Train the trainers
1999
Press for Change has received a grant of around £1,500 from the National Lottery Charities Board towards a “train the trainer” North West region pilot project. The grant was made under the voluntary sector development objective.
What does the pilot involve?
Under the terms of the grant we have agreed to do the following:
- run a series of 5 workshops at different venues in the North West for the benefit of around 75 staff and volunteers of voluntary and community organisations in order to increase their understanding of the medical, social and legal issues facing transsexual and transgender people;
- train 10 local volunteer facilitators (transsexual and transgender people) to assist at the workshops;
- compile and print a booklet of up to date information and contacts for the use of voluntary and community organisations who may need to offer advice or information to transgender clients;
- compile a circulation list of organisations in the North west who are currently working with transsexual and transgender clients so we can continue to provide them with up to date information;
Where are we up to?
We have already recruited 20 trainee facilitators (exceeding our target by 100%!) and ran a very successful training day for them in June this year. The proposed booklet is well in hand.
We hope to run the initial set of 5 workshops early in 1999, and we are looking for volunteers to help set these up. So far we have a venue in Sheffield, and offers of venues in Leicester and Shrewsbury, but we do need 5 North-West region venues to meet the criteria of the grant. Press for Change will not of course stop at 5, nor limit workshops to either the voluntary sector or the North-West region - we are always very glad to receive invitations to undertake training. If you could help to arrange a “Lottery” session please get in touch.
How to get involved: workshop co-ordinators
We would ask you to do the following:
- book a suitable venue in consultation with Press for Change
- Provide a list of local voluntary sector contacts/organisations who might be interested in the workshop - this would typically include CABx, law centres, housing aid centres, voluntary sector housing providers, welfare rights officers, Samaritans, lesbian and gay helplines or support organisations. It could also include statutory sector contacts - such as health and social services professionals, teachers, community police liaison etc (although the focus is on the voluntary sector we can train other people as well)
- Advise us on where else to advertise the workshop
How much does it cost?
Because of the lottery grant, the cost to workshop participants is likely to be around £15 per person for a half day session.
How do you become a Press for Change trainer?
People who undertake the “train the trainer” programme become authorised Press for Change trainers and will be used to help deliver training nationally. The programme includes at least one training day (depending on the knowledge of the recruits) and trainees work alongside experienced Press for Change trainers for one or more sessions before being asked to run their own sessions. The North West group also plan to meet on a regular basis to share ideas and experience. Trainers are always paid expenses both for undergoing and for delivering training, and may be paid a fee if the session makes enough money.
Sorry, but we can’t take on any more trainees just yet. However if the pilot is successful we intend to make the “train the trainer” initiative national, and to recruit groups of people in other regions. We may or may not seek further funding with which to do so. It is unlikely anything will happen about this until the end of 1999, but if and when it does it will be advertised through the Press for Change newsletter.