Where did we come from?

The Forum for Community Work Education was established in 1981 and was preceded by the Community Education Forum. This was a Quasi Non Governmental Organisation which was established by Government because of the representations of Community Councils and Community Resource Centres.  It was set up as a three year project in 1978.  During its existence the Community Education Forum identified a need for education and training for community work.

The Community Education Forum was terminated in March 1981 and the Forum for Community Work Education was born in April 1981 to continue the work pioneered by the Community Education Forum and to develop and provide a range of education and training programmes for those involved in various forms of community activity.

In 1999 after a lot of discussion, meetings and work by staff and management committee a proposal was put to the Annual General Meeting in September 1999 that the “Forum for Community Work Education” change its name to “Community Change”.  The organisation had conducted a membership survey, which highlighted changing needs to provide support, facilitation and training in a changing social and economic environment. Members also recommended a name change in order to highlight the work Community Change would then be doing.

In 2000 we officially became known as Community Change.  Now we are a regional community development support agency which aims to develop the capacity of communities by providing support, training and advice to community groups.

Our purpose is to contribute to the development of a sustainable community infrastructure by capacity building, enabling groups to develop social capital and promoting good practice.

And long may we continue …