Professional development should be accessible to everyone
About Nia Avanna
Through practical resources, step-by-step toolkits and a supportive community, Nia Avanna is here to help you build confidence, strengthen your approach, and protect your wellbeing along the way.Â
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If you work in community engagement, social value, volunteering, or local communications, you know it involves far more than just engaging with local residents.
The role requires strong communication skills and sound judgement, as well as the ability to balance competing expectations, often while navigating internal pressures and public expectations.
Nia Avanna is here to support you with this, helping you build the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to do your job well, and look after yourself in the process. Alongside guidance on community engagement, you’ll find support that develops your skills, helps you manage the demands of the role, and reflects the realities of working in a public-facing environment.Â
Whether you’re new to community engagement or have been doing it for years, Nia Avanna offers tools and resources that help you strengthen your approach, build your knowledge and feel supported.Â
OUR VALUES:
Our Values
Connection with others in similar roles strengthens your approach
Your wellbeing matters
Strong relationships help organisations and communities thrive
Communities should feel informed and respected
Engagement with communities should be clear, honest and consistent
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO:
Why we do what we do
People who are new to community engagement
Professionals who want to feel more confident in their approach
Those who value connection, support and shared perspective from others in similar roles
Experienced practitioners who want to keep developing their approach over time
Support for every stage of your career
Everything here has been created to support you in your role.
If you’re new to community engagement, the Community Engagement Starter Kit™ is a great place to begin. It covers the essentials to help you understand what community engagement involves, build your knowledge and approach it with confidence.
The Community Collective™ is designed for people who want a space to learn from others, talk through challenges and protect their wellbeing as they grow in their role. It brings together people who understand the pressures of the job and want to feel more supported and connected.
Alongside these, you’ll find articles and resources to help you build your knowledge, strengthen your approach and feel more supported as your role evolves.
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Meet our founder
MEET OUR FOUNDER:
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I have spent more than a decade working in communications and community engagement across the public and private sectors. My work has taken me from supporting local policing teams to improve communication with local residents, to leading engagement across more than 400 sites in one of the UK’s largest construction businesses.Â
What has stayed consistent throughout my career is my belief that communities deserve to be communicated with openly, respectfully and in a way that helps them understand what is happening around them. I have always believed in the need to build strong relationships with the people who live nearby, and I know how much difference it makes when a business takes its responsibilities seriously.
I also know how demanding the job can be. Community engagement is public facing, fast paced and often emotionally challenging.Â
And while you care about doing things properly, you’re often doing it without the understanding, support or backing you need to do the job well. You’re left balancing expectations from the community, pressure from inside the business and the weight of wanting to get it right for everyone involved.Â
That pressure builds. You push yourself harder, take on more than you should and hold yourself to a standard that isn’t always sustainable. I reached a point where the pressure became too much, and I burned out.Â
I loved the work, but I realised that to do the job in a healthy, sustainable way, you need more than technical knowledge.Â
That’s the reason I created Nia Avanna. To give you the tools and resources I wish I’d had — so you can approach your role with confidence and the right support behind you.
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The information provided on this website is general in nature and is for information only. The contents of this website does not represent nor is intended to be specific advice on any particular matter. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this website. Although we consider the source for this material reliable, Nia Avanna Limited disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this website.
