Following a successful pilot earlier this year ASC has launched a new course.

In a Nutshell brings together built environment professionals, community workers and volunteers to develop their knowledge about creating and managing sustainable communities.

The free online course consists of five facilitated workshops and will run in December 2008, January, February and March 2009. It has been designed to help participants understand:

• the term 'sustainable communities' and the different components that contribute towards sustainable communities;
• current national and regional policy;
• the roles, responsibilities and skills of the various organisations and individuals responsible for delivery;
• the core professions involved in delivery and the wider stakeholders;
• regeneration issues linked to sustainable communities; and
• how to put theory into practice.

Rob Jackson, research and monitoring officer at Shepway District Council who took part in the pilot said:

"The course was informative, particularly around the legislative and political frameworks linked to sustainable communities and introduced me to new sources of information that I now use regularly. The discussion forums took learning to a new level, providing an invaluable platform to debate the very latest issues and challenges we face like the credit crunch and review examples of best practice with health workers, council employees, students and community workers."

Amanda Lane, learning and resources manager at ASC said:

"This is an entry-level route course, aimed at people who are entering sustainable communities professions and want to develop their knowledge of the sector. The online facilitated workshops offer a real opportunity for people to work with and learn from professionals and trainers involved in the delivery of the sustainable communities agenda."