Community Hub for public engagement

Helping improve how universities connect with local communities
Woman holding ipad, mother and daughter looking at ipad screen

Transforming community engagement

The University of Plymouth is excited to be working on a new project, supported by the National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA), to help improve how universities connect with local communities. We’re teaming up with Lancaster University (UL) to make sure that local voices are not only heard but play a key role in shaping what we do and influencing local decisions.

What’s happening in Plymouth?

Our focus here at the University of Plymouth is creating a digital Community Hub that will be a valuable resource for local groups. This hub will make it easier for communities to access university spaces, work together on research, and get involved in training and student projects. To make sure it meets real community needs, we held a community listening workshop and gathered ideas and priorities directly from local community representatives.

Workshop update

A big thank you to everyone who took part in our Community Hub listening workshop.
Your insights and ideas have been incredibly valuable in shaping the development of this exciting new resource. It’s been inspiring to hear your thoughts on how the University of Plymouth can better connect and collaborate with the amazing community businesses and groups working across our city.
Participants at our community hub listening workshop, held at The Plot, Union Street.
Community hub listening workshop, December 2024

Who we’re working with

We’re proud to be working alongside our partners. Together, we’re aiming to create something that brings real benefits to the community, not just now but for years to come.

Our collaboration with Lancaster University

While we focus on building the Community Hub, Lancaster University will develop a toolkit to help guide conversations between communities and universities. This toolkit will be tested in our workshops here in Plymouth, with the aim of improving how universities and communities work together.

What are the outcomes of this project?

  • A Community Hub on the University of Plymouth website, where local groups can access resources and collaborate.
  • A conversation toolkit to help communities and universities work together effectively.
  • A report sharing what we’ve learned and the best ways to engage with local groups.
Through this project, the University of Plymouth hopes to build stronger connections with local communities and share what we learn to help others do the same.
National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) logo