Well it has been a while since I last blogged but that has been cos’ so much has been going on. In October 2011 we launched our Leadership Institute for Communities, an exciting new membership scheme building and empowering a network of active citizens within Bradford and the Region.
As part of the Institute we held our first leadership workshop on Wednesday 23 November with the main speaker as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Sue Kershaw discussing Leadership in a Changing World. With 40 attendees the network kicked off in style!
We also held a workshop at the NCCPE Engage conference in Bristol to get feedback from our national and international colleagues on this new approach to Community Engagement.
Our 2012 programme of public lectures is now planned till the summer and we have a full schedule of interesting speakers culminating with Tony Benn in June! We hope to attract thousands of people on to campus this year with our diverse programme of speakers including internal staff discussing their research and international speakers who are experts in their own field. Check out our website http://www.bradford.ac.uk/community-partnerships and search for events.
Our free enterprise programme Amaze Yourself is still going strong with programmes planned each month until September.
Our Dean, Nadira Mirza, continues her strong partnership work as Chair of Board at the University Academy Keighley and her work as board member with Bradford NHS. She continually shares her and the University’s expertise in International forums and conferences.
So for 2012 I’m excited to looking deeper at how we can support researchers and academics to be active in public and community engagement.
Can’t wait to see how the year develops!
Georgie Bache, Community Partnerships Officer.