The Big Conversation

The views of our stakeholders help shape our work, To design and provide the right services and support at the right time, we need to know more about the issues important to people within our Borough.  

The Big Conversation  

The Big Conversation was created to help us engage with people who live and work in Ards and North Down.  We have used a variety of methods as part of the Big Conversation including postcard surveys, workshops and focus groups. These contributed towards the development of the Big Plan for Ards and North Down and created a shared vision that all Community Planning partners agreed to work towards over the next 15 years:

'Ards and North Down is a vibrant, connected, healthy, safe and prosperous place to be'.  

The Big Conversation Panel 

In March 2020, we experienced a country-wide lock down due to COVID-19. Over the weeks and months ahead this impacted the lives of everyone living in Ards and North Down.  We created The Big Conversation Panel to reconnect with our stakeholders at a very difficult time through a series of surveys spread throughout the year and virtual workshops. The surveys focused on a range of topics including mental health and emotional wellbeing, Covid-19 recovery, tourism, and the environment. 

The information collected from the Big Conversation Panel informed the next steps road to the Borough's COVID-19 recovery plan as well as the longer-term implementation of the community plan priorities. 

*The Big Conversation is managed by Ards and North Down Borough Council on behalf of Ards and North Down's Strategic Community Planning Partnership.