To do what I do now, I draw on a range of training and experience (which you can find out more about here), and years of testing things, figuring out what’s relevant, and developing models for sensemaking and learning. I figure that if I can share what I know, it will save others some energy and time, which can be spent on changing the world instead!
There are complementary aspects to consider in this work: one is learning the skills, methodologies, and tools; the other is learning about yourself in the process, and growing your insights and self-understanding. In terms of practical skills, you need to be able to:
- Identify when you are / are not operating in complexity, to choose the right kind of approach in response!
- Understand and plan a process that will take you through convening and co-designing through to results.
- Design and facilitate inclusive gatherings with a range of participants (in person or online, sometimes hybrid).
- Have some techniques available to manage friction and conflict and turn them into a tool for positive change.
Ways in which I can support your / your team’s learning
Training &/or workshops: I create and deliver (online or in-person) bespoke sessions that are adapted to your team and organisation’s needs, on co-production, participative processes, inclusion, facilitation, and relational communication (i.e. dealing with conflict in change processes). All my sessions are interactive and participative. I share models and frameworks to understand the processes at play, and offer tools and techniques for practical application.
Mentoring: I hold small group mentoring sessions for teams as a follow-up to training sessions, to support the implementation of their learning in real time. These are a combination of reflective spaces and advisory sessions.
As well as skills training and capability building, teams and individuals also need time and space to reflect (whether together or individually), to properly integrate their learning and growth – I can support with that too.
Want to see some examples of training sessions and workshops I have created and delivered? Click to reveal!
- Co-production and citizen involvement:
- Introduction to co-production and involvement (Co-production Network for Wales / Co-production Lab Wales)
- Implementation of co-production and involvement (Co-production Network for Wales / Co-production Lab Wales)
- Co-production masterclass (Welsh Government, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership / via Co-production Lab Wales)
- How do we embed understandings of power in our co-production?(Platfform)
- Co-production and the value of lived experience(Julian Support, Housing Justice / via Platfform)
- Collaboration and partnership working:
- Working with partners for public engagement events (Being Human Festival)
- Facilitation skills :
- Facilitation skills for meaningful engagement (Co-production Network for Wales / Co-production Lab Wales)
- Facilitation skills for chairs(Wales Environment Link)
- Conflict and communication:
- Conflict and communication skills for public facing teams(Natural Resources Wales)
- Dialogue for collaboration and co-production (CAVDAS)
- A toolkit for difficult conversations(Barod)
- Antiracism and EDI:
- Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging for colleagues / for managers and team leaders (Valleys2Coast / via Tai Pawb)
- Becoming anti-racist: from awareness to action(Valleys2Coast / via Tai Pawb)
- Beyond boundaries: cultivating cultural competence(Public Services Ombudsman Wales / via Tai Pawb)
- Power, privilege and identity (Environmental Leadership Programme ELP2)
Want to see some nice things people have said about my work? Click to reveal!
- “I really enjoyed the training session today, the geek – sorry I should say the policy / researcher in me 🙂 – really connected with the thinking behind the practical application & the words of wisdom in regard to staff.” – All Wales Forum for Parents and Carers (training)
- “Thank you so much for the heartful training. As well as the good practical tips! You created a really comfortable space to share and learn. They were things I’d heard before but they were really eloquently and carefully explained, so they made new sense in this light.” – Natural Resources Wales (training)
- “Thanks again for a great session – I was so impressed by your skills and warmth as a trainer and facilitator!”– National Lottery Community Fund (training)
- “The Conflict and Communication workshop was a bit life-changing, really – really useful stuff in there that I’m finding is coming into my mind all the time.” – Oxford Co-production Festival (training)
- “I was in the office this morning for a cuppa and they were quoting things that you taught them about co-production over two years ago, and they were saying that some things took a while to click but they’ve remembered so much!” – (training, several years later!)
- “Thank you for the tectonic changes in my mind!” – participant in the New Systems Alliance Strengths-Based Learning Programme event on “How do we embed understandings of power in our co-production?” (learning session)
- “Thanks so much for your input over the last couple of months. I have really appreciated your expertise and it has been so helpful having you facilitate our discussions with all your resources and experiences to draw on. You have an ease with which you take people with you, and I think that will have been really appreciated by some of our managers who are newer to these conversations, as well as those of us who have been more immersed in co-production. I have really enjoyed the discussions and I know others have too. It is already having an impact on our work, and I’m excited by how we will take this forward.” – Julian Support (training + mentoring)
- “Great trainer, kept attention and was open to any questions and was great with answers.” “Found it really interesting and informative. Fab mix of interactive activities + talking. Really good atmosphere in the room, small group helped with discussion. Lots of opportunities to ask questions.” “Helpful in application in my role – developed a more in-depth understanding.” “Noreen was great. They took time to explain everything and made sure no questions were off limits, which helps people who are a bit resistant to the training to feel like they can question things.” “I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the perspectives brought by Noreen.” “Well balanced, linked to our organisation. Not an easy subject to convey to a mixed group. Very good.” – Valleys2Coast (training)
- “I thoroughly enjoyed your session, I have been thinking about it a lot, particularly this morning on my walk with my dog. I will be better equipped when having tricky conversations now…”– Barod (training)