Formation

Monkstown Community Forum was formed as a company limited by guarantee in 1995. Then, local groups were encouraged by government agencies to form a consortium to progress the idea of having new community facilities in Monkstown. Monkstown Community Forum now operates primarily as a social enterprise and also serves the Monkstown community as an umbrella body of a number of local organisations.

Membership

The following local groups/organisations are in membership, some as corporate bodies and others nominating individual members: Abbey Community College, Abbey Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Shepherd, Hollybank Pre-School, Hollybank Primary School, Hollybank Primary School PTA and Monkstown Village Initiatives. The directors of Monkstown Community Forum are also members.

These groups represent diversity across the community, voluntary, statutory and youth sectors. Each member group has one representatives for general meetings, gathered at least annually. As a community organisation dealing with local issues, contact is also maintained with other local groups, not in membership of  the Community Forum, to ensure a breadth of contact and opinion.

Governance

The Forum is governed by a board of directors, most of whom have been with the project since the beginning. The Forum has had two chairmen, Tommy Kernoghan (1995-8) and John McConaghie (1999-present). Business and Development duties are undertaken by the current Company Secretary. Consultation is also currently underway to see how the Forum can facilitate a co-ordinated approach to issues affecting the whole community in Monkstown.