A landmark moment for tenant participation in Northern Ireland as Supporting Communities takes its place on the global stage.

Colm McDaid and Healy King from Supporting Communities with Johan Mirtorp and Dan Nicander from IUT on a visit to Northern Ireland

Supporting Communities (SC), the independent Northern Ireland charity that has championed tenant and community participation for more than 45 years, has been formally approved as a member of the International Union of Tenants (IUT) Board. The announcement marks a proud milestone for SC and signals a new chapter in our commitment to advancing tenants' rights across Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland, and now on an international stage.

A Global Platform for Local Expertise

The International Union of Tenants is a global organisation dedicated to protecting and advancing tenants' rights worldwide. Through its membership network, the IUT promotes fair, secure, and equitable housing and works to ensure that tenants' voices are heard in housing policy debates at national and international levels.

Founded on a grassroots ethos, Supporting Communities works directly with tenant groups, social housing providers, statutory organisations, and local communities to provide tailored support, training, and capacity-building. Our mission, to empower tenants, strengthen active citizenship, and promote best practice in tenant engagement, has made us a recognised authority on participation across Northern Ireland.

Membership of the IUT Board now gives Supporting Communities a seat at the table within this international network dedicated to protecting and advancing tenants' rights globally. The alignment between the two organisations is clear: both are driven by a shared conviction that tenants deserve a fair, secure, and equitable place to call home, and that their voices must be heard in the decisions that shape housing policy.

“We warmly welcome Supporting Communities to the IUT Board. Their sustained dedication to tenant participation, community development, and housing justice makes them a highly valuable addition to our international network. Northern Ireland’s housing sector faces complex challenges, and Supporting Communities’ long experience, professionalism, and innovative methods will strengthen the work of IUT. We look forward to close cooperation as we continue our shared mission to promote fair, secure, and equitable housing for tenants everywhere.”
— Marie Linder, President, International Union of Tenants

Nearly Five Decades of Impact

Since its establishment, Supporting Communities has worked tirelessly to ensure that residents in Northern Ireland have a meaningful say in the decisions that affect their homes and neighbourhoods. Through collaboration with social housing providers and community organisations, we have helped raise standards, improve engagement processes, and build the capacity of tenant groups to advocate effectively for themselves.

“Joining the IUT Board is a proud moment for Supporting Communities and a recognition of the work our members and staff have carried out across Northern Ireland for nearly five decades. Tenant and community participation is at the heart of everything we do, and becoming part of this global network gives us a powerful new platform to share what we have learned, to learn from others, and to champion the rights of tenants at an international level. We look forward to contributing to IUT’s vital mission and to bringing the experiences and voices of tenants in Northern Ireland to the wider world stage.”
— Ian McCrickard, Chair, Supporting Communities

Sharing Good Practice Across the Island of Ireland and Beyond

For Supporting Communities, the IUT membership is also an opportunity to amplify the work being done across the island of Ireland, north and south, and to ensure that the voices of tenants in this region are represented at the highest international levels.

“We are both delighted and honoured that Supporting Communities is to become a member of the International Union of Tenants (IUT) Board, where we can share and showcase the good practice of tenant engagement and participation from across the island of Ireland, north and south, and also advocate for the rights of tenants on an international level.”
— Colm McDaid, CEO, Supporting Communities

Looking Ahead

As a new member of the IUT Board, Supporting Communities will play an active role in shaping the international tenant movement by contributing to policy discussions, sharing expertise, and helping build a fairer future for tenants everywhere. It is a fitting recognition of an organisation whose impact has always stretched far beyond its size.