Supporting Communities

September is here! It must be time to check for the August Community Funding Bulletin - your one-stop download to catch up on all of last month's funding posts.

Get it online here: supportingcommunities.org/funding-bull...

#fundingsupport

Since joining our team earlier this spring, Joanne Wilson has been travelling the country meeting our members, staff and tenants.

Here, she shares her first impressions of the tenant leadership she has witnessed in advance of our upcoming conference.

supportingcommunities.org/blog/2025/8/...

Attention Ballyclare friends!

BT’s Ballyclare exchange is closing soon - everyone who still uses their landline phone must move to a digital service.

Learn more at a drop-in information session on 17 September between 11:00-13:00 at the Ballyclare Town Hall.

#Ballyclare #DigitalVoice

In just two months, we'll be celebrating International Tenants Day at the All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference in Belfast on October 6&7! Join us to take your tenant participation work to the next level🤩

Get all the details and book your tickets here: supportingcommunities.org/about-the-co...

It was a pleasure to volunteer with a bit of painting this week at the Portadown Wellness Centre.

The centre got a fresh coat of paint, and we had a ball with colleagues to support this fantastic community resource.

Thanks to Alan and team for the lovely lunch & a great day out of the office!

1/2 The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 gave the Department for Communities the power to set a minimum size for charities that must register with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. This is known as a registration threshold.

We're delighted to have David Wilton join us at our conference in October for a session on the work they have been doing to reduce fuel poverty, lift people out of damp and mouldy conditions, and make communities more sustainable.

Check out the programme: supportingcommunities.org/programme

We are thrilled to announce the keynote speaker for our All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference, Kai Jackson!

Check her out and the rest of the programme line-up here: supportingcommunities.org/about-the-co...

#HaveaSeatAtTheTable

It's never too early to discuss succession planning! Good stewardship isn't just about the present; it's about ensuring the sustainability & effectiveness of your group for years to come.
Read our 'How To' sheet for ideas for your group! supportingcommunities.org/how-to-make-...

Did you see the new awards for tenant engagement?
Supporting Communities is excited to announce four new All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Awards, which will recognise excellence in tenant participation work, both for staff and tenants.

Find out more and enter here: supportingcommunities.org/awards

July Funding Clinic Sessions (Online) — Supporting Communities Book an online session with our Funding and Social Value Officer for some one-to-one funding support.

Our next online funding clinic day will be on 24 July. Book in now to meet with Anita, our funding expert, for one-to-one support and advice!
#fundingsupport

More info: supportingcommunities.org/latest-event...

More than Housing: How Tenant Engagement Changes Everything — Supporting Communities Clodagh Cooke shares some of the things she’s learned about the intersection of community development and tenant engagement during her first year and a bit on the job as a CDO in Belfast. Find out why...

Check out our latest blog! Clodagh Cooke shares some of the things she’s learned about the intersection of community development and tenant engagement during her first year and a bit on the job as a CDO in Belfast. Find out why she says housing is the foundation that everything else builds on.

We're proud to say that it was another productive year for our staff, who worked to make a real difference by providing hands-on support and expertise to help create thriving, sustainable communities.

Read our Annual Report 2024-25 here: supportingcommunities.org/annual-reports

Members of the Housing Policy Panel were back up at Stormont yesterday to meet with the All-Party Group on Housing. Panel members emphasised the need for a renewed Tenant Participation Strategy and shared our latest publication, 'Tenant Engagement Stories', with committee members.
#NextLevelTP

The deadline for both of our scholarship programmes is fast approaching at the end of June. If you are a student in Ballymena or the ABC council area, check these out and apply soon!

➡️Ballymena: supportingcommunities.org/scholarship-...

➡️ABC area: supportingcommunities.org/james-kane-f...

Thank you to the amazing tenants who accompanied us to the International Social Housing Festival in Dublin this week!
Our session with Neighbourhood Network fostered new connections and sparked discussions we can't wait to continue!
#ISHF25 #tenantengagement #communitydevelopment

Remember when a suggestion box in the lobby and an annual satisfaction survey were considered "job done" for tenant engagement? We've certainly come a long way, haven't we!

What does effective engagement look like in 2025?

Read our latest blog: supportingcommunities.org/blog/2025/5/...

Do you work with people who may need extra support when the landlines go digital?

We're working with BT to offer free, in-person info sessions to groups all over NI so we can answer questions and address any worries!

Email alex@supportingcommunities.org to arrange a session!

#digitalswitchover

Good news! We're happy to extend the early bird period for our All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference ticket sales until the end of May to give everyone a bit more time to take advantage of the discounted rate.

Book online here: supportingcommunities.org/tickets

#NextLevelTP #AITEC25

We'll be at the International Social Housing Festival this June!

Come find us on 4 June at 2:45 pm in Liffey Meeting Room 2a in the Dublin Convention Centre for an interactive discussion and storytelling session in partnership with Neighbourhood Network.

#ISHF2025 #NextLevelTP #TenantEngagement

It's been wonderful to continue our partnership with the Community Development and Health Network as part of their Elevate Project. We have been mentoring some amazing organisations to build their skills in #communitydevelopment. Well done to all the groups taking part!

Damp and mould prevention guide launched in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland's housing sector has got together to launch a new guide intended to help tackle damp in mould in homes

Damp and mould prevention guide launched in Northern Ireland housingdigital.co.uk/damp-and-mou...

Want to know more about measuring the impact of your community work?
HCN groups can join Anita for an introduction to the concepts and tools involved in demonstrating the value that your work brings to your community, funders, and yourself!
Register online:
supportingcommunities.org/.../measurin...

The latest edition of Ezine is out! Are you on the mailing list?

Get your own copy delivered straight to your inbox by signing up on our website - or download the latest edition at: supportingcommunities.org/e-zine

We're #hiring! Supporting Communities is recruiting a Community Development Officer for the Lisburn/Castlereagh area.

Do you know someone who would be great in this role? Pass it on!

More info: supportingcommunities.org/jobs

#CharityJobs #jobseekers #JobOpportunity #JobFairy #NowHiring

It's the moment we've been waiting for!

Tickets are officially on sale for the All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference happening in Belfast on 6 & 7 October.

Book your place at supportingcommunities.org/tickets
See you there!
#NextLevelTP

Is There a Real Seat at the Table for Tenants? — Supporting Communities After years of working directly with both housing providers and residents across Ireland, I've seen the stark difference between tokenistic consultation and genuine participation. When done right, ten...

In our latest blog post, Siobhán ONeill discusses her experience working with housing associations, helping them to take their #tenantengagement work to the next level and what it takes to do it right.
Read it here: bit.ly/42lKQdz

Do you know an A-level student in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area?

If they plan to study towards a STEM degree in Northern Ireland, check out our James Kane Foundation #Scholarship fund, now open for 2025!

supportingcommunities.org/james-kane-f...

Our scholarships are back for 2025! The Supporting Communities Scholarship Fund is now open to Year 14 students in Ballymena who plan to study STEM or Business degrees in Northern Ireland.

➡Check out the criteria and apply: supportingcommunities.org/scholarship-...

#ScholarshipOpportunity

A rich spectrum of tenant involvement exists, ranging from basic information sharing to full co-production of services and policies.

What works best? Read more from Aidan Kearney in his blog on the spectrum of tenant involvement.

➡https://bit.ly/4c2UIxy

#NextLevelTP #TenantEngagement