Supporting Communities helped groups in Northern Ireland to access over 2 million pounds in funding last year. The charity's Annual Report reveals an impressive amount of money was granted to small, community-based groups through the assistance of their community development, training, and funding support work.

"We work directly with community and resident groups to ensure they can fully participate in matters which affect their lives. We help new groups to form, constitute themselves, and become sustainable and productive for the betterment of their local area. Much of this involves getting them to a place where they can access and manage the funding they need to run vital programmes and services," said Colm McDaid, CEO of the charity.

In addition to helping groups to govern themselves well, Supporting Communities ensures they can engage with housing providers and other statutory agencies on behalf of the people in their area through the Housing Community Network (HCN) and Interagency Panels. The HCN is the largest tenant engagement structure in NI, a key component of the Housing Executive's Community Involvement Strategy, work that SC has been instrumental in designing and delivering for decades.

"Supporting Communities has 546 community groups in its membership and this past year we helped to establish 11 new groups in areas that needed community representation. In areas without an organised community group, we establish 'Village Voices' or 'Community Champions' - people willing to engage with housing providers and other statutory agencies on behalf of the people in their area – 24 to date," explained Conor Flanagan, Head of Community Development.

The charity provides member groups with a range of governance support, training, advice, and information that enable small charities to exist. As the appointed Independent Tenant Organisation for Northern Ireland, Supporting Communities is also working to ensure housing associations are engaging effectively with their tenants and providing ways for their customers to get involved in the running of their businesses.

"I often say, tenants hold the key to the success of a housing providers' business. They know best what needs to be improved and how they would like to see services provided." Sheenagh McNally is the Head of Corporate Services and oversees the organisation's delivery arm, building a reputation as the 'go-to' tenant participation experts for housing associations across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This past year saw the launch of the 'Tenant Participation Standards,' an accreditation system that housing associations can use as an external, professional validation of how they are meeting their tenant participation goals. Sheenagh and her team are excited to help all social landlords take tenant participation to the next level in Northern Ireland and to extend their 'TP expertise' south of the border.

In 2019, Supporting Communities also embarked on two exciting new partnership projects. They are delivering the digital inclusion strand of the EU funded, cross border ONSIDE Project working with Disability Action NI, the Housing Executive, and the Independent Living Movement Ireland. This project will train 2,400 people with disabilities in digital skills, empowering them to improve their lives and reduce social isolation.

The Cushendun Project also started last year with the appointment of a dedicated worker for the picturesque village located in the Glens of Antrim. Supporting Communities is developing proactive and participative approaches to identifying issues and solving problems with the local community in Cushendun to repair the strained relationship they have with their landlord, the National Trust. The project aims to build trust and forge consensus with residents in Cushendun so that they feel that they have a voice and a part to play in the village's future.

The accomplishments of the past year set the organisation on a bold course to address an ambitious set of new strategic priorities announced by a refreshed Board last December at their 40th anniversary event. What the future holds now is slightly less clear, as necessary changes are made to daily operations.

As the chair of the organisation, Lorraine Campbell, says in the foreword to the Annual Report, "Now, suddenly, the world has changed completely and in ways we cannot yet predict for the future. What we do know is that our mission of creating strong, empowered communities is as important as ever. Probably even more so now in uncertain times when we all must rely on each other for our collective well-being and to safeguard the most vulnerable amongst us. So, as we reflect on our accomplishments of this past year, we will continue to look forward, ready to innovate and adapt to the new realities we must all learn to live with."

Get the full report here.