Enabling Community-Based Leadership in Design: Sustainable Development of Historic Faith Buildings

Learn how to enable communities to lead design initiatives in places of worship

Apart from being special places where people practise their faith, places of worship play an important role for the wider community by providing pastoral care and much-needed local services.

Community-based design initiatives can enhance the value of these places as a sustainable resource for multiple communities.

This five-week course develops practical knowledge to empower you to help others to discover the potential of their historic faith buildings, and develop a community-led design initiative.

By the end of this course, you will know how to develop and guide community initiatives that adapt, re-imagine, and revitalise historic faith buildings.

Take an in-depth look at design and leadership in communities

The course starts with an introduction to the project management, and value, of community-based design initiatives.

You’ll unpack how communities can overcome their own barriers and effectively communicate with all involved professionals.

Apply the principles you learn to foster community engagement

Once you’ve learnt the theory on successful community-led design, you’ll start exploring how to make these projects happen.

You’ll see how these groups can develop strategies and tools to engage other people or organisations in co-creating their visions for community upliftment through historic building preservation.

Discover the steps for supporting and leading community initiatives

Developed as a collaboration between the Glass-House Community Led Design, Open University, and CS-DC, you can trust this course to give a comprehensive introduction to community-based design projects.

You’ll also earn a FutureLearn training certificate and create a portfolio.

This course is designed for anyone interested in developing community-based design initiatives, as well as their own leadership skills. Local groups, designers, funders, and support organisations will all benefit.

To take part in this course you need a standard computer with internet access

• An Introduction to Community-led Design
• Getting Started
• What is Community-led Design?
• What is the Value of Community-led Design?
• Summary and Further Resources
• Developing a Design Language
• Developing a Design Language
• Exploring Places
• Creating a Design Vision for Places
• Summary and Further Resources
• Instigating Community Based Leadership in Design
• Understanding Place as a Source of Power for Design
• Instigating and Nurturing Community-led Design Initiatives
• Summary and Further Resources
• Engaging your Community in Design Decision-Making
• Enabling Community Engagement
• Who Should be Engaged in Design Decisions about a Historic Faith Building?
• How to Engage with the Community
• Summary and Further Resources
• Consolidate Your Learning
• Reflect on Your Learning
• Test Your Knowledge
• Where next?