Building strong relationships with the people and places you serve is essential for any organisation working within the community. This course provides practical insight into how to engage with local groups, residents, and stakeholders in ways that create lasting trust and shared outcomes.

You’ll explore what effective community engagement looks like in practice, from understanding who your communities are to co-producing activities that reflect real local priorities. The session draws on best practice in public and voluntary sector engagement, aligning with UK guidance on participation, equality, and inclusion.

Designed for those working in charities, social enterprises, health partnerships, and local initiatives, the training encourages collaboration and supports confidence in planning engagement that leads to measurable social impact.

Whether you’re developing a new community project or improving an existing one, this course offers a structured approach that helps you make every conversation count.

Ideal for anyone who wants to strengthen local relationships, demonstrate accountability, and create change that lasts.

Key Learnings

• Define the purpose and principles of community engagement
• Identify and map your communities and key stakeholders
• Understand barriers to inclusion and participation
• Plan engagement activities that achieve meaningful outcomes
• Gather and use community feedback responsibly
• Co-produce actions and measure social impact

Effective community engagement is at the heart of inclusive, responsive services and projects. For organisations in the VCSE sector, as well as local authorities and health partnerships, it forms the foundation of trust, accountability, and long-term success.

This course explores the full cycle of engagement, from defining what engagement means to your organisation, to designing processes that give communities a real voice. Using relatable examples and proven techniques, it helps participants identify who their communities are, understand how to reach them, and plan purposeful activities that generate meaningful participation.

Learners will discuss how to overcome barriers such as access, confidence, and representation, and how to apply inclusive approaches that reflect the diversity of local populations. Guidance references the Equality Act 2010, principles of co-production from UK public sector frameworks, and recognised community development standards that promote fairness and transparency.

By examining case studies from across the voluntary and health sectors, the course also highlights how feedback and data can be used to demonstrate social value, strengthen funding bids, and evidence impact.

Whether you work in health, social care, housing, or local community development, this course provides both strategic understanding and practical tools. You’ll leave with greater confidence to design and deliver engagement that brings people together, informs decision-making, and creates sustainable local change.

Open course per person           £0
In-house for up to 6 people     £0
In-house for up to 12 people  £0