Reflections from the EU Presidency LEADER showcase event.
Sometimes, the most effective solutions to complex and thorny problems are surprisingly simple. They respond to needs that people feel deeply, but which may not be visible to those looking in from the outside. Often, it is only through a personal connection that those needs become clear.
We were delighted to be selected by Donegal’s Local Community Development Committee to represent Donegal as a LEADER-funded project at the EU Presidency event. It was a privilege to share our story alongside so many inspiring projects rooted in communities across Ireland. Click here to read about how inCharge secured inCharge funding through the Inishowen Development Partnership’s LEADER Programme.
Two themes stood out for me.
The power of personal connection
Throughout the day, people came over to the inCharge stand because something about our story resonated with their own lives.
A stepmother concerned about her stepdaughter.
An uncle thinking about his nephew.
A sister thinking about her sister.
A father thinking about his daughter.
Different relationships. Different circumstances. Different places.
But a common concern.
How do we make sure the people we care about have the right support around them?
How do we keep important information safe, accessible and shared with the right people?
And how do we put something in place today that will continue to support them into the future?
What struck me was that some people almost felt they needed to explain why they were approaching me with me in a personal capacity.
But that’s exactly why we’re here.
inCharge was born from personal experience. From one family’s experience of coordinating care and support, and recognising that there had to be a simpler way that would help others too.
Today reinforced that these experiences cross boundaries, geographies, relationships and settings.
That’s exactly how we’ve designed our technology to work: around the person, the people in their lives and the relationships that matter to them.
Ultimately, it’s about people supporting people. Families supporting families.
The power of community
The second theme was the incredible contribution of community and voluntary organisations.
So many of the projects showcased today have their roots in people coming together to respond to a need in their community.
People who see a problem, roll up their sleeves and do something about it.
That commitment is part of the fabric of strong communities. But it needs to be recognised, supported and sustained.
Minister Calleary spoke about the importance of a place-based approach to rural and community development. After 35 years of LEADER funding, the impact goes far beyond individual projects.
It has changed outcomes. It has changed futures.
And the challenge now is to maintain that momentum, encourage continued participation and innovation, and ensure vibrant communities can thrive.
For me, this is what makes LEADER so valuable. It recognises that some of the best ideas come from people closest to the problems they are trying to solve. It also creates space for the quirky, unconventional and early-stage projects that might otherwise be considered too difficult to fund, too unusual, or not yet developed enough for more traditional funding programmes. With the right support, those ideas can become practical solutions that make a real difference.
I felt very much at home among these community projects. Our work is grounded in many of the same principles: listening to people’s lived experiences, responding to real needs and supporting greater choice, connection and participation.
Local roots. Wider connections.
It was wonderful to connect with people from Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and Finland, as well as people from across Ireland.
Different countries, different approaches, but so much shared purpose.
We may be building digital technology, but the foundations of inCharge are very human: lived experience, relationships, community and a belief that people should have more choice and control over their own lives.
Today was a lovely reminder that innovation doesn’t always begin with technology.
It begins with someone caring enough to do something.
When we connect that personal commitment with the principles of community, we can create something that travels well beyond the place where it began.
A really worthwhile day, and one I’m very grateful to have been part of.
Thanks to Andrew Ward for all the support and both him and John Peto for making sure I was well fed and watered.
