The CoDesign for Thriving Communities Project aims to develop and support Neighbourhood Centres' capacity for community engagement, with a focus on codesign of service models and programs.

 

The project arose from Linkwest member requests for training and resources to develop capacity for community engagement. 

 

Centres in both urban and rural areas expressed the wish to better engage their communities.  Reasons included wanting to improve their programs and services, to be able to better respond to real community need, to boost program attendance and volunteer involvement, and to guide sustainable growth and development.

 

An added impetus for many Centres is to be able to creatively work in a funding environment that is becoming increasingly aligned with promoting partnership and community collaboration in designing and delivering services.

 

In mid-2016, a Finance and Contracting Services Grant was secured to support the Project.