Many community members will need their confidence built before they feel ready to get involved, and one of the best ways to do this is by providing them with the right skills to become more active in their community. This could include up skilling local volunteers to become members of local panels or steering groups. The support could also include providing the right skills to better understand planning processes or to complete application forms to draw in funding, taking into account that the level of commitment and involvement from community members will vary.
The NDC funded a local voluntary action organisation to work with members of the local community and community groups to support and develop their capacity to get involved and influence local decisions in the NDC area. It involved mentoring people and developing their knowledge about how organisations function and ways in which they could get involved.
The NDC also funded a Community Development Worker based in a local primary school that had moved into a new campus with the aim to develop it into a community facility. The Development Worker created opportunities for parents and others to become volunteers for new services and community events. Strong links were made with statutory and third sector organisations and other community organisations.
