Community Advisory Board
Originally from Co. Down but, Louise has lived in idyllic rural West Fermanagh for 23 years. She has spent much of her life volunteering in small local groups and is passionate about community development and the difference it can make to individuals and communities.
A member of her local community association and heritage group, and Chair the Board of Governors of her small rural primary school, Louise also sits on the Board of Lakeland Community Care, a charity that provides daycare, domiciliary care, and healthy living activities across the Council district. She is Chair of Fermanagh Rural Community Network, a charity that provides community development support and training to over 85 smaller member groups across Co. Fermanagh. These small groups are the lifeblood of rural communities in the County, and they run a network of rural halls that provide activities to people of all ages.
Louise worked in a variety of community development roles in local government for 11 years, and as Operations Manager with Early Years, the organisation for young children. She now manages Clogher Valley Sure Start.
On the Institute’s Advisory Board, Louise hopes to represent peoples’ views from Co. Fermanagh, who she feels are often overlooked in favour of the city-based areas. She is also keen to exchange skills and best practice with fellow board members from across the UK, and find out if some projects may translate to help develop the community sector within Northern Ireland.