Community-Led Planning
About this good practice
CLP is focused on improving the quality of life in local communities.
The planning process focuses on giving communities and their citizens greater involvement in decisions and actions that impact their lives.
The planning process addresses social exclusion and builds community capacity by empowering communities and facilitating progression.
The key steps to the process are as follows,
1. Audit the area- identify key local resources, and create an evidence-based socio-economic profile.
2. Define the community and its boundaries.
3. Animation- provide coaching, guidance and support to individuals and groups within the community to enhance their potential to contribute to the planning process and the
development of their local area.
4. Planning Process
a. SWOT Analysis-facilitated discussion on the community.
b. Develop priority areas for development in the community.
c. Test for consensus-modify priority areas.
d. Develop action points.
e. Consult with agencies and service providers.
f. Agree Plan.
5. Support Community to implement actions through animation, mentoring, support and
training.
This practice is innovative through its approach of facilitating an agreed articulation of needs and aspirations, encouragement of local support networks and the promotion of participation, that contributes to changes in the dynamics of social relations, including power relations, new forms of civic involvement, participation and democratisation.
Resources needed
• Staff time for animation, facilitation, and follow up support- 20% of a Full Time equivalent over a two year period.
• Community and Voluntary volunteer time
• Stakeholder time
Approx €5000 per community to cover venue hire, pr & Communication, design and printing.
Evidence of success
Success is evidenced by the development of rural communities over the past 30 years. The Ballyhoura area has grown from four communities in 1988 to 54 communities in 2023, over recent years 11 communities have engaged in community planning processes. The community plans are incorporated into BD area Integrated plans and submissions for funding under relevant public and private programmes as well as being used by local communities to feed into statutory planning processes.
Potential for learning or transfer
Local Engagement Processes that work well.
Placing people in the center of decision making processes.
Further information
Documents
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.