10/12/2001
Dodds speaks at community infrastructure conference
The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, has said that if communities across Northern Ireland are to have the confidence and the skills to identify their needs and solve their problems, then they need the support, the encouragement and the resources to do so.
The Minister was speaking at the opening of a major conference on Weak Community Infrastructure at the NICVA offices in Belfast.
The conference examines how community groups can build a stronger sense of purpose as well as a greater influence on their local areas.
Mr Dodds said: “We want to help remove obstacles that burden communities and make it difficult for them to access the help and support that they need. Our interest is in building strong, influential communities who have the confidence and the skill to solve their own problems and the ability to influence the policies that affect them. Some communities are much better able than others to do this. We have responsibilities to learn from them and to put in place a concerted programme of action that will help build, not burden communities.”
The format for the conference is unique and has been planned as an Open Space Forum, which recognises that the participants have the solution, there are no invited experts and the participants create their own programme. (CD)
The Minister was speaking at the opening of a major conference on Weak Community Infrastructure at the NICVA offices in Belfast.
The conference examines how community groups can build a stronger sense of purpose as well as a greater influence on their local areas.
Mr Dodds said: “We want to help remove obstacles that burden communities and make it difficult for them to access the help and support that they need. Our interest is in building strong, influential communities who have the confidence and the skill to solve their own problems and the ability to influence the policies that affect them. Some communities are much better able than others to do this. We have responsibilities to learn from them and to put in place a concerted programme of action that will help build, not burden communities.”
The format for the conference is unique and has been planned as an Open Space Forum, which recognises that the participants have the solution, there are no invited experts and the participants create their own programme. (CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.