It's all about community participation for Tracey

Tracey Hannon is the Regional Manager in the Connacht Ulster Region for Clann Credo, an organisation that provides loan finance for the community and voluntary sector. Chatting to Tracey provides a fascinating insight into the community and voluntary sector and what can be achieved when the financial aids that they need are readily available.

Tracey has watched various groups and organisations flourish over her two decades with Clann Credo and really understands the benefit that they provide to their areas across the west of Ireland. A native of London, she moved to the west of Ireland at an early age and from early in her work life, immersed herself in helping communities and businesses grow and develop.

Her love for community and the voluntary sector seeps into every aspect of her life. She is a board member of Castlebar Social Services Centre and a leader with Fóroige.

She doesn’t deny that the work can be challenging and the hours long, but she is adamant that her future lies in working in this area.

We sat in the beautiful surroundings of the Museum of Country Life in Turlough, close to where Tracey lives, to have a chat about what keeps her driven and why she loves this work so much.

Angelina: Tracey, thanks for chatting to me. Tell me a little about your background.

Tracey: I was born in Ealing, London and spent my early years there. My family moved to Ballymurray, Roscommon when I was 11 years old and I did one year of primary school and all of secondary school in the Convent of Mercy, Roscommon. From there I went to college where I did a degree in Business Studies and Marketing. 

"I met my husband Bryan Scanlon, who is from Geesala, in college. We have two daughters, Eva (17) and Lucy (13), and we live near Turlough. Since college, I have worked in the business and community development sectors. I worked with WestBIC in Roscommon after college where I was involved in preparing funding applications and preparing business plans. From there I moved to Offaly Local Enterprise Office (LEO) where I was a Business Advisor for four years. In 2000, an opportunity arose with Clann Credo (provider of loan finance for the community and voluntary sector) for someone to manage their activities in the west of Ireland. At this stage, Bryan and I had decided we wanted to base ourselves permanently in Mayo so the timing was really good.

Angelina: You seemed to gravitate towards working with businesses or groups who needed support.

Tracey: Yes, when I worked in WestBIC and then Offaly LEO I loved supporting new businesses to bring their ideas to fruition. I came in contact with so many talented people with skills in engineering, food production, product design, crafts and tourism who needed some financial assistance in the form of grants or loans and often non-financial support in terms of training or mentoring. I really enjoyed supporting the business to get off the ground, working through a grant or loan application and getting the right support package in place for them.

When I joined Clann Credo, my focus moved to community and social enterprises and delivering loan finance to the groups. Clann Credo provides loan finance to community and social enterprises where a social benefit is evident and there is repayment capacity. The more time I spent with community organisations, the more I have come to realise the level of capacity and commitment that exists within communities to address their own needs. 

"As Regional Manager, my role is to support the organisations to achieve their aim through the provision of finance. I work with communities and voluntary organisations throughout Connacht, Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan providing loan finance to enable them to complete projects which will improve their communities. 

"I work with community companies, clubs and committees who are developing facilities for their communities. These facilities could be sports, childcare, eldercare support, social housing, community infrastructure or anything else identified as needed. Clann Credo provides term loans and bridging loans which allow the organisation to draw down the approved grant. It can be difficult for community organisations to access suitable loan finance particularly if they are reliant on fundraising as part of their income, so I believe that Clann Credo fills that gap by providing community-appropriate loan funding. 

"I have worked with so many community and social enterprises over the years and it is particularly gratifying to see a small group commence their development journey with a relatively simple project for their community. The expertise and confidence gained usually result in more ambitious projects undertaken as time goes on. I can think of one community that started with a Tidy Towns committee and progressed to develop a social housing and daycare facility over the course of several years. These projects are always volunteer-initiated and often volunteer-managed. The amount of time and commitment provided by people who receive no personal benefit but often many sleepless nights is incredible. I am very lucky to work with people like this and I feel I can contribute by working through the funding process with them.

Angelina: Seeing the big difference the financial support can make to these communities must be amazing.

Tracey: Yes, financial support is critical for communities. Organisations in receipt of grant aid are usually required to submit receipts rather than invoices to draw down funding. In addition, grant funding will not cover all the costs so there will be a funding gap. If the funding gap is relatively low, it may be possible to raise the funds locally but for larger sums, it makes sense from a financial planning perspective to spread the cost of the funds over a longer period of time and include a loan repayment as part of overhead costs. 

The benefit of financial support for a community is huge; for example, the renovation of a community centre that has fallen into disrepair will provide a home for many groups such as sports, education and training, Active Age, parent and toddler groups, Fóroige, etc. The investment made in the development of these facilities not only provides space for social and educational purposes for all members of the community but has the potential to address bigger issues such as social inclusion and integration, rural isolation, safe space for young people, good health and well-being, mental health. This is the positive impact of social investment in communities.

Angelina: What keeps you driven Tracey?

Tracey: I very much believe that the best people to address many issues within their communities, particularly in rural Ireland, are communities themselves if they are given adequate support. I have seen communities provide space for remote workers, supports that enable older people to live at home for longer, and facilities for young people and children. I have worked with hundreds of organisations that have a vision for their community and implement that vision. I love being part of that process.

"I believe in the importance of community involvement and participation as a volunteer with the Vincent de Paul for several years and currently a leader with Turlough Fóroige and recently joined the board of the Castlebar Social Services Centre. I see the benefits of community participation and volunteerism at a personal and professional level. I really am lucky to work in this sector. No two days are ever the same for me with the variety of initiatives the community and social enterprises are involved in. However, the common theme among the organisations is a desire to improve their community.

Angelina: Do you see yourself doing this for a while more Tracey?

Tracey: I will certainly stay in this sector. What my role will be in the next few years I don’t know. For now, though, I believe I have a contribution to make to the community and voluntary sector in Connacht and Ulster with Clann Credo.