Collaborating to deliver social impact in Dublin 1
During 2014, BITCI received funding from the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government to conduct a comprehensive Community Mapping exercise in the Dublin 1 area. 
Community mapping is an approach that helps a community get directly involved in their own development. It is a way of encouraging and empowering communities to take action for themselves and build healthy vibrant communities. Mapping builds an accurate knowledge of what a community actually looks like e.g. housing, industry, schools, community centres etc. The process enables communities to map details of what challenges and problems they face and to begin to look for and to implement solutions through multi-stakeholder engagement.
Through our Business Impact Map (http://livemaps.bitc.ie) and through our one to one work with members we know that many of our companies have very impactful community projects. However, despite this, social issues such as low educational attainment and poor employment prospects still exist. The results of our community mapping exercise were presented to member companies at the end of 2014. Arising from the presentation 12 members companies have committed to collaborating on a programme of community activity for Dublin 1.
This project offers companies the opportunity to collaborate and enhance their impact through joint action. The objectives are to:
- Leverage individual business involvement for greater social impact
- Build community participation through multi-stakeholder engagement
- Improve the capacity of partner organisations through skills transfer
Over the coming months, BITCI will facilitate a series of workshops to arrive at a realistic action plan to deliver greater social impact in the Dublin 1 area through 2015 (and beyond as agreed by participating companies).
For further information on this initiative contact Linda O’Sullivan losullivan@bitc.ie
