ABCD Guide Training

ABCD Guide Training

1.Introduction

2.Programme Objectives

3.Selection

4. Method & Timetable

5. Contact

1.Introduction

The deeper and more impactful the community building practice, the more critical sustainability and legacy become. Our certified ABCD guide training brings together local practitioners from within a locality, city or county, training them to deliver Introduction to ABCD workshops and support others in reflective practice; creating local legacy and proliferating good practice.

“There is no map, only a compass.” Senior Associate, Tom Dewar

Trained ABCD Guides offer thoughtful companionship and orientation to those at the beginnings of their community building journey, in turn creating a legacy of impactful locally rooted practice and peer to peer support.

1.1.Overview

2.Programme Objectives

Upon the completion of the 5 days training, ABCD Guides will be able to:

• Deliver a one day, or half day Introduction to ABCD Workshop
• Support other ABCD practitioners in reflective practice
• Demonstrate an understanding of ABCD in both theory and practice.
• Host a peer to peer local learningnetwork

Participants who are successful in completing the ABCD Guide Training will join a national network of ABCD Guides, benefiting from online connection through the ABCD Learning Commons and offline through Nurture Development hosted ABCD Guide gatherings.

3. Selection of candidates for Train the trainer course

In the initial stages the hosting organisationwill invite potential participants to a one-day introductory workshop, involving a mix of training, storytelling and a walkabout in a living community where participants will be expected to engage in ABCD learning conversations.

Potential participants will be provided with a simple self-reflection tool* before the information day to enable them to self-select whether this course is for them or not. All participants will need to bring a story of their community building efforts, as a practitioner or volunteer, and the capacity to present that story. At a minimum participants must be sufficiently self aware to understand the difference between supporting citizen led processes and doing ‘to’; ‘for’ or ‘with’ people.

* Where Nurture Developmentfeels a participants is not yet ready to take on an ABCD Guide rolebut they are still eager to participate in the rest of the training days, we will have a conversation with them and coach them on areas for improvement or if we deem it necessary honestly inform them we do not feel they are suitable, we will do so in a supportive way.

4. Course Content

The course is run over 3 workshops (5 sessions) taking the participant from a basic induction through to instruction of delivering an effective workshop. The course should be spread over a period of up to 2 months to allow space for reflection and self-directed learning.

The content of the course is as follows;

Introduction Day

• An introduction to ABCD and the guiding principles.
• What does it mean to be an ABCD Guide?
• Setting the scene.
• Story Sharing.

Two Day ABCD Immersion Course

• History of ABCD
• 5 guiding principles of ABCD in both theory and practice.
• 6 building blocks or assets of community building, exploring how these can be identified,connected and mobilised in the neighbourhood context.
• 8 touch stones of community building offering stories and examples of their application.
• ABCD Tools for Change: e.g. Learning Conversations & Asset Mapping.
• Activities and exercises that you can then use in practice where you live and/or work.
• Stories and case studies of ABCD in action from our Learning Sites, in the UK and around theworld, to exemplar effective practice.

Peer reviewed field assignment*

The Nurture Development Course Facilitator will set participants a simple assignment to be done between the 2 day ABCD immersion workshop and the reflective session. The field assignment will involve participants engaging in a process of community building in the neighbourhood where the participant lives.

* Nurture Development will provide one to one coaching (online) to those who require support during the period of the field assignment.

Reflective Workshop (1 day)

This reflective workshop provides a platform for peer review and the sharing of experiences learnt through the field assignment; in essence it is an opportunity to deepen practice.

1 Day how to deliver a workshoptraining (1 Day)

The concluding session, accumulates the learning from previous workshops and the field assignment; supporting participants to learn the art of hosting an ABCD workshop. The training includes;

• What makes for an effective ABCD workshop?
• Fielding difficult questions.
• Facilitating group dynamics
• Frequently asked questions.

Resources

Our ABCD Guide training includes Nurture Developments most current literature, training material and case studies

5. Contact details

Shaun Burnett

Community Building Programme Manager

Mobile: 07598280578