Community development: changing people’s worlds
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 11th February 2026
In a new blog, newly-retired former Executive Director of Healthy N Happy Community Development Trust Brendan Rooney reflects on his decades of work and the impact community development can have.
Brendan began his journey in the sector as a volunteer at 16 years old, seeing first-hand the issues of poverty and inequality on his doorstep. "Like many young people, I set out to change the world,” he writes.
He also reflects on the impact of political choices that have reshaped society in ways that have been damaging for families and communities. While we may not be able to change the world at the scale we’d like to see, he says, the change that can occur can still be significant:
"Only now, with hindsight do I truly see how many lives — and how many individual worlds — were changed through our collective community-led action."
This year’s CHEX Conference will be exploring these issues and more, focusing on the urgent need to move beyond ambition and into reality.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Brendan further, as we’re delighted to have him chairing the conference. 26th February at The Barracks in Stirling. Sign up here.
What you need to know this week.
The SCDC Weekly gives you everything you need to know around community development and beyond.
It’s free, concise and delivered directly to your inbox every Wednesday.