Supporting Communities offers accredited and non-accredited courses for community groups that wish to develop their skills. We can help you identify the course that best suits your and your group’s needs.

Our Community Development series of accredited courses is an excellent foundation for any group. It can lead 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 for upcoming courses.

OCN Level 1 Community Development

The OCN Level 1 Community Development covers a range of topics 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, and people skills

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

  • Communication to include improving communication skills, dealing with the media, and 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 explores the practical skills needed to deliver community projects more deeply. It includes several written assignments and workshops to assist participants in completing them.

Participants 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)

The Level 3 Award in Community Development is an AIEB Recognised introductory Community Work Education and Training programme.


The Level 3 course looks at community groups from a more strategic level. Participants who successfully complete this course can progress to an Ulster University degree course if they choose, even if they don’t have any 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 needed 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

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)