“The Conversations We Avoid”: New Clare Workshop Helps Community Groups Tackle Tension Head-On
Every community group knows the feeling. The committee meeting where nobody says what they’re really thinking. The volunteer who’s quietly drifting away after a disagreement nobody addressed. The feedback that needed giving six months ago and still hasn’t been said.
These are the conversations we avoid — and they’re often the ones that matter most.
This Saturday, 13th June, Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) is bringing community groups across the county together for Brave Conversations for Stronger Communities, a practical, hands-on workshop built around one simple truth: groups thrive when people can talk openly and respectfully, especially when things get difficult.
Running from 10am to 2pm at the Clare Education Centre in Ennis, the free workshop tackles the real, everyday challenges of working with people — managing disagreement, clearing up misunderstandings, giving honest feedback, setting boundaries, and keeping everyone focused on the shared goals that brought them together in the first place.
It’s led by Fiona Levie, founder of Levie Consulting and an experienced facilitator, trainer and community development specialist who has worked with community groups, voluntary organisations and networks right across Ireland. Rather than theory, the session is designed to send participants home with tools they can use at their very next meeting.
“Conflict and tension aren’t signs that a group is failing — they’re a normal part of any group of people working together,” is the spirit behind the day. “The difference is whether you have the confidence and the skills to handle them well.”
The workshop is part of Connecting Clare Communities, CLDC’s free training and mentoring programme delivered in association with Levie Consulting and funded through the LEADER Programme. Shaped directly by the needs of local groups, the initiative offers practical learning, mentoring and the chance to connect with others doing similar work across the county.
It will be especially valuable for committee members, volunteers, community leaders, charity trustees and anyone who works with groups and manages relationships within community organisations.
Places are free but limited, and with the workshop just days away, early registration is encouraged.
Brave Conversations for Stronger Communities📅 Saturday, 13th June | 🕙 10am–2pm
📍 Clare Education Centre, Government Buildings, Kilrush Road, Ennis, V95 F782
🎟️ Register free via Eventbrite: Brave Conversations for Stronger Communities