This research sets out to analyse what approaches might be effective in engaging professionals, community activists and leaders and young people in the City of Gloucester to take up learning for sustainable communities offered as part of the Train to Sustain pilot project developed by creating:excellence South West.

Train to Sustain seeks to ensure that the necessary skills are in place to deliver the major programme of regeneration planned for the city. It provides an opportunity to promote, engage, demonstrate value and enthuse people affected by regeneration.

This research, undertaken between October and November 2006, was commissioned by creating:excellence as the first stage in developing a live sustainable communities’ project (a Learning Laboratory) called Train to Sustain. The project coincides with the early stages of a major programme of physical regeneration within Gloucester.

A key challenge in implementing this programme is to ensure that the necessary skills are available in the local workforce. Train to Sustain looks to develop these skills but first it was necessary to understand what would motivate people to take part.

The research aimed to scope targets and identify good practice in relation to skills for sustainable communities in the areas of Gloucester affected by the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) as well as identify levers for motivating and engaging individuals in the process.

It included:

The research scopes the target groups and individuals who will play a role in, or be affected by, the GHURC. It identifies examples and sources of good practice in relation to developing skills for sustainable communities, especially in terms of increasing the competence of professionals, community activists and young people.

In addition, it provides an analysis of the levers for motivating and engaging people living in the area to take part in learning about sustainable communities. A series of 31 findings and associated recommendations are identified.

Creating:excellence - the South West Centre for Sustainable Communities
http://www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/regeneration-renewal-article15-p1.html

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ReAct Consortium – Sue Martin, Dr. Jacqui Hughes and Ruth Thomas

research

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Urban renewal