Assist communities in developing tailored plans to advance their own areas

Community plans are developed by local people in their area and focus on improving what matters to them most.  They are a step-by-step collaborative process which give communities the ability to contribute to the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of their local area.

Community planning is quite widespread in the UK and has found to have tremendous benefits in creating stronger, more sustainable societies.  It has not yet been used other than at informal level in Ireland.

I am currently availing of SECAD training to become a community planner.  I believe strongly that this process can empower people to become authors of their own destiny rather than waiting for unresponsive governments to deliver.

Many projects developing out of community plans can be undertaken by the people themselves.  But other projects will need local authority backup.  It is vital that Cork County Council is receptive and proactive in assisting with the delivery of community plans.  I aim to bring Cork County Council along with this approach, confident from my experience in Tidy Towns work that they will see its benefits immediately and respond supportively.