Community Planning Engagement Event Success

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Naomi Bailie opened the Community Planning Engagement event in the Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint last week.  The event, held in partnership with the Newry, Mourne and Down area Rural Community Development Advisory Group was attended by over 130 community representatives.

In her opening speech Councillor Bailie outlined the community planning process and said, “In looking at how we move forward on community planning, it is important to remember what we are trying to achieve.  We all wish to use the resources we have in the best way, to achieve the best quality of life for the communities we serve.  This may mean, planning differently, working differently, thinking differently, being willing to collaborate and being willing to truly evaluate the impact of our actions.  It also means that an environment needs to be created to promote innovation and creativity to try a different approach.”

Also speaking at the event, Nicholas McCrickard, Chairman of the Rural Community Development Advisory Group outlined the willingness of the community and voluntary sector to be involved in community planning and acknowledged the potential positive impact that community planning could have for the District.

A workshop section at the event gave participants an opportunity to discuss how the Community and Voluntary Sector could be actively involved in making community planning work.  Feedback from this workshop has provided valuable information to assist the Council and partner organisations to build a sound community planning engagement process and delivery structure over the summer months.

Further engagement events will be held in the autumn.

View the photos here