Online Community Builder Workshop

Join Protection Approaches and Voluntary Action Stoke on Trent (VAST) for a free training and community consultation day on building inclusive, connected, and resilient communities.

What is it?

This free, two-day workshop is both a practical training and a listening session designed for people who care about making Stoke-on-Trent a more connected and inclusive place to live.

Led by Protection Approaches - a charity with expertise in community resilience, inclusion, and social cohesion - the session combines interactive activities, global best practice, and peer learning. Drawing on insights from around the world from peacebuilding in Kenya to community organising in Chicago, participants will explore what really works to build strong and equitable communities.

The workshop is also part of a major city-wide community engagement programme commissioned by One Stoke-on-Trent. As part of this listening exercise, Protection Approaches is gathering views and lived experiences from people across the city. These sessions are a chance to hear directly from participants about both the challenges facing their communities and what’s already working well. This insight will help build on local strengths and shape meaningful, lasting change. To find out more about the One Stoke-On-Trent community engagement click here.

The session will cover:

• The root causes of social division, exclusion, and marginalisation
• Proven approaches from around the world to build inclusive and cohesive communities
• The role you and your community can play in dismantling barriers and reducing harm
• How to work with communities in meaningful, participatory ways
• Tools and methodologies for designing impactful, community-led initiatives

Is it for me?

Yes - if you are:

• Part of a community group, faith group, club, voluntary organisation, neighbourhood group or any organisation that connects with communities
• Interested in contributing to a more inclusive Stoke-on-Trent
• Looking to develop new skills and confidence in community-building

If you want to join one of these sessions but face any financial, access, or other barriers, please let us know. We have a dedicated budget to help remove these obstacles and make sure anybody who wants to take part is able to. Contact: education@protectionapproaches.org

Key information:

• The training is free
• All participants will receive a certificate of participation

Spaces are limited so if you sign up and can’t make it, please let us know so someone else can take your place.