Watch: Shining at light on Inishowen’s Social Enterprises….

Week two of our Social Enterprise Focus features the ISEN member closest to the border, Muff Community Development.
Our Social Enterprise Focus is held in collaboration with Inishowen Development Partnership following their recent ARISE [Awareness Raising Initiative for Social Enterprises] project.

This produced a range of videos and blogs shining a light on the positive work being done by social enterprises across Inishowen.

The Inishowen Social Enterprise Network [ISEN] comprises of 20 different social enterprises made up of community groups, tourism, arts and cultural groups, all working as to support their local community, filling many gaps in services and supports.

IDP facilitates the network and hosts meetings to share information and funding opportunities for the social enterprises. This week we delve deeper into life in the Muff Community Development

Muff Community Development
The picturesque village of Muff isn’t just unique because it marks the start and end points of the Wild Atlantic Way and acts as a gateway to the iconic Inishowen 100 route, but also because it is home to Muff Community Development (MCD), a cross-community charitable, co-operative and social enterprise which, since its formation in 1995 has been committed to promoting, developing and encouraging the social, economic and cultural regeneration of the Muff area.

Born out of an inherent community spirit and the need to strengthen and enhance community development in the local area, Muff Community Development is now an umbrella group for 11 affiliated voluntary and community organisations, each driven by a passion to serve the needs of the people in the village and surrounding areas.

And when you consider that the resident population of the village and area has grown four-fold since the Millennium, that is certainly no mean feat!

The work undertaken by Muff Community Development may be diverse in nature but the underlying ethos is the same; everything is done with the aim of making a positive difference and creating lasting social change, whether that’s through addressing gaps in facilities and services, identifying and meeting community needs and demands or responding to challenges as they arise.

Employing six part-time staff and a full-time manager and with the support of a team of committed volunteers and thanks to the support of Pobal, they deliver the Muff & District Community Services Programme which enables them to support the management and facilitation of a wide range of local services and amenities.

Those amenities include St Mary’s Community Hall, where they provide affordable activity space to both local community and business users on an ongoing basis and Muff Community Park which features a Multi-Use Games Area, playground, coffee dock, covered event space and an open drained grassed area.

Muff Community Development also facilitates the sourcing and management of funding on behalf of various other community, voluntary and social organisations in the area.

The Muff Tidy Towns Initiative is a prime example of where they do just that; supporting the local group as they participate in one of the nation’s best known sustainable and environmental initiatives and adhere to its core principle to “make your place a better place!” by actively working to improve the local environment.

The Muff Greenway Biodiversity Project is another great example - this educational project aims to engage the community in a fun and interactive way whilst enhancing their knowledge of the area’s rich environmental and biodiversity history - from planting flowers, erecting bat boxes through to foraging!

In addition, Muff Community Development also works with and supports a wide range of statutory bodies and organisations, including Donegal County Council, local development Companies , and Government Departments, helping them to deliver benefits and initiatives on a local basis.

The sheer passion and commitment to create positive social change is apparent in everything that the Muff Community Development team do - whether that’s in providing community and social infrastructure, facilities and services, exploring and promoting the development of rural tourism or in encouraging the development of community business opportunities.

There is a clear vision too and a desire and drive to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all; their work with Changemakers Donegal and the Seeds of Change Programme and their focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Climate Action and Life on Land being a perfect example!

And whilst Muff Community Development has already made a significant social impact on the local area, it’s clear that they have ambition and desire to do a whole lot more.

Inspirational in every way!

To contact Muff Community Development call 0749384572 or email: muffcommunityforum@gmail.com