Current Trainings
OCN Level 2 Award & Certificate in Youth Work Practice – Autumn 2020
YouthPact, in partnership with an OCN delivery organisation, plan to roll out an OCN Level 2 Award & Certificate in Youth Work Practice, in Autumn 2020. It is envisaged that all units will be delivered online.
If you work or volunteer with young people, on a Peace4Youth Project, and are interested in gaining a Youth Work qualification, you should contact your Peace4Youth Project Coordinator to access the link to the Expression of Interest form.
January & February 2021
YouthPact are inviting you to register for the below training opportunities, if you are interested you should contact your Peace4Youth Project Coordinator to obtain the link to the appropriate registration form.
- Introduction to youth work in the online world. (19/01/21 & 21/01/21)
The purpose of these sessions is to develop practitioner strategies in approaching digital Youth Work and Youth Work in the on-line space
This is a series of 2 interlinked sessions:
- Introduction to youth work in the online space (19/01/21 13.00-14.30)
- Facilitating Groups Online (21/01/21 13.00-14.30)
- Introduction to Facilitation Skills in a youth work setting (03/02/21 & 10/02/21)
This training will introduce basic principles and approaches to facilitation, and will consider how these are applied in Youth Work Settings. The training will be a blend of practical exercises, peer discussions, and an introduction to theoretical principles.
This is a series of 2 interlinked sessions:
- The first session will introduce the purpose of facilitation; and will explore what this looks like in a Youth Work Setting. (03/02/21 14.00-16.00)
- The second session will explore challenges of facilitation and practical ways to address these. (10/02/21 14.00-16.00)
- Young Voices ‘2020 in 4’
Reflecting on the exceptional year just past and looking forward into a new year, ‘2020 in 4’ words, lines, verses, images or sounds is about building on the excellent work of Peace4Youth projects are already delivering in supporting young people through this period of rapid change and helping make sense of their experience as Peace4Youth participants. To support workers in this process we have developed some ideas and suggestions for how they might approach ‘2020 in 4’ with young people. A huge thank you to projects that have contributed so far – further contributions are welcomed from individual young people (either those currently involved or that have moved on in the past 9 months), small groups/bubbles or delivery sites across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland. For more information or to talk-over an idea or approach, please contact Joe Hawkins, [email protected] or call/text/WhatsApp +447738 313 965. Click here for a PowerPoint copy of the ideas and suggestions and click here for a Word version. Submissions can be sent through up until 27th January 2021.
To fully participate in YouthPact’s online training events, ideally participants should have access to a laptop, with a microphone and camera; a steady broadband connection; and a quiet space.
If you have any questions about these training opportunities, or would like more information, please contact your co-ordinator or the YouthPact team:
- ‘Introduction to youth work online’ Daryl Moore [email protected]
- ‘Introduction to facilitation skills in a youth work setting’ Joanne Stainsby [email protected]
- ‘Young Voices 2020 in 4’ Joe Hawkins [email protected]
Previous Trainings
August 2020 ‘Introduction to Youth Work’ facilitated by Joe Hawkins and Daryl Moore
Aug & Sept 2020 ‘Introduction to Youth Work in the Online Space’ facilitated by Eliz McArdle and Daryl Moore
(Please email [email protected] to register for this training)
Peace-Building Resources for Working with Groups
FACILITATOR: David Gardiner
DATE: 14th November 2019
VENUE: Enniskillen Hotel
TIME: 10.00-3:00
AUDIENCE: This session is for those committed to peace-building and community relations to refresh existing repertoire of exercises and resources.
TWO PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering community relations elements of Peace4Youth programmes
- Those with programme design responsibility.
The Peace4Youth programme works with young people to address the stubborn and pervasive legacy of the conflict; sometimes obvious and at times hidden, but always present. David will draw on the work he has done on the ‘Explore, Dream, Discover’ resource for running T:BUC Summer Camps, to bring youth work resources to this Peace4Youth audience. This interactive session will use the activities and ideas within the resource to spark conversations and insights into the nature of community relations work currently and to consider ways of deepening the conversation.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
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Youth Workers and Young People as Social Activists
FACILITATOR: Maria Perkins
DATE: 22nd November 2019
VENUE: Room 21D02, Ulster University at Jordanstown
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: This session is suitable for those committed to building the capacity of young people to shape and change their own society.
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering citizenship elements of Peace4Youth programmes.
- Those with programme design responsibility.
Citizenship is a core thematic area for the Peace4Youth programme and can be underpinned by a wide range of ideologies and movements that result in different approaches in practice. It can range from tokenistic actions by young people through to meaningful democratic activity or movements. This session takes a human rights approach to citizenship, identifying how young people are treated at community and societal level and how they experience power in their own lives. This interactive session will ask participants to reflect on their own comfort or discomfort with change and will introduce and facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources to inspire young people as social activists.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
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Conversations on Safeguarding/Pastoral Care (DERRY-LONDONDERRY)
FACILITATOR: Claire King
DATE: 28th November 2019
VENUE: Room MD021, Ulster University at Magee.
TIME: 10:30-3:30
AUDIENCE: Suitable for those who have completed accredited safeguarding training and wish to deepen their discussions.
SUITABLE FOR:
- Professionally qualified youth workers
- Designated Safeguarding Officers
- Those with more than three years youth work experience.
This event is for workers who wish to reflect on the safeguarding/pastoral care aspects of their work in Peace4Youth. The session will create the conversation space for participants to identify and consider the range of complementary welfare, health and wellbeing policies, interventions and responses provided to ensure a quality learning experience for young people engaged on the programme and use their reflections to affirm, inform and enhance this important element of their ongoing practice. Participants will have access to resources on safeguarding, share scenarios that have challenged them and approaches/insights that have been useful.
REGISTRATION CLOSED
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Conversations on Safeguarding/Pastoral Care (MID-ULSTER)
FACILITATOR: Claire King
DATE: 5th December 2019
VENUE: Ryandale Inn, Moy, Dungannon
TIME: 10.00-3:00
AUDIENCE: Suitable for those who have completed accredited safeguarding training and wish to deepen their discussions.
SUITABLE FOR:
- Professionally qualified youth workers
- Designated Safeguarding Officers
- Those with more than three years youth work experience.
This event is for workers who wish to reflect on the safeguarding/pastoral care aspects of their work in Peace4Youth. The session will create the conversation space for participants to identify and consider the range of complementary welfare, health and wellbeing policies, interventions and responses provided to ensure a quality learning experience for young people engaged on the programme and use their reflections to affirm, inform and enhance this important element of their ongoing practice. Participants will have access to resources on safeguarding, share scenarios that have challenged them and approaches/insights that have been useful.
EVENT POSTPONED, NEXT DATE TBD
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Introduction to Work with Young Men
FACILITATORS: Dr Colm Walsh and Dr Ken Harland
DATE: 12th December 2019
VENUE: Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast
TIME: 10:00- 3:00
AUDIENCE: Suitable for practitioners who have not yet engaged in similar training to examine issues related to the lives and experiences of young men.
TWO PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those with no previous training in working with young men.
Practitioners have consistently reported finding it difficult to understand and respond to certain types of behaviour among boys and young men. This can prevent them engaging in meaningful dialogue around sensitive or contentious issues. Practitioners also suggest that they sometimes lack the confidence, skills and tools to develop practice with successful outcomes.
This introductory session invites practitioners to critically examine the lives of young men and considerations for practice. The session will be anchored to the realities of practitioners themselves and provide a safe environment for them to reflect on these issues in a creative, experiential and engaging way. Practitioners will have the opportunity to critically reflect on their own practice and their approach to working with young men.
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Introduction to Life Coaching
FACILITATOR: Brian Nugent
DATE: 9th January 2020
VENUE: Room 21D02, Ulster University at Jordanstown
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: Suitable for those who have direct experience in one-to-one work with young people.
THREE PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a mentoring role
- Peer support worker
- Key/Link worker role
Life coaches work with people to help them identify their goals, work with their barriers and build focus and tenacity to make changes in their own lives. Life coaching is built on an asset-based approach that individuals hold the capacity to make changes for themselves and achieve their goals. This introductory session will identify the quality and skills required of a life coach; the process of a life coach, areas of focus that can be boosted by this approach and how this relates to working with young people. The session will consider our own approach to goals and achievements and how these personal motivations can guide coaching techniques with young people.
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Peace-Building Resources for Working with Groups
FACILITATOR: Dr. Martin Mc Mullan
DATE: 16th January 2020
VENUE: Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: This session is for those committed to peace-building and community relations in search of new resources.
THREE PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering community relations elements of Peace4Youth programmes
- Those with programme design responsibility.
The Peace4Youth programme works with young people to address the stubborn and pervasive legacy of the conflict; sometimes obvious and at times hidden, but always present. This new set of peace-building resources developed by Dr. Martin McMullan offer a contemporary approach to these issues for young people born in a post-Belfast Agreement context. ‘AGENDA for Peace’; ‘Pathway to Peace’ game and ‘I haven’t been affected by the troubles but…’ booklet are some of the resources used in this workshop.
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Advanced Training Workshop in Work with Young Men
FACILITATOR: Dr. Ken Harland
DATE: 30th January 2020
VENUE: An Creagan Centre, Creggan, Omagh
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: Suitable for more experienced practitioners who have already engaged in similar training to consider the lives of young men.
TWO PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Professionally qualified youth workers
- Those with more than 3 years youth work experience
- Those who have had previous training in work with young men.
This workshop invites more experienced practitioners who may have already engaged in similar training to consider the lives of young men in a nuanced way, how experiences and outcomes are differentiated by a range of bio-psycho-social factors and how this might inform practice with boys and young men. This session will draw upon research into the lives of young men and how youth work practice can take a more considered responsive approach. This session will be anchored to the realities of practitioners themselves and provide a safe environment for them to reflect on these issues in a creative, experiential and engaging way. Practitioners will have the opportunity to critically reflect on their own practice and their approach to working with young men.
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Motivational Interviewing
FACILITATOR: Glenn Hinds
DATE: 7th February 2020
VENUE: An Creagan Centre, Creggan, Omagh
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: Suitable for those who have extensive experience in working with young people.
TWO PLACES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EACH PARTNERSHIP
SUITABLE FOR:
- Professionally qualified youth workers
- Those in a 1-to-1 support worker role
- Those with more than 3 years youth work experience.
‘Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is intended to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a change goal….’ (Rollnick, S, Miller, W., 2010)
This one- day workshop for 25 staff, will outline the psychology, spirit, processes and opening strategies of Motivational Interviewing. A training manual will be provided, which includes details of the motivational assessment tool.
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Young People as Social Activists
FACILITATOR: Chris O’Donoghue
DATE: 20th February 2020
VENUE: Derry/Londonderry, Venue TBD
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: The session is aimed at practitioners who wish to explore issues of social justice and activism with a view to using their enhanced understanding in their work with young people.
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering citizenship elements of Peace4Youth programmes
- Those with programme design responsibility.
Citizenship is a core outcome area for the Peace4Youth programme. Chris will enagage participants in discussion and activities aimed at: Bridging knowledge: looking at peoples understanding of the key terminology used – social justice – activism – solidarity. These words can provoke strong feelings and can often be a barrier for youth workers to involve the young people they work with in activities that could be classed as political. Personal experience: Reflection on times participants were engaged in an issue or concern and their experience of this: was it positive or negative? did the desired change become a reality? what are the risks involved? A model that works: input on the Freirean theory of problem solving. From tokenism to activism: Sharing practical steps for youth workers to help bring the young people they work with from a one off “project” mindset to a more integrated approach of lifelong activism.
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Young People as Social Activists
FACILITATOR: Deborah Erwin
DATE: 6th March 2020
VENUE: Belfast, Venue TBD
TIME: 10:00-3:00
AUDIENCE: This session is suitable to those committed to building the capacity of young people to shape and change their own society.
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering citizenship elements of Peace4Youth programmes
- Those with programme design responsibility.
Citizenship is a core outcome area for the Peace4Youth programme. In this session Debs Erwin will draw on ideas that she has written about in ‘Civic Participation and The Common Good’. Through interactive groupwork tasks and discussion, participants will explore themes including young people’s engagement in social change movements, the voice of young people in our society, agency, citizenship, conscious-ness raising and taking action.
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Hunger for Peace Games
FACILITATOR: Dr. Martin Mc Mullan
DATE: April 2020
VENUE: TBD
TIME: 10.00-3.30
AUDIENCE: One team of 4-6 workers from each Peace4Youth partnership
SUITABLE FOR:
- Those in a project worker role
- Those in a group worker role
- Those delivering community relations elements of Peace4Youth programmes
- Those with programme design responsibility.
This is an interactive session for workers interested in a new methodology for working with young people on issues of community relations. The Hunger for Peace Games is a team-building/competitive role play reflecting the Hunger Games series. Teams from each project/‘district’ take part in a series of challenge tasks, from the Love/Hate boxing ring to the Path to Peace challenge, gaining points for their ‘district’ throughout. The purpose of the Hunger for Peace Games is to provide workers with the ideas and tools to help young people to reflect on the impact of the conflict on attitudes and behaviours. For this workshop, each team will participate with a view to using this methodology with young people in their own partnership project.