As a co-operative, operating in line with values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity, we are acutely aware of the fact that a house does not make a home – a community does. In that vein, we were very keen to ensure that this new community of 74 households would have access to resources and supports that would facilitate engagement, participation and enrich the neighbourhood as a whole. To that end, we reached out to Carlow Regional Youth Services, and offered them the possibility of leasing a unit in the development. Carlow Regional Youth Services is a local voluntary service affiliated to Youth Work Ireland, that provides direct programmes and services for young people at risk, including community-based youth work programmes, drop-in services, and leadership training. Carlow Regional Youth Services now leases this unit from Co-operative Housing Ireland, from which they run their wide range of youth services. However, we have brought our collaboration a step further in engaging with Carlow Regional Youth Services to provide access to their space and facilities to our Local Area Board, comprised of co-operative member-tenants in Fruithill Manor and across the South Leinster area. Since the inception of this collaborative project, the Local Area Board have begun holding a range of well-being-oriented activities, including fitness classes, cookery classes and training in a wide variety of areas in the space, for both adults and young people, with advice and support provided by local Co-operative Housing Ireland Housing Officer and Carlow Regional Youth Services. A recent initiative, run by a member of the local co-operative, focuses on building skills in the use of defibrillators, to allow people to take on the role of community first-responders. These classes and training sessions are not just open to co-operative member-tenants, however – they are open to the entire local community. The Local Area Board have also been active in organising a wide range of events including Christmas parties, Halloween trick or treating and a summer barbeque, further enhancing the positive community spirit in the development.