January 2026
Beyond Campus: NTU’s Collaborative Model for Student Welfare and Safety
Wayne Cliff, Head of Campus Security and Community Liaison, Nottingham Trent University
Nikki Todd, Community Liaison Manager, Nottingham Trent University
12.30-1.30pm 13 January 2026
This session will explore Nottingham Trent University’s pioneering model for its on and off campus welfare and support. Sharing insights on how they work across departments and partner agencies to support students out of hours to stay safe within the community, support them with dealing with welfare and critical incidents out of hours and in partnership to keep students safe within the Night Time Economy.
February 2026
Engaging Communities And Neighbours In Your University’s Strategic Plan
Dr. Karen Salt, Professor of Professor of Culture, Place and Communities, Manchester Metropolitan University
Matt Helfrich, UK Branch Manager and Senior Project Manager, LINK Strategic Partners
12.30-1.30pm 11 February 2026
This session will focus on the importance of community planning, consultation, and engagement in a university’s strategic plans, sharing recent case studies for successful community engagement approaches to university strategic plans on both sides of the pond.
March 2026
University partnerships and their implications for town–gown relationships
Dr. Simon Merrywest, Executive Director for the Student Experience, The University of Manchester
12.30-1.30pm 11 March 2026
This session explores the evolving landscape of university partnerships and their impact on town–gown relationships. Focusing on ongoing work around shared services, the webinar will examine how collaborative initiatives between institutions and local communities can reshape governance, resource allocation, and mutual trust. Attendees will gain insights into the practical implications of these partnerships and strategies for fostering sustainable, equitable relationships between campuses and their surrounding towns.
April 2026
How can universities work ethically and collaboratively with local communities to address pressing social and environmental challenges?
Dr Rebecca Brunk, Sustainability Project Officer (Social Impact), University of Leeds
12.30-1.30pm 15 April 2026
In this UKTGA webinar, the University of Leeds will share their approach to community–university partnerships, illustrating how principles of reciprocity, transparency, and shared benefit co-create solutions for sustainability challenges. The session will highlight insights from community partners on the value of developing these partnerships, and showcase the tangible positive impact in communities these projects have generated.
May 2026
State of the Town & Gown Profession: First Findings from UKTGA’s 2025–26 Study
Amanda Jackson, Sustainability Manager (Social Impact)
Claire Walker, Sustainability Projects Coordinator
12.30-1.30pm 13 May 2026
What does the town–gown profession look like today and where is it heading? This UKTGA webinar will share the first results from our State of the Profession research, the first study of its kind in the UK and internationally. We’ll discuss emerging patterns in roles, structures, resourcing, and skills, and consider what they mean for the future of town–gown practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to comment on the findings and help shape the final report.
February 2025
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 2025
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 2025
‘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 2025
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 2025
Leadership Changes Impacting the Town-Gown Relationship
Todd Kamenash, Associate Dean of Students, Kent State University
1-2pm Wednesday 25 June 2025
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 2025
Students vs Landlords: Who Wins in the Renters’ Bill Shake-Up?
Cooper Healey, ITGA president and Service Manager, Manchester Student Homes
Hannah Shepherd (CIHCM), Senior Manager Community Relations & Housing, Durham University
12:30pm – 1:30pm Wednesday 9 July 2025
A July Royal Assent date being is being speculated upon, but is by no means a certainty, for the Renters Rights Bill. With the Lords Committee stage complete, and the Report stage eagerly anticipated, it’s all go as we edge closer to the most significant change to the private rented sector in over 30 years, and a total shake up for the student housing market.
It’s no secret that big bodies like Unipol, Shelter, the NRLA and NUS generally support the Bill but have all had concerns about how student renters, and the student housing market could be impacted by the changes.
We’ll answer not just the fundamental question of why members should care about the Bill but also look at questions like which measures in the bill are the ones that will most affect student renters and the student housing market? Will everything be implemented in a big bang in the summer 2025? Will student landlords start leaving the market – and if they do what might this mean for higher education? Can we do anything practical to prepare for all this and what does that look like?
Join Cooper and Hannah at this timely webinar for insights and discussion on this momentous rental shake-up—and what it all means for the future of student accommodation in the UK.
November 2025
Stitch, Botch, and Build: Navigating Town and Gown Challenges at Move-In
Cooper Healey, Service Manager, Manchester Student Homes
Amanda Jackson, Sustainability Manager (Social Impact), University of Leeds
12.30-1.30pm 26 November 2025
The start of term brings more than just full halls—it reshapes local communities. Join UKTGA colleagues for a candid roundtable exploring how universities and towns managed the pressures and opportunities of summer move-in. We’ll discuss housing and neighbourhood impacts, managing logistics, supporting student behaviour, and building stronger local relationships. Bring your experiences, reflections, and fresh ideas for stitching together smoother, more collaborative starts to the year.
December 2025
The Renters Right Act: What It Means for the Private Rented Sector and Town & Gown Partnerships
Cooper Healey, Service Manager, Manchester Student Homes
Hannah Shepherd (CIHCM), Senior Manager Community Relations & Housing, Durham University
12:30 -2:00pm 17 December 2025
This session will explore how the key reforms are being rolled out, when and how they are likely to impact on student accommodation, and how Town & Gown partnerships can work together to support fair, high-quality housing and resilient local communities.