Recognised products
The scheme was launched in autumn 2009 and saw some of our key partners place their programmes and products through the scheme.
In summer 2010 we will publish a searchable database of products, programmes and resources which have received our seal of approval. Have a look at some recognised products that will feature in the directory.
Continuing professional development, seminars and workshops
Adams Integra housing consultants – Housing Development & Regeneration Certificate (HDARC)
HDARC is an interactive course in affordable housing development and regeneration, aimed at local authorities, housing associations and private developers. The 12-month course consists of a mixture of 12 one-day workshops and distance learning, and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing. View case study
British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) – Planning for non-planners
Planning for Non-Planners is an introductory two-day course aimed at those from non-planning backgrounds who interact with the planning system in their work. The course consists of interactive seminar sessions, group workshops, and a study tour. View case study
CIH – Active Learning for Residents
The ALfR programme offers flexible, two-year courses for active social housing residents that recognise their existing practical experience. Residents’ association members or local community campaigners can take a level 2 community action in housing qualification, while a level 4 award in governance in housing is aimed at tenant board members. View case study
CIH/BURA – Sustainable Communities & Regeneration Masterclass
The Masterclass brings together around 20 senior managers to discuss key regeneration issues, influence policy and share knowledge and experience. Three 24-hour residential modules are held over three months, and cover: creating sustainable communities; the built environment; and developing successful and effective partnerships. View case study
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) – Space Leaders programme
The Space Leaders programme is an intensive, three-day course aimed at current or aspiring green space managers. The programme explores the issues affecting the sector and the role of green space managers via workshops, site visits and speakers. View case study
HCA – Understanding Place-making
Understanding Place-making is an introductory 10-week online course for people involved in creating and maintaining sustainable communities. Five facilitated workshops enable a deeper understanding of the sustainable communities agenda via a range of learning materials, participant activities and a forum.
Contour Housing Group – Very Philosophical
Very Philosophical is a short course lasting 2 days, run by Contour Housing Group to enable those working in communities to have the skills, knowledge and approach to use the technique of Philosophical enquiry in their neighbourhood, with local people leading to places better to live, work and play in. By getting people together, communicating, thinking, sharing and learning to iron out many of the problems we face.
National learning events – NANM
NANM national learning events enable participants to learn about and discuss the latest policy and practice, build professional networks, and learn from others involved in localisation of public services through neighbourhood working. The events are interactive and action orientated, consisting of workshops and plenaries. Through active facilitation from NANM staff, delegates are encouraged to think about how lessons and teachable points could be applied in their own work.
Regeneration practice forum – NS+
The practice forum model was designed by New start Plus (NS+) for Leeds and Bradford Councils and Integreat Yorkshire, the regional centre of excellence, to help officers in neighbouring local authorities collaborate on shared agendas. While it was devised to help address specific issues in the Leeds-Bradford Corridor, the model has since been used within the Bradford Regeneration Academy programme and can be adapted to other localities.
Higher education and further education
HCA – Foundation Degree in Sustainable Communities
The Foundation Degree in Sustainable Communities is a part-time, three-year course available at six universities: Sheffield Hallam; Northumbria; Salford; London Metropolitan; and Stafford College and Staffordshire University in collaboration with Birmingham City University. It aims to give students the skills and knowledge to pursue a rewarding career in planning, housing or the environment.
New College Durham – CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing
The Level 2 Certificate in Housing is a 10-day part-time course aimed at workers in a variety of housing roles, from housing organisation staff to residents’ association members. It offers an introduction to housing, and aims to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver effecting housing services. View case study
University Centre at Blackburn College – Foundation Degree in Housing Studies
The Foundation Degree in Housing Studies is a two-year, part-time course aimed at those working in the public, private and voluntary housing sectors. The course covers topics such as housing policy and practice, housing law, and planning and development. View case study
TSY-Delivering Design Quality Skills training Programme 2010 – Delivering Design Quality
The training programme aims to give participants the tools they need to continue developing their design skills when they leave the sessions. Training is specifically tailored to the needs of house builders and local authorities working in the sub region, it addresses the specific objective of building relationships and a joint way of working between the two parties.
Catalyst Housing Group – Get Learning
(OCN Level 2 Awards in Preparation for work, Youth Work and Resident Involvement)
Catalyst is a recognised Open College Network and Chartered Institute of Housing training provider. The programme aims include; meeting the training needs of residents, increasing levels of resident involvement, promoting participation in lifelong learning, addressing skills shortages within the housing sector and Working with housing associations to create placements and job opportunities for residents.
Toolkits, resources and best practice
Pixelfountain – RegenIT
RegenIT is a collaborative interactive workshop that uses sophisticated learning simulations to allow participants to run a ‘virtual community’, playing the roles of different stakeholders and making practical decisions to gain an understanding of place-making. View case study
Charlestown and Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities – Neighbourhood Toolkit
The Neighbourhood Toolkit aims to provide local community members with the skills and knowledge to directly report issues in their neighbourhoods. The online and print versions provide details of housing, environmental and community safety services, and encourage local residents to have a voice.
HCA – Play your part citizenship toolkit
Play your part is an online toolkit for teachers, to help encourage pupils to play an active role in community projects. The website includes ideas, resources, activities and teaching aids designed to raise awareness of sustainable communities, and can be used to support citizenship, drama, geography and PSHE lessons.
British Council – Future City Game – British Council
Future City Game is a team-based process designed to create new thinking and action to improve the quality of life in cities. Future City Game stimulates original ideas about ways to tackle future global and local challenges in cities or neighbourhoods. It builds the skills and competencies of professionals and communities working in cities, and is a tool for international exchange and collaboration. It is played in locations around the city over two days and involves ten steps.
The Complete UrbanBuzz – UrbanBuzz
In 2009 ‘UrbanBuzz’, the UCL-led £7.75m knowledge exchange programme published ‘The Complete UrbanBuzz’, that highlighted successes and learning from its 27 funded projects that impact on the creation of sustainable communities.
The programme includes projects ranging from the application of urban agriculture to reassessments of urban density to the low-energy retrofitting of existing heritage housing stock, through to planning and engagement activities. The book will become an essential aide to anyone interested and actively involved in shaping the places we live in.
New start Magazine – New Start Magazine
New Start is the monthly magazine for practitioners and professionals committed to creating sustainable communities. Editorially independent, it contains detailed investigations, learning and best practice material, analysis, and debate. New Start bridges the gap between policy and good practice and is considered essential reading by people committed to making places better.
Taylor Young – Regener8 Community Engagement Game
Taylor Young has developed a community engagement game which can be used as a capacity and consensus building tool. This tried and tested technique has been used successfully to engage communities on a wide range of projects, and in our experience enables the exploration of a number of dimensions which go beyond a standard public consultation approach.
The game has been designed to be mutually beneficial to the community and the client /consultant. The community benefits from better management of expectations, capacity building and the use of a fun and interactive learning process. The client /consultant benefits from the extraction of relevant information which forms the basis of the design stages.
CABE – Spaceshaper
Spaceshaper is a practical toolkit to measure the quality of a public space before investing time and money in improving it. It captures the views of professionals who are running the space as well as those of the community that use the space. Workshops run by trained facilitators discuss design and management and how the space works for different people. Ideas are then discussed and prioritised for how the space can be improved, that meet the needs of the wider community.
At the end of last year CABE launched Spaceshaper 9-14, a version of designed to engage young people aged 9 to 14 in public space projects.
Have a look in more detail at a selection of products we’ve approved.
