Website design :
Tim Hourigan

©2009 CDN

History of the CDN project

The Community Development Network, Moyross was set up to promote greater and more effective involvement of all the people of Moyross in actions to meet their developmental needs.

The Project was established in 1995 and employed it’s first staff – project co-ordinator and part-time administrator in January 1996. The Community Development Network Moyross is managed by a local voluntary management committee funded by the Dept of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The management committee meet for 2 hours each month. They also attend 1 or 2 training days in the year to help the group and each person in it to understand their role. This gives everyone confidence and has helped us to be more effective.

Staffing:

Community Development Network Moyross has employment responsibility for 10 staff

Community Development Project

Changing Ireland

Northside We’re OK Youth Initiative

Northstar Family Support Project

Community Development

What is community development in the context of the Community Development Programme?
Community Development promotes positive change in society in favour of those who usually benefit least. However it is not just about making concrete changes in the quality of people’s lives. It is also about how this is done I.e. both the task and process are important.

Community Development seeks to challenge the causes of disadvantage/poverty and to offer new opportunities for those lacking choice, power and resources.

Community Development involves people most especially the disadvantaged in making changes they identify to be important and which put to use and develop their skills, knowledge and experience.

Community Development is the scaffolding for building strong and vibrant communities.

Outline of Project

Community Development Network Moyross is a community development project (CDP) run by local people with funding from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It is one of 7 CDPs in Limerick and 200 around the country.

Like all Community Development Projects, we try to include those who are normally left out of activities and recognise that community people are the experts in what they need. We try to involve people who feel their voice is rarely heard and often feel they have nothing worth saying. The project is therefore managed by people living and working in Moyross and employs 10 staff, including 2 Drugs Education Workers for Northside We’re OK Youth Initiative , the staff of the new Northstar Family Support Project and “Changing Ireland”.

This means that people in Moyross decide on what issues are facing them and what actions they want to take on these issues. The management team are supported in putting together a three year work-plan based on their local knowledge. The staff employed carry out the work-plan and report to the management monthly.

The project holds an open AGM each year to account back to the community on it’s activities and receive feedback on progress and on new issues facing the residents of Moyross.

Activities of the Project

• Support new groups to set up.
• Assist local community groups access funding and grants.
• Encourage groups to work together
• Develop a unified and strong community voice.
• Promote positive profile of Moyross.
• Produce and distribute "Moywrites."
• Produce 4 issues of “Changing Ireland”.
• Provide drug education and training to young people
• Support families affected by drug addiction.
• Distribute bursaries for third level students.
• Combat early school leaving.
• Support the development of a Horse Project in Moyross
• Facilitate local input on decision making bodies.
• Influence policy to tackle the causes of poverty