Community Leadership Programme
Community Leadership Programme 2026 details
The VRN, OPCC and Jones Consulting are recruiting 20 leaders to join the sixth cohort of the Community Leadership Programme.
The Programme starts on Thursday 10th September 2026 and will run weekly at 5:30pm-9:00pm across different community venues up until Thursday January 14th 2027 (with breaks on Thursday 22nd October, Thursday 24th December and Thursday 31st December 2026).
The Community Leadership Programme is for leaders working with children and young people in communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The Programme is designed to empower community leaders with the knowledge, skills and tools to play their role in preventing and reducing crime and violence. You will have your own leadership coach throughout your journey on the Programme.
Recruitment Video 2026
Recruitment Process:
Applications open on Wednesday 8th July 2026 and close at 11:59pm on Monday 3rd August 2026.
Following the application deadline:
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Applications will be reviewed by the recruitment panel.
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Applicants will be informed by 10th August 2026 whether they have been shortlisted for interview.
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Interviews will take place online during the week commencing 17th August 2026.
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Interviews will last approximately 30 minutes and will be available across a range of morning, afternoon and evening slots on 18th, 19th and 20th August 2026.
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Applicants will be asked to indicate their availability within the application form.
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All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application and interview by 27th August 2026 at the latest.
Successful applicants will then be invited to attend the programme induction on Thursday 10th September 2026.
In 2020/2021, the Violence Reduction Network partnered with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to commission a new leadership programme for community leaders within Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
The principal aim of the Programme was to provide local community leaders with access to a free high-quality course which enables them to develop their leadership style, knowledge and skills and apply this to their work with the purpose of building stronger and safer communities. A second aim is to establish and grow a network of local leaders who will provide peer support and work collaboratively with the OPCC and VRN in our shared determination to make our communities safer. By investing in the expertise and experience of local community leaders who already hold positive relationships with people in their communities, our hope is that the benefits of the Programme will remain part of these communities for years to come.
Background of the Community Leadership Programme:
Since its inception, there has been a cohort of the Programme each year with cohort 5 completing the programme in 2025. The Community Leadership Programme is delivered annually over a three-month period in collaboration with leadership coaches at Jones Consulting. By joining this Programme, participants will learn new concepts and techniques to reach those most at need in their neighbourhoods and have the space and support to develop their unique leadership style. Together with this new knowledge and confidence leaders are able to make even more of an impact in their community work.
Modules covered include:
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Leadership and understanding yourself
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Community empowerment
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Project development
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Operational management
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Building, managing and motivating teams
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Communication, influencing and using social media
Community Leadership Programme Showcase 2025
Community Leadership Programme Showcase Videos 2025
Community Leaders Network
Following completion of the Programme, participants are invited to join the Community Leaders Network. The Network is made up of leaders working across different communities in LLR, who have all completed the Community Leadership Programme. The leaders support and collaborate with each other, and with the VRN and OPCC in their shared efforts to make our communities safer.
You can follow the Network’s activity on their website Community Leaders Network and social media account X @CLN_LLR
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