Supporting Communities offers a range of accredited and non-accredited courses to suit community groups wishing to develop their skills. We can help you identify the course which is best suited to your and your group’s needs.

Our Community Development series of accredited courses are an excellent foundation for any group and can lead on to further study at Ulster University for those who wish to continue towards a degree in Community Development.

Many of our most popular courses are now offered online. Check our events listings to see upcoming scheduled courses.

OCN Level 1 Community Development

The OCN Level 1 Community Development covers a range of topics found elsewhere in our short courses all in one place to build a strong foundation on which to grow your community development skills. The course includes:

  • Committee development to include forming effective teams, planning and conducting meetings, people skills

  • Fundraising to include planning a fundraising project, managing funds, monitoring and evaluation

  • Communication to include improving communication skills, dealing with the media, communicating your message effectively

  • Influencing to include how to approach decision-makers, effective lobbying

  • Conflict Management to include conflict resolution, dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour, negotiation skills

OCN Level 2 Community Development

This course will delve more deeply into the practical skills you need to deliver community projects. The course will include several written assignments with workshops to assist participants complete them.

Participants will work together to:

  • Identify and plan a community project

  • Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation process

  • Design a marketing strategy for your project

OCN Level 3 Community Development

(OCN Unit Title: Community Capacity Building)

Progressing on from level 2, the level 3 course looks at community groups from a more strategic level. Participants who successfully complete this course will be able to progress on to an Ulster University degree course if they choose even if they don’t have any other previous qualifications.

This course will enable participants to:

  • Understand what is required to maintain and renew an organisation’s volunteer resources

  • Understand the process of strategic planning

  • Understand what is necessary for a governing body to meet its responsibilities

  • Know what is required to maintain and report on key financial documents

  • Understand the process of developing beneficiary led programmes

  • Know what is required to complete an effective funding application

  • Understand the importance of impact measurement within the Third Sector

  • Understand the purpose and function of a social enterprise

Is your community group concerned with anti-social behaviour in your area? This course will help you to:

  • Understand the different terms around ASB

  • Identify who is responsible for dealing with ASB

  • Identify methods and models to enable resolving ASB

Introduction to Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour
(2.5 hours)

What do we mean by ‘good relations’ in community development? This short course will help you to:

  • Explain the term good relations

  • Identify different relationships

  • Understand developing and breaking good relations

  • Identify good practice policies and procedures in promoting good relations

Building Good Relations
(2.5 hours)