Community Leadership Programmes

  • Representation x4 (39 learners)
  • Taking a Lead in Your Community courses (44 learners)
  • How Your City Works (12 learners)
  • Skilling Up for Stronger Voices x2 (13 learners)
  • Community Engagement x2 (24 learners)
Total number of learners on community leadership programmes: 132

Stimulating debate between citizens and decision-makers to increase the skills and confidence of learners to speak up in a public arena

A fitting finale of Take Part Exeter’s ‘Take a Lead in Your Community’ courses gave community leaders the chance to pose questions to local decision-makers during a debate about topics that affected them and their groups. Panel members were invited according to issues prepared in advance, and included:

  • The Local Authority Community Engagement Officer
  • Chief Executive Officer of Exeter CVS
  • Members of Transition Exeter
  • The Fawcett Society
  • City Councillor
  • Police Chief Officer
From this activity learners gained confidence by being able to formulate questions suitable for raising in a public forum, whilst developing listening and discussion skills. They also learnt to assess and respect diverse and conflicting views on various topics. The outcomes for panel members was an increased insight into the minds of ordinary citizens, and relating these to their work, organisational policies, strategies and values.
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Stats and case studies exploring two years of project development and inter-agency working.

Download Take Part Exeter illustrated summary.

Download Take Part Exeter full report.

Download Take Part National evaluation report.

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Take Part Exeter was led by Exeter CVS as part of the Take Part Pathfinder Programme, which was funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and managed by the Community Development Foundation.

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Take Part Exeter devised two new leadership programmes, ‘Taking a Lead in Your Community’ and ‘How Your City Works’. These programmes informed and empowered local community activists by helping them to understand and influence local decision-making processes.

‘How Your City Works’ looked at civic structures and decision-making processes to develop an understanding of how citizens can influence services in Exeter. The modules covered local government, the police service, education, health services and the voluntary and community sector.

‘Taking a Lead in Your Community’ attracted people who already had some community involvement, and wanted to learn more about strengthening their group through an increased understanding of local structures and decision-making processes. The course included a question and answer session, where learners could ask questions to a panel of key decision-makers.

The strength of the programmes, as fed back by participants, was that they provided networking opportunities with other community leaders and active citizens, that they allowed engagement with decision makers through visits to institutions, and that they were delivered by experienced community activists.

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Taking a Lead in Your Community: January 2011

taliyc-flierCourse no longer available This popular free course is for anyone in Exeter who is taking part in their community and wants to see more happen; or for those who want to see how they could make a difference themselves – all on a voluntary basis.

Click here to download an information leaflet
 
Making a Difference
making-a-difference-modulesCourse no longer available Part of the Taking a Lead in Your Community learning programme, this two-part module includes two short evening workshops: 'Influencing Decisions that Count', and 'Designing and Leading a Campaign'.  Download a leaflet