Webinar programme 2025

Join the UK Town and Gown Association (UKTGA) webinar programme: explore, connect, and shape the future of town-gown partnerships. 

The UKTGA is excited to present a six-part webinar programme designed to bring together professionals working at the intersection of universities and their local communities. Covering a diverse range of topics—from effective student-community engagement and sustainable move-out strategies to leadership transitions and housing policy changes—each session is packed with insights, best practice, and expert-led discussions.  

Whether you’re looking to expand your network, learn from real-world case studies, or explore new ways to strengthen town-gown relationships, this series is for you. Open to all, these webinars are a great way to engage with the UKTGA network—if you’re not already a member, now is the perfect time to join and become part of a growing community dedicated to making a meaningful impact. 

Each webinar is free for members or £50 each for non-members.  

Becoming a member is easy and only costs your organisation from between £150-£350 dependant on the size and type of membership you choose. By your organisation joining the UKTGA, unlimited employees can join under a single membership. 

February

Speed Networking: Creating Conversations Between Civic Partners 

Claire Walker,  Sustainability Project Co-ordinator – Social Impact, University of Leeds 

10-11am Tuesday, 25 February 2025   

Join us for an exciting online speed networking event! This is your chance to connect with other town and gown practitioners in a fast-paced, fun environment. If you’re looking to expand your network and make some new contacts, this event is perfect for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to make valuable connections in just a few minutes.

March

From Chaos to Clean: Sharing Practices on Student Move Out

David Barrington, Off Campus Student Affairs Officer, Manchester Student Homes.
Lizzie Larner, Sustainability Manager, Liverpool Student Guild
Gavin Evans, Neighbourhood Manager, Manchester City Council

1-2pm Wednesday, 26 March 2025

Join us for an insightful session on how Manchester Student Homes and Liverpool Students’ Guild support thousands of students in their communities during the move-out period. Discover how their initiatives lead to cleaner streets, responsible waste disposal, and tonnes of donations to charity. This session will explore best practices for ensuring a smooth and sustainable student move-out, reducing the impact on local neighbourhoods. The webinar will also feature a roundtable discussion where attendees can share their own experiences and strategies, followed by an open Q&A forum to exchange ideas and practical solutions. Whether you’re a university representative, student union officer, or local authority, this session will provide valuable insights into fostering positive student-community relations.

April

‘Hello Neighbour’: tools, tips and tricks to improving student and local resident relationships

Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager, University of Reading
Bethany Brown, Senior Student Community Coordinator, Reading Student Union

1-2pm Wednesday, 23 April 2025 

Have you managed to finally crack the code to students and local residents all living together in harmony? No?! Neither have we, and that’s ok!   

Join Reading University and Reading Students’ Union as we take you on our partnership journey to improve student and local resident relationships, support students to have a positive experience off campus and resolve conflict that arises from differing lifestyles. You’ll be able to find out about our activity that has been successful and some of the lessons we’ve learned along the way, hopefully providing you with some new inspiration to enhance your own engagement. 

May

Showcasing the QCAP model: Supporting places and communities through engagement, research and impact

Dr Karen McGuigan, Senior Research Fellow (Irwin Fellow in Child and Adolescent Mental Health), Queen’s University Belfast
Fionntán Hargey, Director, Market Development Association
Dr Stephanie Maguire, QCAP Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast

12.30-1.30pm Wednesday, 21 May 2025 

This session will explore the work of Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP), a community-academic partnership aimed at addressing local inequalities in Belfast. Using a place-based approach, QCAP has fostered collaboration between Queen’s University, communities, and policymakers to co-create solutions for social, economic, and educational challenges. This session highlights the potential of community-academic partnerships; reflecting on the QCAP model, impact, challenges, and showcasing successful initiatives like the Hosford community homes project, Smart City-zens, and ‘Tackling Substance Use Together’. The session emphasises community empowerment, knowledge exchange, and sustained commitment to realise the transformative potential of university-community partnerships to drive positive, lasting change.

June

Leadership Changes Impacting the Town-Gown Relationship

Todd Kamenash, Associate Dean of Students, Kent State University

Date TBC 

When your town & gown relationship hits the sweet spot, leaders in both areas communicate, collaborate, and the community publicly and privately celebrate the rewards. When one of those leaders leaves, the town & gown relationship can quickly be challenged. This presentation will describe some of the ebbs and flows of the City of Kent, Ohio & Kent State University Town & Gown relationship.

July

Students vs Landlords: Who Wins in the Renters’ Bill Shake-Up? 

Cooper Healey, ITGA president and Service Manager, Manchester Student Homes 

Date TBC 

The Renters’ Reform Bill is set to bring significant changes to the UK rental market—but what does it really mean for students and landlords? With proposals to ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, introduce stronger protections for tenants, and create a more transparent rental system, the bill has sparked heated debate. 

In this webinar, we’ll break down the key elements of the legislation, separating fact from speculation, and explore the likely impact on student renters and the landlords who house them. Will students win or lose? Will landlords pull back from the student housing market, reducing supply? How will the new rules affect rent prices, tenancy lengths, and dispute resolution? 

Join this session for insights and discussion on this momentous rental shake-up—and what it all means for the future of student accommodation in the UK