Ten years after Greener Kirkcaldy began tackling disadvantage and inequality within their town, last week local people were celebrating the official opening of their new community hub. With purpose built premises, Greener Kirkcaldy can continue tackling food and fuel poverty in the town, but always with an eye to promoting Kirkcaldy as a greener and fairer place … Continue reading Why is this even tolerated?
Poverty
Look who’s participating
The Community Empowerment Act 2015 had a lot squeezed into it. One section that some folk speculated might be the surprise package was contained in Part 3 of the Act which gave communities the right to request to participate in public sector decision making with a view to improving outcomes. Participation Requests only came into … Continue reading Look who’s participating
Time to walk the walk
You’d be hard pushed to find a politician of any party who would openly take issue with any of the policy zeitgeists such as community empowerment, localism and the co-production of public services. Talking the talk is easy. But actually taking the steps to translate all the talk into action is another matter. Political power … Continue reading Time to walk the walk
Poverty in New Zealand
Abstract Poverty is an important socio-political issue in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Children's Commissioner's Child Poverty Monitor has established the following measures of poverty: material hardship (where households income is less than 60% of the current median income). It was also identified that households in extreme poverty (including 80,000 children) are experiencing both material hardship … Continue reading Poverty in New Zealand
Case studies from the Communities in Transition 2 Programme, Northern Island.
This paper is comprised of case studies from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland's Communities in Transition 2 Programme. The Programme seeks to: build relationships within and between people and communities; promote local participation in community development and peace-building work; and create community cohesion by offering opportunities and support that had not been previously accessible … Continue reading Case studies from the Communities in Transition 2 Programme, Northern Island.
Doirin Graham – on Community-Led Local Development now
Doirin Graham is the CEO of Clare Local Development Company which on Monday learned that it was successful in its bid for LEADER funding worth €8.9m to County Clare. Doirin's company, set up in 1992, went against the tide in competing with the county's new Local and Community Development Committee for the funding. It was … Continue reading Doirin Graham – on Community-Led Local Development now
Social Enterprises in Rural Communities – Case Study Ireland
A paper presented at the 5th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise, ‘Building a scientific field to foster social enterprise eco-system,’ June 30th to July 3rd, 2015, Helsinki, Finland. In Ireland social enterprises are seen primarily as non-profit organisations driven by social objectives. Irish thinking on the social economy has been influenced by … Continue reading Social Enterprises in Rural Communities – Case Study Ireland
