What We Do

Supporting Communities is an independent charity that champions tenant and community participation by developing groups, supporting active citizenship, and building cohesive communities.

We promote best practice in community engagement and participation through a grassroots approach to community development, providing tailored support, advice, information, and training to new and existing community groups, statutory and voluntary organisations.

As tenant participation experts, we work with social housing providers via our trading arm to raise the standard of tenant engagement across the island of Ireland.

Upcoming Events

Featured

Nov 12

Nov 12, 2024

November Funding Clinic Sessions

Nov 12, 2024

Book a session with our Funding and Social Value Officer for some one-to-one funding support.

Nov 12, 2024

Lisburn and Castlereagh Area Online Funding Clinic

Nov 13

Nov 13, 2024

Lisburn and Castlereagh Area Online Funding Clinic

Nov 13, 2024

Lisburn and Castlereagh area groups are invited to book a one-to-one funding support session with our Funding and Social Value Officer.

Nov 13, 2024

Nov 20

Nov 20, 2024

South Antrim Online Funding Clinic

Nov 20, 2024

South Antrim area groups are invited to book a one-to-one funding support session with our Funding and Social Value Officer.

Nov 20, 2024

Nov 21

Nov 21, 2024

Omagh Funding & Advice Fair

Nov 21, 2024

Drop into the Omagh Funding Fair the evening of 21 November.

Nov 21, 2024

Empowering Every Voice: Approaches for Inclusive Engagement

Nov 26

Nov 26, 2024

Empowering Every Voice: Approaches for Inclusive Engagement

Nov 26, 2024

Join us at this online Four Nations event!

Nov 26, 2024

Dec 3

Dec 3, 2024

December Funding Clinic Sessions

Dec 3, 2024

Book a session with our Funding and Social Value Officer for some one-to-one funding support.

Dec 3, 2024

Dec 4

Dec 4, 2024

South Region Area Online Funding Clinic

Dec 4, 2024

South Region area groups are invited to book a one-to-one funding support session with our Funding and Social Value Officer.

Dec 4, 2024

Mar 3

Mar 3, 2025

New Events Coming Soon

Mar 3, 2025

We’re working on new events. Check back soon to see what’s coming up!

Mar 3, 2025

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Featured News

Latest News

Oct 28, 2024

Bright Futures Ahead: 2024 Scholarship Winners Announced!

Oct 28, 2024

Supporting Communities is thrilled to announce the recipients of its prestigious 2024 scholarships.

Oct 28, 2024

Oct 22, 2024

Are You Ready for the Digital Switchover?

Oct 22, 2024

Supporting Communities is working with BT to help inform residents about what’s happening and what help is available to anyone who needs it.

Oct 22, 2024

Oct 10, 2024

Community Safety Initiatives Demonstrate Impressive Social Return on Investment

Oct 10, 2024

Our recent evaluations of three Housing Executive-funded projects prove outstanding social returns on investment (SROI). For every pound invested, these initiatives generate over three pounds in social value, demonstrating the significant impact of community-driven safety programs.

Oct 10, 2024

Oct 3, 2024

Communities encouraged to respond to the draft Programme for Government

Oct 3, 2024

Supporting Communities encourages community and resident groups to get involved and respond to the draft Programme for Government. We have outlined some of our thoughts to help groups formulate their own.

Oct 3, 2024

Sep 9, 2024

Supporting Communities Training Programme Recognised by AIEB

Sep 9, 2024

Our Level 3 Award in Community Development is now an AIEB Recognised introductory Community Work Education and Training programme!

Sep 9, 2024

Aug 23, 2024

Radius Gets the Gold!

Aug 23, 2024

Congratulations to Radius Housing, who have received our very first Gold Level Accreditation in Tenant Participation!

Aug 23, 2024

Jul 29, 2024

HCN 'Summer School' Launches Digital Skills Week this August

Jul 29, 2024

Housing Community Network groups are invited to join our week-long summer school focusing on the digital skills you need to support your growing organisation! Sign up now.

Jul 29, 2024

Jul 3, 2024

Get Ready for the Digital Switchover!

Jul 3, 2024

Got questions about the digital switchover? Come along to an info session with Supporting Communities at a location near you to learn more!

Jul 3, 2024

May 22, 2024

Annual Report Looks to the Future!

May 22, 2024

Our Annual Report is out now! Take a look and learn more about what Supporting Communities does.

May 22, 2024

May 6, 2024

Service Spotlight: Funding Support

May 6, 2024

Get to know our funding service in this interview with Funding & Social Value Officer Anita Doonan.

May 6, 2024

Latest Blogs

Featured

Aug 1, 2024

My Journey as a Net Zero Officer: Driving Sustainability at Supporting Communities

Aug 1, 2024

Natalie Mayes, our Net Zero placement student, is getting ready to go back to university in the fall. Read her blog reflecting on her year working at Supporting Communities.

Aug 1, 2024

Jul 22, 2024

My Experience with Supporting Communities: A Three-Week Journey

Jul 22, 2024

Sandra Quigg spent three weeks working alongside Community Development Officers at Supporting Communities. Read about her experience and what she takes away!

Jul 22, 2024

Jul 18, 2023

Tenant empowerment is the way forward for social housing

Jul 18, 2023

Read Sheenagh’s argument for seizing this moment in the housing crisis to make real and lasting change for tenant empowerment.

Jul 18, 2023

Mar 29, 2023

An Interview with Sheenagh McNally about the Upcoming All-Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference

Mar 29, 2023

Learn more about the upcoming All Ireland Tenant Engagement Conference from its primary architect, Sheenagh McNally.

Mar 29, 2023

Feb 24, 2023

My Placement Experience with Supporting Communities

Feb 24, 2023

We were lucky to have a student occupational therapist join us for five weeks working with our Digital Inclusion Officer as part of her degree. We asked her to write a blog about her experience with us and the connection between digital skills and healthcare. Have a read!

Feb 24, 2023

Jan 18, 2023

5 Reasons Tenant Participation is Good Business

Jan 18, 2023

Tenant participation is good for the bottom line. Find out how!

Jan 18, 2023

What’s in it for Us? The Benefits of Tenant Participation for the Tenants

Jan 18, 2023

Tenant Participation benefits everyone! Here are the top reasons tenants say they want to take part.

Jan 18, 2023

Apr 13, 2022

Building Peer Support for Tenant Engagement Professionals in the Republic of Ireland

Apr 13, 2022

Sarah Dunne Rogers came along to a training session on tenant engagement for her new job and ended up starting a whole network for peer support!

Apr 13, 2022

Nov 16, 2021

Developing Tenant Engagement in Ireland

Nov 16, 2021

Alex Dowdall reports on a series of tenant engagement workshops held earlier this year in response to a growing interest in the subject amongst housing professionals in the Republic of Ireland.

Nov 16, 2021

Oct 4, 2021

From Sceptic to Convert: My Tenant Engagement Journey

Oct 4, 2021

Colm Barnes, the Customer Service and Repairs Manager at Circle VHA, tells his tenant participation conversion story. Initially wary of the idea, he was won over in practice!

Oct 4, 2021