Practical support, useful skills and stronger connections for Clare’s community groups

Shape the Future of Community Support in Clare.

Connecting Clare Communities is a free programme from Clare Local Development Company that supports community and voluntary groups across County Clare. Through practical workshops, webinars, mentoring and networking opportunities, we help local groups build confidence, strengthen their skills and connect with others who are making a positive difference in their communities.

Photos from a recent Connecting Clare Communities event in Ennis. At the roundtable discussions, participants shared ideas on how to tackle shared challenges and create positive change, where everyone contributes their skills and resources to benefit the community as a whole.

The programme offers workshops and supports on key topics such as:

  • Grant funding opportunities
  • Writing strong funding applications
  • Community development skills

Workshops are often co-designed with participants to ensure they meet the real needs of local groups.

Building Inclusive Communities

Connecting Clare Communities

Connecting Clare Communities is a collaborative initiative supporting community groups across Clare through training, mentoring, workshops and networking. It is shaped by feedback from local groups and responds to the practical needs of volunteers, committee members and community leaders. The programme covers governance, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, digital skills, collaboration and long-term sustainability, while also creating opportunities for peer learning and shared action across the county.

Full List of Initiatives include:

  • Co-design with community groups so the programme reflects local needs.
  • Workshops and webinars on practical, real-world topics.
  • Mentoring and one-to-one support for groups at different stages.
  • Support with governance and committee roles.
  • Help with grant proposals and funding applications.
  • Guidance on volunteer recruitment and retention.
  • Building digital skills and online confidence.
  • Supporting collaboration, capacity-building and long-term sustainability.
  • Practical skills training for groups working on local projects.
  • Networking events that bring volunteers, trustees and local leaders together.

Anneli Vaughan

Project Administrator

avaughan@cldc.ie
087 1882778

Connecting Clare Communities

Upcoming Events

Advocating for your community group
Saturday, 26 September | 10am–2pm
Clare Education Centre, Ennis

Build confidence in speaking up for your group and advocating for the needs of your community.

Led by Frances Gianquito, this practical workshop follows on from our Brave Conversations session. Refreshments included.

Project Planning for Communities
Thursday, 8 October | 7pm
Online via Zoom

Turn a good idea into a well-planned community project. This practical webinar will share useful tips and tools for planning, organising and moving local projects forward.

Digital & Media Skills
Saturday, 28 November | 10am–2pm
Clare Education Centre, Ennis

Explore practical ways to use digital and media tools in your community work.

Building on our Digital Adoption webinar, this workshop will help groups communicate clearly, reach more people and share their story.

Further details and registration information will be shared closer to each event. Please check back for updates or follow CLDC on social media.

Who is it for?

Connecting Clare Communities is for people involved in community life across County Clare, including:

  • Community and voluntary groups
  • Residents’ associations and local action groups
  • Charity trustees and committee members
  • Volunteers and volunteer coordinators
  • Community leaders, activists and social-inclusion groups
  • New and developing groups looking for guidance and connections

All sessions are free to attend and are designed around the practical needs of local communities.

CLDC is thrilled to be collaborating with the Clare Volunteer Centre, and the Clare PPN, in an effort to support the communities around us.

Our aim is to bring resources, inspiration, support, skills, and knowledge-sharing to the hard-working volunteers, activists, members of community groups, community leaders, and charity trustees.

A series of free events and workshops is underway, covering a range of topics that are relevant to the needs of the communities. 


These workshops are being designed directly from the feedback we have collaboratively received from our communities.

All three organisations (CLDC, ClarePPN, and Clare Volunteer Centre,) work closely with communities on the ground, and we all work to respond quickly to the needs of the community.

This page is updated regularly; please come back to see what we have planned!

Connecting Clare Communities is funded by LEADER.