Exploring community engagement through design and collaboration
Our Diverse Voices Network came together for an interactive Engagement Essentials workshop led by Sam Hayes, Future of Greater Manchester Alumni and Assistant Director at PLACED. The session offered participants a hands-on, gamified exploration of community engagement in neighbourhood development.
Placed, a social enterprise operating across Liverpool and Greater Manchester, specialises in youth engagement and co-design workshops. Their PLACED Academy supports young people aged 14–26 to explore careers in the built environment, aiming to diversify the sector and ensure it better reflects society.
At the workshop, participants worked in teams to design a new neighbourhood – Reevesville – balancing competing priorities such as profit, social impact, quality of life, and community trust. Each team was given a distinct persona, encouraging participants to step into different approaches to development and engagement. Challenges were introduced throughout, simulating real-world pressures from councils, communities, and budget constraints.
The session encouraged participants to:
- Reflect on the voices that are represented in the development process
- Consider the trade-offs between financial, social, and environmental outcomes
- Experience practical, hands-on engagement techniques
As one participant reflected, “We realised how assumptions about communities can shape outcomes and how flexible engagement can lead to better results for everyone.”
This workshop is part of the Diverse Voices series, which connects growing talent and leaders across Greater Manchester to explore the complexities of leadership and place-shaping.
Thank you to Sam Hayes for delivering a session that was fun, practical and inspiring!
Thanks to our hosts at Arup and programme sponsors Hatch and Muse. With their support, we can continue to deliver our engaging Diverse Voices series at no cost to participants and help develop Greater Manchester’s next wave of impactful leaders.
Thank you to everyone who participated – watch this space for more events in our career-boosting Diverse Voices Essentials series. We look forward to seeing you at the next one!
For more information, resources, or to join the Diverse Voices Network, visit:
futureofgreatermanchester.com/diverse-voices-network