Local Development Week takes place across Ireland from September 28th until October 2nd 2026. This year’s theme, Local Action. Lasting Impact, highlights the difference that can be made when local people have the support, resources and opportunities to shape their own communities.

What is Local Development Week?

Local Development Week is an annual event during which Local Development Companies across Ireland aim to shine a light on the work they do to support individuals, groups and communities at a local level. Through a series of events, both individual and collective, and communications campaigns, these companies hope to support an understanding of what local development is and the impact that it has.

Local Development Week also gives the network of 45 Local Development Companies around the country an opportunity to connect, share examples of our work and amplify any shared messages we hold.

Understanding local development

Wexford Local Development is a local development company that operates all across county Wexford. There are some misconceptions around ‘local development’ and what that really means. At a broad level, local development refers to work that supports people to access opportunities to improve their quality of life. However, a good quality of life looks different for everyone. As local development companies, we do not dictate what that means. It must come from the individual, family, group or community itself. That is why local development work is very much dependent on building strong relationships based on trust and respect. It requires our teams to meet people face-to-face and out in communities and listen to their challenges and needs. All of our activities are shaped by this understanding.

This work is carried out with the support of and in collaboration with various funders and partners.

Share your story

As part of Local Development Week, people across the country are being asked to share their stories about how their local development company has helped them through a national digital noticeboard.

The Local Development Week padlet will bring together photos, videos and messages impacted by Local Development Companies all in one place. Through this collaborative project, we will be able to showcase the long lasting impact of local development in lives and in the community.

Let us know how your life or your community has changed with the help of Wexford Local Development by sharing your story to the padlet here: How My Life or My Community Has Changed.