What We Do

Supporting Communities is an independent charity that champions tenant and community participation by developing groups, supporting active citizenship, and building cohesive communities.

We promote best practice in community engagement and participation through a grassroots approach to community development, providing tailored support, advice, information, and training to new and existing community groups, statutory and voluntary organisations.

As tenant participation experts, we work with social housing providers via our trading arm to raise the standard of tenant engagement across the island of Ireland.

Upcoming Events

Featured

May 14

May 14, 2024

May Funding Clinic Sessions

May 14, 2024

Book a session with our Funding and Social Value Officer for some one-to-one funding support.

May 14, 2024

Engaging Young People in Your Tenant Participation Structure

May 15

May 15, 2024

Engaging Young People in Your Tenant Participation Structure

May 15, 2024

Join us for a special open meeting of the Tenant Participation Practitioners Network to share good practice in engaging younger tenants in your housing association’s activities.

May 15, 2024

Jun 4

Jun 4, 2024

June Funding Clinic Sessions

Jun 4, 2024

Book a session with our Funding and Social Value Officer for some one-to-one funding support.

Jun 4, 2024

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Featured News

Latest News

Apr 17, 2024

2024 Scholarships Launched!

Apr 17, 2024

Both of our scholarship programmes are now open! Tell the student in your life to have a look!

Apr 17, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

Best Practice: Ballykeel 1 Moving Forward Group

Apr 16, 2024

The Ballykeel 1 Moving Forward Together Group have recently been awarded funding to keep their programme of events going for another two years. We asked them to tell us about their secret to success!

Apr 16, 2024

Mar 20, 2024

We're On the Path to Net Zero!

Mar 20, 2024

We’re developing a long-term plan for our organisation to become net zero. Read a quick update from our Net Zero Officer!

Mar 20, 2024

Dec 13, 2023

Changing of the Guard! Supporting Communities has a new Chair

Dec 13, 2023

Supporting Communities says goodbye to four amazing board members who have served their maximum terms and welcomes a new chairperson.

Dec 13, 2023

Nov 21, 2023

Meet our New Board Members

Nov 21, 2023

We’re exited to welcome three new board members to the SC team!

Nov 21, 2023

Oct 18, 2023

Mid-Ulster HCN Members Get Online with Area Forums

Oct 18, 2023

Housing Community Network members from Dungannon, Cookstown, and Magherafelt took advantage of training support from Supporting Communities to start using the new Online Members Forum. Read more to learn how they got on!

Oct 18, 2023

Oct 6, 2023

Four Scholarship Winners are Headed to University

Oct 6, 2023

We are delighted to have facilitated four scholarship opportunities this year through partnerships with The Gallaher Trust and The James Kane Foundation. Read all about the recipients!

Oct 6, 2023

Sep 29, 2023

Meet Natalie Mayes - Our New Net Zero Officer

Sep 29, 2023

Meet our Net Zero Officer, Natalie!

Sep 29, 2023

Sep 14, 2023

Landlines are going digital! Learn about BT’s Digital Voice at an event near you

Sep 14, 2023

Landlines are going digital! To help explain the changes, BT is holding a series of events across NI.

Sep 14, 2023

Aug 7, 2023

Tackling Health Inequality through Elevate’s Mentoring Programme

Aug 7, 2023

It has been a pleasure working on the Elevate project this past year. We look forward to taking part in the next round!

Aug 7, 2023

Latest Blogs

Featured

Jul 18, 2023

Tenant empowerment is the way forward for social housing

Jul 18, 2023

Read Sheenagh’s argument for seizing this moment in the housing crisis to make real and lasting change for tenant empowerment.

Jul 18, 2023

Mar 29, 2023

An Interview with Sheenagh McNally about the Upcoming All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference

Mar 29, 2023

Learn more about the upcoming All Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference from its primary architect, Sheenagh McNally.

Mar 29, 2023

Feb 24, 2023

My Placement Experience with Supporting Communities

Feb 24, 2023

We were lucky to have a student occupational therapist join us for five weeks working with our Digital Inclusion Officer as part of her degree. We asked her to write a blog about her experience with us and the connection between digital skills and healthcare. Have a read!

Feb 24, 2023

Jan 18, 2023

5 Reasons Tenant Participation is Good Business

Jan 18, 2023

Tenant participation is good for the bottom line. Find out how!

Jan 18, 2023

What’s in it for Us? The Benefits of Tenant Participation for the Tenants

Jan 18, 2023

Tenant Participation benefits everyone! Here are the top reasons tenants say they want to take part.

Jan 18, 2023

Apr 13, 2022

Building Peer Support for Tenant Engagement Professionals in the Republic of Ireland

Apr 13, 2022

Sarah Dunne Rogers came along to a training session on tenant engagement for her new job and ended up starting a whole network for peer support!

Apr 13, 2022

Nov 16, 2021

Developing Tenant Engagement in Ireland

Nov 16, 2021

Alex Dowdall reports on a series of tenant engagement workshops held earlier this year in response to a growing interest in the subject amongst housing professionals in the Republic of Ireland.

Nov 16, 2021

Oct 4, 2021

From Sceptic to Convert: My Tenant Engagement Journey

Oct 4, 2021

Colm Barnes, the Customer Service and Repairs Manager at Circle VHA, tells his tenant participation conversion story. Initially wary of the idea, he was won over in practice!

Oct 4, 2021

Sep 27, 2021

Circle's Commitment to a Tenant First Approach

Sep 27, 2021

“In the last 12 months, the support and guidance we have received from Supporting Communities has been instrumental in changing how Circle Voluntary Housing Association does and will do its business in the future.” Read more from Circle’s CEO, John Hannigan about their tenant engagement journey.

Sep 27, 2021

Aug 17, 2021

The First Tenant-Led Engagement Strategy Rolls out at Circle VHA: An Interview with April Gregg

Aug 17, 2021

Meet April Gregg, a tenant with Circle Voluntary Housing Association in Dublin. April has been working closely with Supporting Communities and Circle to create their first Tenant Engagement Strategy, written by the tenants themselves.

Aug 17, 2021