Heritage Community Engagement Workshop - Thursday 9 July, 6.30pm
As more funders require robust evidence of meaningful community engagement, this session explores what engagement really is in a heritage context and why doing it well matters. We’ll look at practical participation models, effective ways to reach and work with diverse communities, and approaches to building local capacity. We’ll also unpack the challenging issues of power, trust and ethics that shape engagement practice. You’ll leave with a practical toolkit of methods, frameworks and resources to support high‑quality community engagement in your future projects.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Define community engagement in a heritage context and explain why it is essential for sustainable, community‑centred heritage work.
- Differentiate between consultation, participation, co‑creation and community‑led practice, and understand when each is appropriate.
- Identify key community stakeholders and recognise gaps, barriers and under‑represented voices.
- Apply core principles of good engagement, including early involvement, transparency, inclusivity and ethical practice.
- Develop a simple, realistic engagement plan with clear aims, audiences, methods and evaluation measures.
Facilitator: Kate Shrewsday
Kate Shrewsday has over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering community engagement projects that connect people with culture, heritage, and place.
Her work has included partnering with Windsor & Royal Borough Museum to develop a network of community roadshows ; leading a dynamic public consultation on behalf of English Heritage with communities in Richmond and Twickenham; project managing and delivering storytelling workshops for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, engaging more than 200 young women with the story of war heroine Noor Inayat Khan; and setting up an academy at Brooklands Museum promoting STEM skills in a museum context - reaching more than 1000 secondary students a year.
Before moving into community engagement, Kate worked in education as a head teacher and Additional Needs Manager. She has particular expertise in supporting autistic and neurodivergent young people, and remains passionate about promoting inclusion, accessibility, and meaningful participation for all communities.
Workshop: Thursday 9 July, 18.30pm
Duration: 2 Hours
Tickets: Free
