In Session 2, we explored what Community‑Led Local Development (CLLD) really means and looked at examples of places where communities are driving projects themselves.
After a quick recap of Session 1, we talked through the main challenges people see locally: bringing the community together (including newer residents), sharing responsibilities, using music and food to connect generations, developing heritage projects, improving riverside walks and active travel routes, and creating better amenity and play spaces that attract both locals and visitors.
We also began listing the active groups in the area and the existing reports or strategies that can support our work. Desmond introduced the CLLD sector, explaining the roles of CKLP and the Local Action Group (LAG) in guiding and funding community‑led projects, and we discussed how these principles connect from the local level all the way up to the EU.
We’re using the Design Thinking double‑diamond design process to help us explore challenges properly so we focus on solving the right ones.
In our next session after Christmas, we’ll dig deeper into these challenges and begin shaping what’s needed to get them right.
Challenges discussed so far:
Amenity space for everyone (play areas, community park, riverside walk, active travel routes)
Heritage and environment (visitor experience, branding, interpretation, collecting and sharing local stories)
Activating the community (welcoming new residents, volunteer networks, youth activities, intergenerational events, arts and culture)
