Communities and Covid: Stories and lessons from grassroots activists

“Communities and COVID” captures uplifting accounts of how grassroots groups in Northern Ireland have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also offers valuable pointers to government and funders on how to better support and partner with communities to build back better.

How has Covid impacted on the work of community organisations?  How did they respond to the crisis, what did it tell them about those most disadvantaged and vulnerable in our communities, and what does all of this mean for the future?  

These were just some of the questions discussed by community leaders, funders and the Minister for Communities, Carál Ní Chuilín, who came together at a recent SCI webinar to reflect on how communities across Northern Ireland responded to COVID. 

Facilitated by the BBC's Tara Mills, the webinar (available at the end of this article) provided insights into the incredible efforts made by communities to provide timely and practical support and connection, ‘door by door, street by street’, to those most in need. 

Over a number of months, local storytellers (Judith Hill, Amanda Ferguson and Seán Murray) captured the diverse and contemporary experiences of community leaders including people working at interfaces, within rural communities, those addressing the needs of LGBT communities, former prisoners, women’s groups, migrant voices, and many more.

The groups' experiences provided valuable lessons that can be read here: Communities and Covid - From community response to long term recovery.pdf