Working with Communities

This provides opportunities for those currently working with local communities or who are able to access and investigate closely an example of significant community activity. It involves reflection on current practice and issues raised in the light of the literature on communities and their social, economic, environmental and political development. The module aims are:

• To understand the policy discourse that surrounds working with communities as it has developed in recent years.
• To critically reflect on the experience of working with communities, to appreciate the conceptual and practical issues that characterise such work.
• To develop the ability to operate in situations where working with communities is central to achieving the aims of economic regeneration and neighbourhood renewal.

Two one-day workshops will be held in Coventry, at the start and end of the module. An important element will be the interaction between students in differing locations and with differing problems, providing learning opportunities for the whole group.

Assessment will be by coursework only and will consist of a reflective paper of 4,000 words supported by a diary of the students working with communities undertaken during the module.