Public Relations

Community Relations Programmes

Organisations operating in local communities need positive, long-term relationships with residents and local leaders. This course covers understanding local communities, community engagement plans, community liaison roles, grievance mechanisms, managing community concerns and building trust over time.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Community opposition can stop operations and projects. You will learn to build relationships that support your licence to operate.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Community mapping, engagement planning, grievance case studies and role plays.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand local community dynamics
Develop community engagement plans
Define community liaison roles
Establish grievance mechanisms
Respond to community concerns
Build long-term trust

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Community relations officers
CSR managers
Project and site managers
Government relations staff
PR professionals

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Community analysis
Engagement planning
Liaison
Grievance handling
Trust building

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Communities

09:00–10:08Community dynamics
10:08–11:00Local leaders
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Local leaders (continued)
11:45–12:53Case studies
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Engagement Plans

09:00–10:08Objectives
10:08–11:00Methods
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Methods (continued)
11:45–12:53Schedules
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Liaison

09:00–10:08Liaison roles
10:08–11:00Meetings
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Meetings (continued)
11:45–12:53Records
12:53–14:00Role play

Day 4Grievances

09:00–10:08Grievance mechanisms
10:08–11:00Investigation
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Investigation (continued)
11:45–12:53Resolution
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Trust

09:00–10:08Consistency
10:08–11:00Reporting back
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Reporting back (continued)
11:45–12:53Evaluation
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

Keep exploring

Your next horizon awaits.

All courses

The full course agenda and dates are available above. Use the session links in Dates & venues to choose a session. Registration and quotation forms require JavaScript; you can also contact our learning team directly.