At the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN), social inclusion is at the heart of our mission. We work collaboratively with Government stakeholders and funding bodies to ensure that policies designed at national level reflect the lived experience on the ground. Through regular engagement, we provide structured, evidence-informed feedback on how programmes are working in practice, and where adjustments may be needed to improve outcomes.
We host an LDCN Social Inclusion Oversight Forum, bringing together practitioners, policymakers, and community voices to explore emerging trends, policy challenges, and opportunities for collaborative action.
We facilitate a number of forums– including a network for SICAP Managers to support peer learning, innovation, and consistency across delivery. These forums also generate crucial insights, enabling frontline experience to inform national thinking.
Our National Council meetings, held four times annually, also serve as a strategic space where the Chairs and CEOs of all member Local Development Companies (LDCs) discuss shared priorities – with social inclusion consistently at the forefront of the agenda.
LDCs are the main delivery agents for social inclusion at community level across Ireland. They support individuals and groups who are most at risk of being left behind — including long-term unemployed people, migrants, Travellers, lone parents, people with disabilities, and those living in rural isolation. Their work is people-centred and relational, with staff providing tailored supports that respond to the complex, interlinked realities of exclusion.
LDCs are the main delivery agents for social inclusion at community level across Ireland. They support individuals and groups who are most at risk of being left behind — including long-term unemployed people, migrants, Travellers, lone parents, people with disabilities, and those living in rural isolation. Their work is people-centred and relational, with staff providing tailored supports that respond to the complex, interlinked realities of exclusion.
Social Inclusion involves removing barriers, tackling disadvantage, and building communities where people feel valued, heard, and supported. For long-term progress to take root, inclusion must be intentional, resourced, and embedded at every level of policy and practice.
Social inclusion is not simply about addressing disadvantage – it is about unlocking the full potential of communities and ensuring our social and economic progress is shared. Through their deep local knowledge, trusted relationships, and integrated service models, LDCs – supported by LDCN – ensure that inclusion remains at the heart of communities.