Collective renovation works best when people contribute in ways that match their skills, interests and circumstances. A new tool from LIFE Renew it helps project teams map what residents can bring to a project, where they’ll need support, and what they’d like to learn.
The Local skills diagnosis tool goes beyond a standard technical assessment. It looks at technical, social, organisational, financial and coaching skills, alongside interests, motivation, availability and personal circumstances. It also covers training needs and longer-term ambitions, including whether taking part could be a step towards work in renovation or construction. It even spots where someone with less experience could still join after some guidance.
Sharing the work realistically
LIFE Renew it explores how residents can join selected renovation activities alongside professionals and local organisations. The idea is to share responsibilities safely, with residents taking on suitable parts rather than a whole building. Some already have practical experience; others prefer to help with planning, communication or coordination, or want to learn something new. Mapping these strengths is the first step to seeing not just what needs doing, but who’s able and willing to do it. It reflects the project’s wider aim: making renovation more inclusive while helping people build skills useful beyond it.
A guided conversation
Residents are often supported through the questions by a social professional, facilitator or trusted adviser. This makes the process more accessible and keeps answers in context. It’s a space to discuss what someone feels comfortable doing and how they’d like to be involved. Rather than deciding who does what, the tool supports conversations between residents, coordinators, social professionals and building experts.
Built for each project
The results help teams match residents’ strengths and interests to suitable tasks, weighed against each activity’s requirements, the building’s condition, available time and support, and the work that stays with qualified professionals. The tool works with other LIFE Renew it methods that assess activities and project scenarios, together showing where residents can contribute, where training or supervision helps, and where professional expertise is essential.
It was developed as a multilingual Excel tool (English, German, French, Spanish, Catalan) and is extended to run online via the ShiftUp platform. Each online version is configured for one specific neighbourhood or project, keeping it tailored to the people involved.
Renovating with residents, not just for them
The tool makes one thing concrete: participation is open to far more than people with construction experience, and there are many ways to contribute. By weighing skills, interests, ambitions and circumstances together, teams can divide roles more fairly and see where extra guidance or professional support helps.
Want to see how it works?
For a live, project-specific setup on the ShiftUp platform, configured for your neighbourhood, participants and goals, get in touch with the LIFE Renew it team.
