So, I am very pleased indeed to now be starting to see the fruits of a labour that has meant working with peer-colleagues in London and Southwark Dioceses, the Church Urban Fund, and the University of Westminster over the past eighteen months.
From hereonin, I shall be commending the following course!...[nb. The wording that follows is that which will also be in a glossy A5 booklet, very shortly!]
Practical and Critical Perspectives for Church-based Community Development
Community development is recognised as a profession in its own right, utilised by the public, private and ‘third’ sectors – the latter, community and voluntary organisations. In recent years there has been a growth in professionals’ roles requiring community development skills – particularly at the interface between government policy initiatives and local neighbourhood regeneration projects. With this has come the introduction of agreed occupational standards, which define the skills and knowledge needed to establish effective community development practice.
Christian churches have a long history of community development work in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, playing a vital role as catalyst and facilitator, enabling diverse people groups to identify effective ways through problems associated with disadvantage and poverty. Church-based community development work has played a vital role in providing holistic services, enabling citizens to establish more confidence and control of key areas of life through a combination of social, moral and spiritual welfare development.
Responding to the proliferation of church-based community development work, the University of Westminster is pleased to offer this practical, intensive, and dynamic new course.
The University of Westminster has a unique history of delivering professional courses that meet the needs of groups from a variety of professional backgrounds. The development of this innovative and professionally-endorsed pathway in church-based community development work upholds this tradition. Through a new model of learning, church-based community development workers will be able to explore a range of key issues at the core of their practice.
This important new course captures the distinctive contribution of church-based community development work in challenging injustice and facilitating effective responses. The course is:
• Practical – it will enable church-based community workers to enhance and develop their own skills, and develop relevant new approaches where appropriate. The programme includes site visits and interactive sessions with leading church-based community development worker-practitioners
• Critical – participants will analyse in depth the issues confronted by church-based community development workers, connecting theological ideas to experience, to critically shape and inform practice.
The course will provide participants with training in up-to-date community development practice.
Facilities
The course is taught at our newly-refurbished Cavendish site in purpose-built facilities. You will have access to all the dedicated library and computing facilities that you would expect from one of Britain’s largest universities.
Teaching
The creative learning environment helps you to acquire a critical grounding in church-based community development work. There are no easy answers or quick fixes. You will be able to use this course to wrestle with the issues of developing effective and empowering church-based practice underpinned by community work principles. The course enables you to share and compare your experiences with others, stimulated by new perspectives from assigned reading, invited speakers and practical assignments. The experience and expertise students bring is highly valued. You can also incorporate this course within extended study for a Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate.
Teaching staff
Our staff are a diverse team made up of core and associate staff all of whom are engaged in practice outside the University. They bring relevant and current experience of different sectors to the work of the School.
Assessment
Assessment will be via coursework.
Entry requirements
You must have two years’ experience in church based community work (paid or unpaid) as well as an Honours degree or evidence of ability to work at postgraduate level. You will also be required to submit an essay on community work practice, and be interviewed. Applicants are invited from community organisations, the voluntary sector, statutory agencies, health, housing and social care. You are required to show competence in written and spoken English, equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.5 or above in all components, or equivalent.
How to apply
Applications should be made directly to the University, using a paper application form or online from the University website. Applications should be sent to:
Cavendish Admissions and Marketing Office,
University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5883
Email: cav-admissions@westminster.ac.uk
Related courses
MA Community Development
MA International Community Development
“At long last we have a first class course which gives the tools into the hands of those who wrestle with how their work in community is directly related to and critiqued by their Christian faith.
Bringing together the disciplines of Community Development and Christian Theology encourages brave new insights into Community Action and can open up fascinating new discoveries about what the Christian faith can do for individuals and local communities. The course is taught by a highly respected team, who know how to do it – and know how to help other do it. The course is both vocational, in that it offers new skills and abilities, and is reflective, in that it engenders those insights which are vital to energetic faith understanding and social concern. It will be welcomed in parishes by clergy, ministry teams and community workers – indeed, by any Christian who has serious Kingdom concerns. This exciting course offers the tools for courageous Community Development shot through with faithful Christian integrity.”
Dr Laurie Green
Bishop of Bradwell
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