The module will cover aspects of business and project planning that are needed to research, plan and develop sustainable and effective projects delivered within community settings. The module will explore the reasons why it is important to plan effectively, first and second hand research, what to include in a business or project plan including, vision or mission, strategy, aims objectives, outputs, outcomes, wider impact, risk appraisal, and developing a funding plan. The module will support participants in developing a business or project plan for their particular project.
The module will introduce participants to the concept of sustainability and introduce a range of ideas, tools and ways of working that can be used to ensure that projects are as sustainable as possible. These will then be applied to individual projects. This will include:
-team working, the ways in which people work in teams and strategies that can be used to develop effective team working;
-sustainability, definitions of sustainability and tools and frameworks for building sustainability into a project and government indicators of sustainable communities.
-monitoring and evaluation, definitions of monitoring and evaluation and the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan for a specific project

Business/Project Plan - 1500 words 50% weighting (Learning Outcomes 1-6)
Reflective Writing - 500 words 15% weighting (Learning Outcomes 1-6)
Presentation - 500 words 15% weighting (Learning Outcomes 1-6)
Portfolio of research and use of tools - 500 words 20% weighting (Learning Outcomes 4,5 & 6)

Students will be expected to demonstrate reading of textbooks and other sources to enable preparation of the assessments.

The learning strategy will include developing a supportive learning group that will meet for a series of themed workshops and tutorial sessions during the course of the programme. The workshops will cover the key concepts contained in the module and will use a range of creative teaching methods including, tutor input, group discussions, small group tasks, activities and presentations. Each person on the programme will develop a project idea to which they will apply the principles and tools that are taught on the programme. The learning group will act as a `brains trust? for each person in the development of their project or business idea.
Each person on the programme will have the opportunity for support from a mentor who will help them reflect on their learning, apply the tools to their particular project and support them in developing their business or project plan.
The module will require independent study which will include, research relevant to their project/business plan, reading, further research into the topics covered by the workshops and preparation for the assessment assignments.

Study packs will be provided by the tutor to all participants on this programme. These will be paid for by the organisation funding the delivery of the programme. These will cover each of the key topic areas.
Students will also require access to the library for books and journals and IT facilities for internet research.
The teaching for this module will take place off site.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available(where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook

ten Have, S. et. al., (2003) Key Management Models: The management tools and practices that will improve your business, Harlow: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-273-66201-5

Lloyd, D. (2007) Business Plans, London: Hodder Education. ISBN 978-0-340-94650-3

Wate, N. (2000) The Community Planning Handbook, Urban Design Group, Margate: Thanet Press.
ISBN 1-85383-654-0