Conference celebrates transformative £500,000 Investing in Community Leadership Programme
The programme is delivered through a partnership between Fermanagh Trust, Holywell Trust and Rural Community Network (Cookstown)
PICTURED ABOVE: Left to right, Sonya Johnston (Deputy Director of Fermanagh Trust), Kevin Burns (Development Programme Officer Holywell Trust), Kate Clifford (Director of Rural Community Network) and Paul Sweeney (Northern Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund).
Energy, optimism and inspiration filled the room as community leaders, changemakers and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Investing in Community Leadership Programme. The conference highlighted the five-year initiative that empowered over 2,000 individuals across the West of Northern Ireland with the skills and confidence to lead, influence and drive positive change in their communities.
Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the £500,000 programme is delivered through a partnership between Fermanagh Trust, Holywell Trust in Derry, and Rural Community Network in Cookstown. It was designed to support the next generation of leaders in meeting the evolving challenges faced by the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
Bringing together participants, funders and partners, the event was a day of reflection, learning and celebration. Panel discussions featured powerful personal testimonies, highlighting the programme’s deep personal and professional impact.
Since August 2020 the programme has engaged VCSE staff and volunteers in a wide range of leadership development activities. These included 1,639 attendances at training and networking events, 50 young people involved in the Young Philanthropists initiative, 66 participants in the Future Leaders stream, 42 individuals who gained accredited Diploma qualifications, and more than 400 who accessed online learning.
Panel discussion with Kevin Burns Development Programme Officer Holywell Trust
Director of Holywell Trust, Gerard Deane, said: "The Future Leaders Programme was designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills to create real, lasting change in their communities. By focusing on reflective, action oriented learning, we have helped 66 participants enhance their leadership capabilities, strengthen collaboration, and amplify their impact. The results speak for themselves, this region is now home to a new generation of confident, forward thinking community leaders who are ready to make a difference."
Paul Sweeney, Northern Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re proud to see our investment of National Lottery money in Community Leadership in the West has been successful, helping build the capacity of the next generation of sector leaders.
"By delivering these important development and networking opportunities, participants in the project are now better equipped to face sectoral challenges and lead change within their communities, which will continue to have a positive impact for many years.
“Through our UK-wide strategy to 2030, ‘It starts with community,’ we are committed to and understand the value of making connections and building partnerships. The collaborative approach by Fermanagh Trust, Holywell Trust and Rural Community Network is an impressive example of that, bringing their individual strengths, experience and skills together to address an identified need in the West. Well done.”
As the sector continues to evolve, there is hope that similar programmes will follow, ensuring momentum is maintained and community leadership continues to thrive in the West.