The visit, the first since 2020, sees students from UCC visit organisations active in social work and community development, gaining first-hand knowledge about community building, community empowerment and the challenges and issues facing community groups such as problems accessing transport, funding, and recruitment.

The students were highly engaged asking insightful questions and were eager to hear from the community partners in attendance – who included the Glasgow Baby Food Bank, Men’s Shed, Glasgow Girls Club and the Glasgow Chinese Recreation Centre.

Discussion covered how they began working in the (local) community as well as the impact these groups have on supporting mental health issues, combating loneliness and more.

All groups present reiterated the importance of networking and partnership working to support capacity building and the strength of community networks which were able to react quickly to crisis (notably the Covid-19 pandemic).