Local Development Companies Network

Access to the right language support can make a real difference helping people settle into their communities and access opportunities.

At community level, we’re seeing very practical approaches that deliver impact. Robert Carey, SICAP Programme Manager with Newkd, shares how a more structured model of English language provision, aligned with recognised European standards based on real-world job use, can support clearer (and quicker) progression into employment and better outcomes for learners.

Through the 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, learnings like this can be exchanged nationally helping to strengthen delivery and support more inclusive communities.

Communities don’t become divided overnight and they don’t heal overnight either.

During his visit to Ireland, Eric Ward, one of the world’s leading voices on democracy, race, and community resilience, sat down with us to unpack what’s really driving protest, polarisation, and mistrust at local level.

This wasn’t just theory. It was about real communities navigating change every day: relocation, pressure on trust, and the challenge of staying connected when conversations get difficult.

Through this workshop, community leaders and practitioners came together to:

• better understand what’s shaping today’s movements
• build confidence in responding to sensitive issues
• share lived experiences openly
• strengthen the connections that hold communities together

Because resilience isn’t built in isolation, it’s built together. 🤝

And the role of communities has never been more important in protecting and renewing democracy from the ground up.

Eric’s message is timely and his message is clear:

“You know the path forward is together. We all have the right to live, love, worship and work free from fear and bigotry. Let’s get to it. Let’s believe in one another. Let’s have fun while we’re doing it.”

Thank you Eric, Community Foundation Ireland and Northside Partnership.

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀

This was the focus of a recent workshop facilitated by Joan O'Donnell for the national network of Local Development Companies, through the Social Inclusion Oversight Forum.

As part of the session, Joan provided a clear introduction to Human Learning Systems for those less familiar with the approach, and explored what it means in practice for delivering more relational public services.

While many would say that the Local Development model has always placed relationships at its core, it was encouraging to see this perspective gaining broader recognition at national level.

On the day, Bairbre Nic Aongusa of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht highlighted that this approach is now being explored across nine government departments – a strong signal of growing policy interest in more human-centred, collaborative ways of designing and delivering public services.