

Leader Plus Programme

This is a rural development program funded by the EU and by the Irish

Government. The objective is to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

Creation of micro enterprises in rural communities.

Encouraging rural tourism activities (e.g. Walking and cycling routes)

Village renewal and development (e.g. Creation of amenity areas –

playgrounds, picnic areas, scenic viewpoints)

Basic services for economy and rural population (e.g. Community centres

and youth cafes)

Improving recycling and environment conditions.

Galway Rural Development

Chapter 21: Community development

County and City Enterprise Boards

The 35 county and city enterprise boards were established to provice support for

small businesses with ten employees or less.

Provide information and advice on how to go about setting up a business

venture.

Offer mentoring programmes to help decision making and planning.

Provide financial supports such as grants to assist the entrepreneur.

• Feasibility grants determine whether the idea will be successful.

• Capital grants are available for purchases such as machinery or equipment.

CEBs provide training programmes and skill based workshops.

Chapter 21: Community development

Area Partnership Companies

Community partnerships

Area partnership companies (APCs)

Financed by EU and Irish government

Long-term local development plans

(jobs, skills, businesses and reduce emigration)

Offers business mentoring, training and grants

Support disadvantaged groups (long-term unemployed, disabled)

Galway City Partnership

Chapter 21: Community development

Education and training

SOLAS

• In 2011, government established new training authority (SOLAS) replacing FÁS.

• The main function of Solas is to provide advice, information and training to the unemployed in an effort to help them find employment.

• Other functions: Training of skilled personnel for industry Recruitment service for job seekers Employers can find staff and list vacancies with Solas Training programmes for apprentices to qualify as craft people

• Department of Education and Skills and Department of Social Protection responsible for providing services

Chapter 21: Community development

Leaving Certificate Questions

Chapter 21: Community development

Leaving Certificate Questions

Chapter 21: Community development

Leaving Certificate Questions

Chapter 21: Community development

Leaving Certificate Questions