Our one-year course is ideal for those who would like to take a more active role and help build stronger and more resilient communities.

We all belong to communities – from our small family community to the larger geographic community. Communities also exist within our sports clubs, political parties and professional groups.

Each of these communities are made up of people who are trying to work together for a common purpose, for example:

  • a local community trying to raise funds for a community hall.
  • a foroige group trying to get more young people involved.
  • a local drama group wanting to get new members, so they can stage a bigger production.
  • a new immigrants group wanting to become more involved in their local community.
  • a group of men setting up a men’s shed.
  • a group of unemployed young people wanting to improve their employment prospects.

If you are working or volunteering in a community based organisation and feel you would like to be better equipped to take on more responsibility and give direction, this community development course will help you to understand more about:

  • Groups – how they work and how they can be more effective.
  • How to listen and understand what members of the community really want.
  • How to plan, organise and lead a community event.
  • How to read and analyse government statistics and how to lobby effectively.
  • How to deal with some of the common problems that occur in community groups such as:
  • When cliques form and people feel excluded.
  • Only the loudest voices are heard.
  • Meetings are inefficiently run.
  • People are not involved in decision making.
  • The ‘committee’ make all the decisions and people don’t feel they belong to the particular group.
  • People become involved who have hidden agendas and they cause disruption, which results in confusion.

This is a full-time FETAC Level 6 course with 7 Modules including:

Community Development Theory, Community Development Practice, Group Work, Social Analysis, Conflict Management, Communication, Work Experience.  Students will attend college 2 days per week, 1 day in work experience and 2 days of self-directed study.

Past participants of this course have continued their studies in social work, social care, teaching, leadership and management. Some have gained employment in local community groups such as Foroige, Leader and Google. Others have expanded local community development and community arts projects.

If you are interested in this course please contact us at North Connaught College on 071 91 85035  or apply here. Visit the North Connaught College Facebook page for regular updates on courses.