Ballyhoura Development acts as a good practice example of how an organisation, communities, and individuals can all play their part in creating a sustainable future. From environmental initiatives to social inclusion and community wellbeing, our work shows how local action connects to global goals.

But the SDGs are not something to be achieved by organisations alone – every person, group, and business can make a difference. That’s why SDG Week 2025 is a fantastic opportunity for you to get involved and highlight what sustainability means in your own community.

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How Your Community Can Get Involved?

We’ve put together a range of ideas and activities to help you bring the SDGs to life in your local area. Whether you’re part of a school, business, or community group – or just passionate about sustainability – there’s something here for everyone:

1. Creative Displays & Engagement

• SDG Card or Postcard Display – Set up a card/postcard display in your community location, cafe, or library.

• SDG Postcard Trail – Create a walking trail with each stop featuring a different SDG. Encourage selfies and social media sharing with a local hashtag.

• Postcard Pledges – Invite people to choose an SDG and write a personal pledge (e.g. “I will reduce plastic use” for SDG 12). Display the pledge on a community board or in a local library/shop window.

• Youth Voices for 2030 – Invite children and young people to imagine what their town will look like in 2030 if the SDGs are achieved. Showcase their messages in a gallery or online.

• SDG Poster Competition – Schools create SDG-inspired posters for shop windows.

• SDG Chalk Art Day – Organise a fun street art event with SDG symbols or messages in chalk.

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2. Community Action

• Community Clean-Up & Waste Audit – Organise a litter pick and sort waste to highlight trends and promote waste reduction.

• Biodiversity Walk & Talk – Partner with a local ecologist to lead a walk highlighting local flora and fauna.

• Water Conservation Challenge – Encourage households to track and reduce their water usage for the week.

• Community Wellbeing Day – Include yoga, mindfulness, or nature therapy sessions to connect wellbeing with sustainability.

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3. Learning & Awareness

• Home Energy Workshop – Invite an expert to talk about retrofitting, energy-saving tips or solar options. Don’t forget you can borrow a Home Energy Saving Kit from Ballyhoura Development!

• Digital Sustainable Business Showcase – Highlight local businesses making eco-friendly choices.

• Daily SDG Spotlights on Social Media – Share one SDG per day with local examples of how your community is contributing.

• Postcard Conversations – Use SDG postcards as prompts for discussion in cafés, schools, or community centres. Each table gets a different SDG card and a prompt: "How can our town contribute to this goal?"

• Visual Exhibition – Combine postcards, local photos, and facts to show how each SDG connects to your area.

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Useful Resources

Here are some excellent toolkits and guides to support your planning:

🌍 Global Action Plan – ACT Toolkit

Global Action Plan ACT Toolkit

A resource for exploring the SDGs through transformational learning, with activities, reflection prompts, and guidance on linking local action to global challenges like climate change, poverty, and inequality.

🧰 The Wheel – Spark Change Toolkit

The Wheel SDG Projects
A Sustainable Communities Toolkit developed through the Spark Change programme. It includes practical guides, case studies, and mentorship opportunities to help community groups align their work with the SDGs. The Wheel also supports SDG awareness through Coalition 2030 and other initiatives.

🎓 UCC – SDG Toolkit for Teaching & Learning

UCC SDG Toolkit
While aimed at educators, this toolkit includes SDG mapping tools and a resource library that community groups can adapt for workshops, awareness campaigns, or curriculum development.

🧭 YESDG Erasmus+ Project Toolkit

YESDG Project via Léargas
The YESDGs (Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development Goals) project empowers young people and community groups to engage with the SDGs through education, creativity, and local action. 

• A toolkit with interactive activities, Resources for facilitators and youth workers to run SDG awareness sessions.
• Materials that link local issues to global goals, encouraging youth-led solutions.
• This project is supported by Léargas, Ireland’s National Agency for Erasmus+ in youth and community education 

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Take Action This September!

SDG Week 2025 runs from 19th – 28th September – and it’s a chance for everyone to play their part. Whether you organise a community event, make a personal pledge, or simply start a conversation about the Global Goals, every action counts.

Together, we can build a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for all.

👉 Download Ballyhoura Development’s SDG Information Pack to get started and find inspiration for your community.

SDG Information Pack