Derry hosts conference on empowering communities through wealth building

A major conference in Derry next week will bring together community organisations, government and business to explore how community wealth building can help create a fairer economy.

The event will look at how a new economic model help create good jobs, build a more plural economy, and make better use of public assets to benefit communities.

Charlie Fisher, Chief Executive of Development Trusts NI (DTNI), said: “Community wealth building is about building a fairer economy and helping communities to thrive.

“It’s about people, businesses, government and public bodies working together to create good jobs, to build a plural economy, delivering on progressive procurement to make better use of public assets.

“It brings together community development trusts and associations as a ‘social cluster’ to help increase the community’s ability to attract investment, grants and debt, strengthen its business acumen, and work collectively to lead on regeneration and renewal and build a circular economy.

“Over the last 15 years DTNI has led on a new vision for this economic model that will make a real difference in people’s lives.

“This conference is a chance to hear from other countries on how they’ve moved this model forward.

“The conference will also explore practical ideas that will help local economies and how the social cluster model, of community wealth building partnerships can flourish.

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“Join us at the Playhouse in Derry and be part of the conversation on how we can have greater control over the local economy by building community wealth.”

The DTNI 2025 Conference takes place at The Playhouse, Derry, on Wednesday, October 15, from 9.00am to 3.30pm, with opportunities for discussion, workshops and networking throughout the day.

Among the speakers will be Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA, and Neil McInroy from the Democracy Collaborative who are architects of Community Wealth Legislation in Scotland.

For more information or to register, visit www.dtni.org.uk.