Principal Activity - Objectives - Strategies - Measurement:
3. Facilitating Social Inclusion and Community Development
The underlying purpose of Community Development is to enhance the quality of life of communities through stimulating the participation of members in pursuit of improved socio-economic conditions. This concept of development recognises not only the attainment of economic goals but embraces a coherent multidimensional process concerned with inclusive social, cultural and environmental as well as economic objectives.
Objectives:
Develop social inclusion strategies which ensure opportunities for all to participate
Embed “County Development Strategy” in all local authorities’ policies, actions and strategies
Maintain a social inclusion focus in all activity
Embed national Anti-Poverty Strategies in local authorities policies and actions
Maintain relevance of policy activity
Promote equal opportunities and work to create an integrated and inclusive county
Consult with individuals, groups and communities on matters which affect them and support their participation in the development and implementation of agreed actions and strategies
Identify and support the role of local authorities in positively impacting on the levels of social exclusion, poverty and disadvantage experienced in Sligo communities
Encourage and support the development of community infrastructure in Sligo
Improve the quality of life for those who live and work in Sligo
Exercise forward planning in relation to the Social, Economic, Environmental and Cultural development in Sligo
Develop the community development function within the local authorities
Incorporate social and cultural themes within infrastructural development
Strategies:
- Extract policy issues from local development activity
- Promote and support shared responsibility for the continuous improvement of our communities
- Encourage and support volunteering and participation
- Further develop the partnership approach in the improvement and expansion of our communities
- Continue and further develop the supports to communities experiencing disadvantage
- Work with disadvantaged groups and communities and other relevant interests to identify and secure additional resources from national, EU and private sources to address recognised needs (RAPID & CLÁR)
- Develop social inclusion strategy for local authorities with realistic targets and measurements
- Continue to participate in the role out of Broadband infrastructure
- Plan for the future development needs of Sligo through research and development of strategies to meet projected requirements
- Support the implementation of the CDB Strategy
- Adapt a Community development Charter
- Implement the Barcelona Declaration
- Proof physical development for social and cultural requirements
Measurement:
- Numbers of citizens of Sligo experiencing poverty
- Number of community development initiatives supported
- Number of villages/groups participating in Tidy Towns/Pride of Place