The Training Observatory

This 2-day course gives an opportunity to review your work with young people and explore new approaches to dealing with anger and aggression.

A 2-day course exploring the costs and gains of gang membership in young people's lives.

This 2-day course exploring self-esteem and how it affects the lives of the young women we work with.

This course aims to identify and develop key skills in working with challenging behaviour

This is a one-day introductory course for practitioners working directly with young people. It is an experiential and highly participatory course providing you with the opportunity to develop your skills in dealing with conflict situations you ... read more >

This comprehensive ten-day course, run over three modules including weekends, is suitable for practitioners working directly with young people who wish to develop professional and personal skills and resources to deal with conflict situations. It is an experiential and highly participatory course.
Aim: To develop your ability to work with ... read more >

Who is the course for?
This one-day introductory course is open to anyone who is interested in or has experience of developing and delivering creative theatre and drama work with young people in custodial settings.

The Course:
Inside Theatre will invite participants to consider some of the issues relating to ... read more >

The aim of this training event is to ensure that individual artists and arts workers know what they have to do to meet the demands of legislation regarding children and vulnerable groups, and to provide guidance and tips on how to do this.
This course is suitable for individual artists, ... read more >

Who is the course for?
This three-day course is open to anyone who is interested in or has experience of working with offenders and young people at risk of offending. No previous drama experience is necessary. However a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement.

This day aims to ensure that the children and vulnerable groups, staff and volunteers engaged in the arts through your organisation are as safe as they can be. The message is how to manage the demands of legislation to meet the particular needs of your organisation. Topics will include:
... read more >

This one-day course focuses on how to build a contemporary dance methodology with sufficient pro-active strategies to motivate and contain disaffected and potentially disruptive young people in school and alternative education settings.

This one-day course practically explores ways to deal with provocations and conflict and how to strategise responses to particularly challenging behaviours presented by volatile and often vulnerable young people in school and alternative education settings.

This one day course explores what can be achieved when using the arts with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.
Starting with a detailed explanation of the benefits of youth arts this session will cover many of the practical issues involved in using the arts with young people at risk, ... read more >

This 1-day course, led by highly acclaimed community musician Phil Mullen, looks at the understanding and skills you need to work with mixed ability groups.
This course is aimed at:
Community musicians, artists, practitioners and musicians who want to develop their skills and ability to work with mixed ... read more >

Learners will understand the benefits of using drama with participants in the CJS, understand how to plan and structure a drama workshop, recognise the importance of establishing workshop ground rules, understand how to develop and use facilitation skills, apply a range of drama techniques that can be applied within a ... read more >

This 2-day course led by acclaimed community musician Phil Mullen, will give you a clear understanding of the theory of how groups work and the practical skills to feel more confident working in groups.
This course is aimed at Community musicians, artists, practitioners and musicians who want to develop ... read more >

This course will enable learners to:
• Understand the structure of the Criminal Justice System
• Understand why the arts are used in the Criminal Justice System
• Understand the role and responsibilities of an arts practitioner
• Understand the policies that must be considered when working in the CJS
read more >

This course has been designed to highlight individual Worker and collective team responsibilities to dealing with conflict. It aims to raise participants’ awareness of the background to conflict and the contribution individuals can make to manage difficult and challenging behavior.
Key Focus:
To develop an understanding to our natural response ... read more >

The day will explore the many ways that local arts development and delivery supports crosscutting agendas, working with hard to reach groups and communities to support and develop increased participation and access that may also build confidence and ability.

This seminar in Nalgao's professional development series is aimed at officers ... read more >

Learners will understand different vulnerable groups that an Arts Practitioner may work with, understand the limitations of working with groups in the CJS, understand how to develop strategies for dealing with potential violent situations and understand methods of behaviour modification and apply these to challenging behaviour.

This unit will enable ... read more >

This essential three-day course offers youth workers valuable training and succesful strategies to improve their impact and effectiveness.
Day 1: Working with Difficult Behaviour
Working With Difficult Behaviour gives you ideas and activities to help understand and work effectively with challenging young people.
Day 2: Working One-to-One
An effective training ... read more >

This training and the accompanying manual aims to provide skills, information and ideas to trainers who wish to deliver a two-day training course for those who work with young people. The programme is designed for those who may experience challenging behaviour either when working with individuals or in group settings.

In this course students will learn how to engage the uninitiated in creative writing. A variety of exercises and methods will be taught on how to get people started on poetry, memoir, fiction and drama. The course will illustrate how writing can be a means of personal development as well ... read more >

Aim: By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Build practical and pro-active strategies that have been proven to defuse challenging behaviour and understand why these work
- 'Read' challenging behaviour by looking at what is really going on (for example, group dynamics, processes and stages)
read more >

This course covers the benefits of using the arts with young people at risk and the essential areas when doing so. Participants are given an understanding of youth arts and culture and the skill set needed to successfully design, fund, manage and market an appropriate arts project. Current CRB child ... read more >

Norfolk Dance is hosting a three-day learning and networking event for dance practitioners. This certified course is for practioners who wish to develop their dance leadership skills. It aims to provide and develop the knowledge and understanding of skills and issues required for working in the community.

This six day course provides an excellent, practical induction to the benefits of using the arts with socially excluded young people, and the tools, skills and knowledge needed to run a successful youth arts project within this context

This one-day course is aimed at anyone working within youth arts, but especially those using more physical art forms, such as dance and drama.

The training will cover current child protection legislation in line with the requirements of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), within the context of delivering a youth ... read more >

This one-day workshop explores the benefits of using creative activities with young offenders, both within the community and the secure estate. Developed in partnership with SOFT TOUCH this course will examine practical issues, such as those encountered in secure units and personal issues, such as motivation and the development of ... read more >

This one-day workshop will consider adolescence as a concept, young people's perception of the adult world and the potential for conflict and confrontation with authority. It will explore strategies for communicating effectively with young people who display anger, aggression and/or challenging behaviour. The workshop will place an emphasis on de-escalation ... read more >

The course looks into improving skills, knowledge and experience in order to develop an understanding of behavioural management and takes a look at the issues and barriers that are faced when undertaking Youth Arts projects.

This course is set up and led by experienced and knowledgeable youth arts ... read more >

This three-day course is open to anyone who is interested in or has experience of working with offenders and young people at risk of offending. No previous drama experience is necessary. However a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement.

The Course
The course will ... read more >

This course is for staff who are interested in delivering the 'Fathers Inside' programme. Over the two days participants will explore the HM Prison Service' Safe Ground programme.

The course is aimed at anyone working with children, young people, parents, carers and members of the public for both their own safety and to promote personal safety to children and young people. Staff from organisations providing weekend provision including managers of such services will find this course essential in ... read more >

This one day workshop shares practical techniques and approaches to working in partnerships with other organisations and individuals in order to achieve a successful youth arts project or event. Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this session will offer a simple structure ... read more >

This one day workshop shares practical techniques and approaches to working in partnerships with other organisations and individuals in order to achieve a successful youth arts project or event. Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this session will offer a simple structure ... read more >

Five workshop days that will equip participants with creative drama and improvisation skills and practical knowledge specific to working with different vulnerable groups in the community and in the CJS.

At the end of this course participants can expect to have a bag full of practical material, ideas and exercises ... read more >

This one-day workshop offers an opportunity to explore how anger management programmes can be developed for use with young people for whom anger presents a problem. The workshop will place significant emphasis on how best to help young people begin to understand and manage their own anger.

The programme will ... read more >

A 4 day practice-based course examining successful drama workshop skills that can be applied to the criminal justice system. The main points addressed in the course are:
• How has drama been used in the CJS in the UK historically?
•What do you need to consider when structuring a drama ... read more >

Childhood trauma, antisocial behaviour and helping children to develop prosocial behaviour

This one-day seminar covers childhood trauma, antisocial behaviour and helping children to develop prosocial behaviour. It looks at how childhood trauma links to antisocial behaviour and examines how traumatised children can become young offenders.

The seminar also looks at ... read more >

This one-day workshop will consider ways of working with children who are angry, aggressive or who display other
types of challenging behaviour. It will offer an opportunity to develop an understanding of the communicative function of
some behaviours and why some children behave as they do. There will ... read more >

This new short course has been developed to meet the needs of the growing number of artists, musicians,performers, creative writers and others who currently work with, or wish to develop their skills in working with people in health, community and social care settings.

It will also benefit health and social ... read more >

The course is aimed at those working with children and young people in a non formal education and youth work setting and those responsible for the implementation of health and Safety arrangements within Youth Work settings.

The course will provide delegates with a clear understanding of the legal requirements upon ... read more >

This is a two-day course for practitioners working with young people involved in gangs.

It will help you and your staff look at the challenges of working with young people and gangs, and give you the tools and techniques to work more effectively. The course is based on our ground-breaking ... read more >

Local safeguarding adults teams are now expected to have
robust procedures in place to help protect vulnerable adults
within their community and to have established strong
partnerships with the police, health services and the
voluntary sector. This event will show strategies for fulfilling
these expectations ... read more >

Leap’s Quarrel Shops offer part-time training courses, volunteering and personal development opportunities for young people often coping with conflict or chaos in their own lives. Uniquely, the training team always includes at least one previous Quarrel Shop participant.

Quarrel shop will give you conflict resolution and communication skills through workshops, ... read more >

This one day course, developed in partnership with Dada South is designed to encourage a broader exploration of equal opportunities within youth arts. Participants will develop an understanding of the importance of inclusive practice, through looking at political and cultural contexts, and exploring practical ways of ensuring youth arts projects ... read more >

This one day course is aimed at arts professionals who, through the work they do, face potential confrontation, aggression and explosive situations. Their work could bring them face-to-face with members of the public in open settings; with young people in school and youth settings; with vulnerable groups in closed institutions ... read more >

‘Playing with Fire’ is an intensive, experiential and highly participatory course for practitioners who work directly with young people and wish to develop their professional and personal skills and resource to deal with conflict situations. Viewed as our “flagship” course, it is the one that all Leap trainers complete as ... read more >

This one-day workshop explores the benefits of using creative activities with young offenders, both within the community and the secure estate. Developed in partnership with SOFT TOUCH this course will examine practical issues, such as those encountered in secure units and personal issues, such as motivation and the development of ... read more >

Art psychotherapists are frequently asked to work with the ‘hard to engage’. Doing this often means alternative approaches. This course addresses questions like: What are we actually trying to achieve? Why are we trying to engage this particular person? Why are they hard to engage/ difficult? What is the message ... read more >

It will be of benefit to individuals and organisations looking to develop their own child protection policy and maintain standards of good practice, providing practical advice and guidelines to develop confidence and sensible structures around child protection issues within youth arts.

This one day course is essential training for anyone ... read more >

Seminar Aim
Using presentation, case studies and group discussion this full day programme provides
an overview of the steps that need to be taken to make the arts more accessible and
provide an arts project with or for young people.

Seminar Objectives
This workshop will allow ... read more >

Seminar Aim
Using presentation, case studies and group discussion this short but
informative seminar will provide an overview of the steps that need to
be taken to make the arts more accessible and provide an arts project
with or for offenders.

Seminar Objectives ... read more >

One day course for people working in difficult work environments.

This course will help prepare participants to deal effectively and appropriately with challenging behaviour and volatile situations at work. It uses pair/group exercises, tutor-led discussion and question and answers. Participants will be encouraged to share, explore, try out interventions, pool ... read more >

Dance United is offering a four-day training course to look at how to deliver high quality dance when working with challenging groups in the community.

The main focus of this practical training course is the relationship between pro-active dance-based strategies that can be embedded in a dance methodology and re-active ... read more >

This workshop is aimed at all teachers and singing leaders working with primary age boys.

Following on from his Singposium workshops in July 2010, Richard Frostick will be introducing tried and tested methods for getting boys to sing. This will be a practical day of singing and discussion focusing on ... read more >

Day One
Morning: The Creative Prison Revisited; a presentation on how prison design informs the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes, based on Rideout's seminal project with Will Alsop.

Afternoon: Talent 4..; A Programme developed by Rideout for the discovery of personal potential and vocational self-determination, devised specifically for those adrift in ... read more >

This course is aimed at community musicians, artists, and practitioners who want to develop their skills and ability to work with mixed ability groups in workshops.

This one day course, led by highly acclaimed community musician Phil Mullen, looks at the understanding and skills you need to work with mixed ... read more >

Sand Tray Therapy encourages the non-verbal expression and construction of
images which have both special personal and collective or cultural
meanings. This introductory course will look at the following important
themes:
history and development of sand play therapy;
creative expression;
imaginative and symbolic thinking;
dramatic structure;
play and story-making;
recent ... read more >

The workshop will provide you with basic theory and practical techniques to use in a variety of groupwork situations. Sessions will be participative and will include the development of personal facilitation skills, good working practice and workshop organisation.

Course Structure
The course allows you a chance to reflect on your ... read more >

Geese regularly host Information Sessions at our base in Birmingham. Over the course of an afternoon participants are offered an explanation of the company’s work through discussion and a seminar session with a Senior Company Member.

In more detail, the session may cover:
History and development of Geese
Some of ... read more >

Gangology UK, the most innovative continuous personal development-training programs for youth practitioners working with young people at risk of life threatening behavior related to Gang & Gun culture.

Modules:
* How to safeguard
* Criminal Justice or a Public Health Issue?
* Early intervention.... but how early ... read more >

This two day training course is incredibly popular with Voluntary and Community Sector staff, probation staff and any professional with an interest in recruiting, training and managing volunteers that work with offenders in the community. The course provides an insightful introduction to the issues faced by volunteers when working in ... read more >

The course will invite participants to experience and practise a variety of drama based methods for use in groupwork. The focus will be on exploring some of the basic principles behind the company’s use of drama with offenders, offering workers effective and widely applicable techniques in order to:

Cross over ... read more >

This training course provides all the information needed for participants to deliver a one-day training course for those who work with young people on the theme of 'working with boys and young men'.

Most youth work programmes are open to young women and young men; however there may sometimes be ... read more >

This new practical and creative course is accredited by ABC and is suitable for anyone working with ‘at risk’ young people in the youth, arts and cultural sectors. The course aims to help participants gain confidence as well as all of the relevant information, tools and techniques to work effectively ... read more >

Reducing Stress and Anxiety in the work place by enabling staff to manage challenging behaviour

Designed for front-line staff who work with Challenging Behaviour, the content will include the key elements of Life Change UK's core programme in understanding and managing challenging behaviour:

Understanding why people (including ourselves) behave as ... read more >

This one day course and the accompanying manual aims to provide skills, information and ideas to trainers who wish to deliver a two-day training course for those who work with young people.

The programme is designed for those who may experience challenging behaviour either when working with individuals or in ... read more >

his course gives an overview of the benefits of using the arts with young people at risk and covers essential areas when doing so. Participants are given an understanding of youth arts and youth culture and the skill set needed to successfully design, fund, manage and market an appropriate arts ... read more >

This new practical and creative course is accredited by ABC and is suitable for anyone working with ‘at risk’ young people in the youth, arts and cultural sectors. The course aims to help participants gain confidence as well as all of the relevant information, tools and techniques to work effectively ... read more >

This one day course is essential training for anyone working within youth arts, but especially those using more physical art forms, such as dance and drama. Developed in conjunction with South East Dance this course compliments the Arts Council England “Keeping Arts Safe” guidelines developed with the NSPCC. The training ... read more >

This one day course is essential training for anyone working within youth arts, but especially those using more physical art forms, such as dance and drama. Developed in conjunction with South East Dance this course compliments the Arts Council England “Keeping Arts Safe” guidelines developed with the NSPCC. The training ... read more >

This course gives an overview of the benefits of using the arts with young people at risk and covers essential areas when doing so. Participants are given an understanding of youth arts and youth culture and the skill set needed to successfully design, fund, manage and market an appropriate arts ... read more >

Content will include the key elements of Life Change UK's core programme in understanding and managing challenging behaviour:
Understanding why people (including ourselves) behave as they / we do
Examining and Managing Challenging Behaviour and Conflict
Effective Communication models including the Drama Triangle, Rapport & Attending Behaviours ... read more >

Each year Dance United runs a four-day training course which looks at how to deliver high quality dance when working with challenging groups in the community.
First there are the strategies that can be embedded within the dance method itself to work pro-actively to overcome resistance, non-engagement, and potential conflict. ... read more >

This three-day course is open to anyone who is interested in or has experience of working with offenders and young people at risk of offending. No previous drama experience is necessary. However a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement.

The course will invite participants ... read more >

The Fathers Inside programme is a groundbreaking parenting course which aims to help prisoners contribute to society by teaching them how to support their children’s education and upbringing whilst in custody. Fathers Inside is currently delivered in 10 establishments across England and Wales.

This three day residential training will give ... read more >

The aim of the award is to use an arts programme to gain employability and personal effectiveness skills which is accredited by Edexcel. Primarily we will be looking to deliver this award with young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and those at Risk of offending.

Why do some young people appear to falter under stress and challenging life experiences, whilst others cope and even thrive?

Through this course, participants can explore the concepts of vulnerability, resilience and self- efficacy and how these apply to the everyday experiences of the children and young people they work ... read more >

This course is designed to help staff teams increase their knowledge and skills in Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour and Motivational Coaching.

In the new climate of Payment by Results and Outcome focussed delivery, the challenges associated with engaging, motivating and empowering long-term unemployed people and hard to reach groups ... read more >

This course incorporates both theoretical and practical aspects for staff working in environments with children and young people who, at times, are unable to manage themselves and their potentially aggressive behaviour.

The course will focus on skills for understanding, observing, assessing, managing, supporting and evaluating situations through communication techniques with ... read more >

MusicLeader Next Steps: Working with Children and Young People in Challenging Circumstances has been
designed to develop leaders and equip them to work in this interesting and developing area. Alongside a
series of practical group workshops, participants will complete a number of short assignments in a setting
read more >

This course is designed to help staff teams increase their knowledge and skills in Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour and Motivational Coaching.

In the new climate of Payment by Results and Outcome focussed delivery, the challenges associated with engaging, motivating and empowering long-term unemployed people and hard to reach groups ... read more >

Children who suffer neglect, abuse and disrupted attachment are often left with developmental deficits across cognitive, emotional and social domains which impact on their ability to function in mainstream life.

This course presents theoretical perspectives which will enable attendees to understand the neurobiological, psychological and behavioural manifestations that underlie the ... read more >

Children and young people with attachment problems can present workers with significant challenges in their endeavours to help them. Workers can be left baffled by the child’s presenting behaviours and at a loss to know how to connect with them and support them, in order to address the challenges in ... read more >

This one day course is essential training for anyone working within youth arts, but especially those using more physical art forms, such as dance and drama. The training will cover current child protection legislation in line with the requirements of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), within the context of delivering ... read more >

The need to belong is a basic human need which can be met through gang participation. However young people’s involvement in gangs is becoming an increasingly worrying problem, leaving them at risk from harm and violence.

This course presents insights to gang involvement and activity, both from a theoretical perspective ... read more >

The Family Man programme is a groundbreaking family relationship course which is delivered in 10 establishments across England and Wales. This three day residential training will give staff the tools to set up and deliver the programme, as well as give them the opportunity to work with tutors and Officers ... read more >

Helping highly vulnerable children and young people who have experienced extreme adversity presents workers with a number of challenges, sometimes starting at the initial point of engagement. The multiple deficits of development and behavioural challenges of this group of young people can feel daunting and insurmountable.

This course is designed ... read more >

This training will practically examine how drama techniques can be used to engage young people in order to explore the early warning signs of abusive relationships, what abuse is and how to seek support.

This very practical day will equip participants with a clear understanding of the key ... read more >

A One-day Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training course.
The course will explore: -
Understanding Drug Use by young people
Recognising and responding to drug use
Communicating with young people about drugs
Understanding solvent and volatile substance abuse
Awareness of issues concerning alcohol and ... read more >

This training programme is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge around:
Making initial contact with schools – strategies and methods
Working with key teachers; Maintaining relationships once a project is underway
Secondary, Primary, Special, Pupil Referral Units – identifying their differing needs
School-speak; ... read more >

This internationally renowned, BAFTA winning organisation is once again running a three-day course open to anyone who is interested in, or has experience of working with offenders and young people at risk of offending. Participants will be invited to experience and practice a variety of drama-based methods for use in ... read more >

This popular one-day workshop explores the benefits of using creative activities with young offenders, both within the community and the secure estate. Developed in partnership with SOFT TOUCH this course will examine practical issues, such as those encountered in secure units and personal issues, such as motivation and the development ... read more >

This one day course is essential training for anyone working within youth arts, but especially those using more physical art forms, such as dance and drama. The training will cover current child protection legislation in line with the requirements of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), within the context of delivering ... read more >