Tag Archives: ICA:UK

ICA:UK, the participation and development charity

ToP facilitation training at your place – and free places for you!

Register now for public courses in EventbriteAre you interested in taking or commissioning ToP facilitation training – but you don’t find any scheduled public courses to suit you, and you don’t have a group large enough to make an in-house course cost-effective?

I’d be happy to talk with you about scheduling a partnership course with you, at your place, wherever you are – please contact me.

If you can provide a suitable space for the training, or perhaps venue & catering and trainer accommodation as well, then you could enjoy a number of free and/or discounted places for you or your delegates. We would need only to recruit enough fee-paying trainees between us by an agreed deadline to make up the numbers and the budget to confirm the course. Depending on the location and the deadline I may be able to recruit those extra people myself, and handle online registrations and payments. If you can recruit more people yourself, from your networks, and if you can handle registrations and payments, then you could have more free or discounted places and maybe a shorter lead time as well.

If you choose one of my regularly scheduled public courses listed below, then we will be better able to confirm the course even if you can’t recruit many people yourself. If you have particular training needs and you can recruit others who share them, then we could develop and schedule a public course tailored to meet your needs.

Since 2013 when I launched my own public and partnership courses under license with ICA:UK, with whom I have offered public and in-house training since 1998, I have offered dozens of such partnership courses in locations including (most often) Brussels, and Edinburgh, Geneva, Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Pisa and online.

I deliver in English and with simultaneous interpretation. I draw on the worldwide network of ICA International to provide ToP training materials in many languages, and to arrange for experienced local ToP trainers to deliver with me (or without me) in many languages.

I particularly welcome opportunities to deliver training within a day or two’s surface travel from London or Barcelona.  If I am not tempted to fly to deliver training myself further afield, then I shall be glad to recommend an alternative experienced ToP trainer who is more local to you – see What can I do about climate change, personally and as a facilitator?

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Register now in Eventbrite for my own upcoming public courses in London & elsewhere. For additional courses, dates & locations offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates, including online, see A new schedule and special offers for ToP facilitation training.

Supercharge your facilitation practice with opportunities & insights from the profession

ICAUK ToP Participatory Strategic Planning training, 2013 at NCVO in London - photo Adam Swann, facilitation Martin Gilbraith #ToPfacilitation 1Supercharge your learning at the UK’s top facilitation event of the year

A space to grow, reflect and learn together

Register for the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) England & Wales annual conference, and supercharge your learning this year by joining our special pre-conference ICA:UK ToP facilitation masterclass with Martin Gilbraith.

Conference attendees enjoy a 25% discount, IAF members and non-members.

Register now:

What is changing in the world of facilitation and workshop design?

What can 2023 teach us about the promises and challenges of 2024?

There are some fascinating insights on the practice of facilitation and the profession in this new survey report from SessionLab, not least that almost 20% of respondents report that they use ICA’s ToP facilitation methods – we wonder what the other 80% are waiting for!

This second annual report is based on the contributions of 975 facilitators around the world, and accompanied by commentary from 12 experts sharing their perspectives.

John Cornwell of our own ICA:UK Team and IAF’s Social Inclusion Facilitators comments on the demographics of the profession:

“We need to expand outreach efforts, include colleagues from various backgrounds worldwide, and create an inclusive and supportive environment for facilitators”

Read the report:

Taking your facilitation online

Includes Miro, Mural and Jamboard templates for ToP Focused Conversations and Consensus Workshops

A few places remain available on this month’s two-session course on adapting ICA’s ToP facilitation methods for the online world with Alan Heckman.

Register now:

Support us to support our international partners

The current focus of ICA:UK’s International Working Group is on:

  • providing support for local organisations in Africa through the Village Volunteers sponsorship scheme. We have recently been able to fund training in ToP methods for Support for Community Response, and training of Climate Change Educators through the Kombuni Water Development Self-Help Group, both in Kenya.
  • making plans for the expansion of the Village Volunteers scheme so that we can deepen and broaden our impact in Africa. Watch this space for more detail
  • exploring further expansion of ToP training in Romania by identifying and working with a local partner there

Add your support to Village Volunteers here.

Why ICA’s ‘Technology of Participation’ (ToP) facilitation training?

93% of participants rated Group Facilitation Methods 8/10 or higher

Comments from participants’ end-of-course evaluations included:

  • brilliant – a must-do if you want better, more effective meetings
  • provides two practical, easy-to-use methods to discover deep insights from diverse groups – useful tools for any group, organisation or community
  • benefits for experienced facilitator and novice alike
  • worth every penny – excellent content & great presentation

“Successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned this training as a highlight in their end of year reviews – several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended.”

Eve Geddie

Find out what Group Facilitation Methods could do for you.

Download our course brochure here

** Last few places available **  
Taking ToP Methods Online,
ONLINE, 15 Feb
with Alan Heckman

Adapting ICA’s ToP facilitation methods for the online world.		 Group Facilitation Methods
LONDON, 20-21 Feb
with Martin Gilbraith

Introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus.
* Fast approaching *  
Group Facilitation Methods
EDINBURGH, 20-21 Mar
with Martin Gilbraith

Introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus		 ToP Masterclass
Birmingham, 25 Apr
with Martin Gilbraith

Facilitating dialogue, learning, consensus & change.

Also coming soon:

See the full 2024 schedule at https://ica-uk.org.uk/courses/

Looking for something else, tailored or in-house?

Let us come to you to meet your particular goals

Maximise your benefit from our training by letting us come to you, to meet your particular learning goals:

If your organisation or group needs a facilitator, or if you need support in designing and delivering a workshop, meeting or conference:

Meet Our Team, and Contact us!

Interested in joining our team of trainers?

We currently have seven trainee trainers at various stages of the trainer’s journey, and we are keen to grow and diversify our team further – learn more and contact us.

Have you got your Sticky Wall yet?

ICA:UK Sticky Walls are a great visual tool for facilitators, group leaders and trainers. They are light, portable and can be used anywhere. Arrange and reposition ideas easily to inspire idea generation and encourage group involvement. 

Buy now

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Register now in Eventbrite for my own upcoming public courses in London & elsewhere and see ICA:UK for additional courses offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates online and elsewhere.

To arrange an in-house or partnership course for your group, see ToP facilitation training at your place – and free places for you! and please contact me.

Are you ready to elevate your facilitation skills to lead more impactful group sessions in 2024?

A glimpse of ToP facilitation training

Kickstart your New Year with a commitment to your personal and professional development

As the new year approaches, are you thinking of how you could better lead your teams to success?

Check out our new ICA:UK 2024 public course schedule for ‘ToP’ facilitation training in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin and online.

In addition to our flagship Group Facilitation Methods, these 1-3 day ‘Technology of Participation’ (ToP) training courses include:

  • Focused Conversation
  • Action Planning
  • Participatory Strategic Planning
  • Taking ToP Methods Online, and
  • a special one-day ToP Masterclass.

Additional courses, dates and locations may be added throughout the year at https://ica-uk.org.uk/courses/.

If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact me.

Book now and save!

Enjoy a special New Year offer

Book now to enjoy a special New Year offer of 10% off a limited number of full rate or discounted places on any of our 2024 courses:

  • follow the link to your choice of course at https://ica-uk.org.uk/courses/
  • enter the promo code NewYear24 when registering
  • register before Monday 8 January at 12 noon

But remember, places are limited so do not delay!

Why ICA’s ‘Technology of Participation’ (ToP) facilitation training?

93% of participants rated Group Facilitation Methods 8/10 or higher

Comments from participants’ end-of-course evaluations included:

  • brilliant – a must-do if you want better, more effective meetings
  • provides two practical, easy-to-use methods to discover deep insights from diverse groups – useful tools for any group, organisation or community
  • benefits for experienced facilitator and novice alike
  • worth every penny – excellent content & great presentation

“Successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned this training as a highlight in their end of year reviews – several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended.”

Eve Geddie

Find out what Group Facilitation Methods could do for you.

Download our course brochure here

Coming soon:

Focused Conversation
DUBLIN, 25 January
with Miriam O’DonoghueIntroducing one of the foundations of the ToP approach, a powerful technique for structuring effective conversations.		 Group Facilitation Methods
DUBLIN, 25-26 January
with Miriam O’DonoghueIntroducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus.
Group Facilitation Methods
ONLINE, 29-31 January
with Megan Evans & Dawn WilliamsIntroducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus.		 Taking ToP Methods Online,
ONLINE, 15 Feb
with Alan HeckmanAdapting ICA’s ToP facilitation methods for the online world.
Group Facilitation Methods
LONDON, 20-21 Feb
with Martin GilbraithIntroducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus.		 Action Planning
LONDON, 22 Feb
with Martin GilbraithParticipatory planning for short-term projects and events.

Also coming soon:

See the full 2024 schedule at https://ica-uk.org.uk/courses/

Looking for something else, tailored or in-house?

Let us come to you to meet your particular goals

Maximise your benefit from our training by letting us come to you, to meet your particular learning goals:

If your organisation or group needs a facilitator, or if you need support in designing and delivering a workshop, meeting or conference:

Meet Our Team, and Contact me!

Have you got your Sticky Wall yet?

ICA:UK Sticky Walls are a great visual tool for facilitators, group leaders and trainers. They are light, portable and can be used anywhere. Arrange and reposition ideas easily to inspire idea generation and encourage group involvement.

Buy now

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Register now in Eventbrite for my own upcoming public courses in London & elsewhere and see ICA:UK for additional courses offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates online and elsewhere.

To arrange an in-house or partnership course for your group, see ToP facilitation training at your place – and free places for you! and please contact me.

Feminist Facilitation – Facilitation Week free webinar

Monday, 11 September 2023 – 1.00-2:30pm UK time

Thank you again to the 95 who shared their experience and insights so generously at this free facilitation webinar, and to all the 247 who expressed an interest by registering for the session – as for our May session, we are excited  again that the topic and the session generated so much interest! 

Thanks also for the fabulous co-facilitation this time of Monica Atim and producer support of Megan Evans & Dawn Williams, and to International Association of Facilitators (IAF) for hosting and ICA:UK, We Are Feminist Leaders & The Collective for partnering.

Scroll down for the recording, and the slides and other outputs…

What does feminism bring to facilitation, and what does feminist facilitation look like? How can I ensure that my own practice as a professional facilitator is more effectively and explicitly feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive?

Exploring feminist facilitationThese are the questions that have guided my exploration of feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive facilitation this past couple of years. For more on that, see Exploring feminist facilitation.

As Social Inclusion facilitators, we share the same school of thought and continue to seek understanding and practicality due to the awareness that genuine participation is an essential means to effective group, community, organisational and societal leadership and development. Feminism offers a more realistic and practical application to inclusive facilitation.

Are you practicing or exploring feminist facilitation yourself, or are you interested to do so?  

Join us on a journey from a conceptual understanding of feminism, leadership and facilitation to how we can apply these in practice as professional facilitators and as leaders more broadly.

To inform our conversation, please read in advance if you can the SessionLab State of Facilitation survey report and workshop recording & resources Is facilitation a woman’s world?, and Martin’s blog post Exploring feminist facilitation.

This online session is free and open to everyone. It is convened by IAF Social Inclusion Facilitators in partnership with ICA:UK, We Are Feminist Leaders and the Collective. It is a repeat of a session delivered in May, somewhat adapted for Facilitation Week in September by Monica Atim, Martin Gilbraith, Megan Evans & Dawn Williams. Whether or not you joined us May, do join us to further the conversation in September!

Registrations are not limited, but the room capacity will be limited to 100 this time. The May session attracted 700 registrations and 200 attendees, so to secure your place in September please arrive early for the session and join the waiting room until start time.

 

For recordings and other outputs of previous sessions, see free facilitation webinars.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Feminist Facilitation – in-depth free facilitation webinar

IAF Feminist FacilitationFriday, 12 May 2023 – 4.00-5:30pm UK time

Thank you again to the 208 who shared their experience and insights so generously at this free facilitation webinar, and to all the 717 who expressed an interest by registering for the session – we are very excited that the topic and the session generated so much interest! 

Thanks also of course for the fabulous co-facilitation of Monica Atim, Natalie Brook & Julia Makin, producer support of Orla Cronin, Megan Evans & Dawn Williams, and to International Association of Facilitators (IAF) for hosting and ICA:UK & We Are Feminist Leaders for partnering.

Scroll down for the recording, and the slides and other outputs…

Following my earlier free facilitation webinar on Feminist Facilitation, as part of the ICA:UK Online Focused Conversation Series in January, I am pleased to offer this longer and more in-depth session hosted by IAF Social Inclusion Facilitators in May.

Join us to connect, share & learn – register now.

What does feminism bring to facilitation, and what does feminist facilitation look like? How can I ensure that my own practice as a professional facilitator is more effectively and explicitly feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive?

Exploring feminist facilitationThese are the questions that have guided Martin Gilbraith’s exploration of feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive facilitation this past couple of years. For more on that, see Exploring feminist facilitation.

As Social Inclusion facilitators, we share the same school of thought and continue to seek understanding and practicality due to the awareness that genuine participation is an essential means to effective group, community, organizational and societal leadership and development. Feminism offers a more realistic and practical application to inclusive facilitation.

Are you practicing or exploring feminist facilitation yourself, or are you interested to do so?

Join us on a journey from a conceptual understanding of feminism, leadership and facilitation to how we can apply these in practice as professional facilitators and as leaders more broadly.

To inform our conversation, please read in advance if you can the SessionLab State of Facilitation survey report and workshop recording & resources Is facilitation a woman’s world?, and Martin’s blog post Exploring feminist facilitation.

This online session is convened by the IAF Social Inclusion Facilitators, and it is free and open to everyone. It has been designed and will be co-facilitated by Monica Atim of the IAF SIF, Natalie Brook of We Are Feminist Leaders and Juia Makin and Martin Gilbraith of ICA:UK.

Join us to connect, share & learn – register now.

For recordings and other outputs of previous sessions, see free facilitation webinars.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.