University and housing team up for regeneration » Education » 24dash.com

Housing and education providers have teamed up to give a helping hand to residents wanting to learn about urban regeneration.

Bolton at Home and the University of Bolton, with support from the Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance, have developed the town’s first ‘Introduction to Regeneration’ course. It offers students an insight into regeneration policies and issues and a qualification after three months of successful part-time study.

The first ten students to complete the course, including employees, customers and partners of Bolton at Home, recently celebrated gaining their qualifications.

The qualification could form the basis for further study as the university is currently developing degrees, which can be studied online, in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities. The course also forms part of a wider programme of regeneration training that Bolton at Home is developing for employees, customers and partners.

Marie Settle, the Urban Care Manager of Bolton at Home who has worked with the university to set up the course, says “It’s fantastic that the first training course has been such a success. We hope that this will serve as inspiration for others seeking to develop skills and learning within regeneration.”

Dr Margaret Nelson, Reader at the University of Bolton and the course tutor, added “regeneration is about how people work and live together and develop their community as a whole. Widening participation is a key factor in this process and the cross section of people who made up the first class of the course reflect this broad range of interest. I’m looking forward to welcoming new students in the near future.”