Case Study: Aisling Centre avails of online training from the Community Leadership Programme

Aisling Centre in Enniskillen is dedicated to the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Since 1990 they have been providing the local community with Counselling, Psychotherapy and Well-Being Services.

As part of their on-going skills development, six members of the admin/support team have taken time out to participation in a series of online training courses offered by the Investing in Community Leadership Programme. In total they completed 25 free courses covering a range of topics.

Bridie Sweeney, Service Director of Aisling Centre explained the benefits of the online training:

“It’s been so helpful, and timely for us as we have some recently appointed staff. In total 25 short courses were completed. The obvious benefit to the virtual training is that it is very accessible, staff  were able to do it in their own time taking account of their individual work schedule and demands. It gave staff more autonomy over their day and their time, how they manage their work and ownership of their role.

The courses are free, which as a charity in the current financial climate, has been really beneficial. With our rural location access to training oftens means travelling a distance. Doing it online saves us that travel costs as well as time out of the office; so there was an additional financial benefit. 

In approving the courses with staff, some of the individual needs were identified through annual performance reviews e.g. time management, (The availability of this training meant we could respond to this promptly). While programmes like Mental Health First Aid and Health & Safety would form part of our on-going training plans.

Feedback from staff who attended was good.  Everyone agreed that the training met their expectations and all learned something useful for their work; the videos were informative and concise and downloadable resources were identified as useful, particularly mentioned were the mental health first aid and manual handling courses.  For the newer staff who have a lot of training/learning to do during their Induction period, it was good to be able to complete essential learning so quicky online. It gave a good and broad introduction to these subjects. Some staff said they also learned skills that would be of benefit in their personal lives.

 

(L-R) Sonya Johnston Deputy Director of Fermanagh Trust with Aisling Centre staff Fiona Beatty, Suzanne Prout and Indre Burns

 

Our admin/support staff are not mental health professionals so training in MH awareness is an on-going part of their training.  The introduction to issues such as mental health, domestic violence, etc were really useful for new staff. Particualary those who work on reception. It helps them understand some of the issues that people coming through our door may be facing. It builds a little bit of confidence and empathy in interacting with and supporting people who may be struggling.

There is an undoubted benefit to us as an organisation and the to the people who use our service in having a well-trained team.   We have found this training opportunity to be very useful. 
The shorter length of the programmes is great too which I why I would recommend to other organisations. Most people in a week or a fortnight would be able to find a half an hour somewhere to study something. In fact, I don't think it's a disadvantage to an employer at all to invest in their staff and allow their staff time to do training like this.”

Key Benefits:
1. Flexibility and Accessibility:
o The online format allowed staff to complete courses at their own pace, fitting training around their work schedules and demands. This flexibility was particularly beneficial for essential health and safety training topics like First Aid, manual handling and mental health first aid.
2. Resource Efficiency:
o By opting for online training, the Centre saved significantly on staff time including travel and on administration and travel costs. This was particularly advantageous given their rural location, where traveling to training sessions often entails considerable time and expense.
3. Skill Enhancement:
o The training boosted staff confidence and competence, particularly in areas like organisation, time management, and understanding mental health issues. This, in turn, improved the quality of interaction with service users and ensured a safe, supportive environment.
4. Organisational Impact:
o The Centre experienced smoother operations as training did not necessitate staff absence. The online courses also supported the Centre's commitment to good governance and upskilling staff to meet organisational standards.

The Community Leadership Programme is committed to empowering individuals within the charity sector through a comprehensive range of training courses aimed at achieving several key objectives. Firstly, the programme prioritises confidence and capacity building, recognising it as essential for effective leadership. Participants are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, develop self-assurance, and advocate for change within their communities. Secondly, the programme offers a mix of accredited and non-accredited courses to cater to diverse learning preferences and career goals, many of the short courses and online courses act as a gateway to further learning, creating an appetite for further personal and professional development.

Accredited courses provide formal recognition of skills and knowledge, enhancing participants' credentials for career advancement, while non-accredited courses focus on practical skills development and personal growth. Lastly, the programme aims to level up opportunities for professional development within the charity sector, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds and locations have access to high-quality training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Through these initiatives, the Community Leadership Programme seeks to build a more diverse, resilient, and effective charity sector capable of meeting the evolving needs of communities. The programme is managed by three organisations based in the West of Northern Ireland - Fermanagh Trust in partnership with Holywell Trust in Derry/Londonderry and the Rural Community Network, a regional support organisation based in Cookstown. The programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

As well as face to face courses, the Community Leadership Programme provides an accessible online training suite with access to almost 200 certified courses which have been pre-paid.

High quality, video-based, virtual courses last from 10mins-2 hrs and once registered you can complete in your own time and at your own pace, whenever works for you.

Register through us and you can gain accreditation for free. Open to any individual volunteering or working in the Community / Voluntary Sector in the West of Northern Ireland. Wide range of courses available including Heath & Safety, HR, Compliance and Soft Skills Training etc. For more information / to register CLICK HERE / email sonya@fermanaghtrust.org

Conclusion: The Aisling Centre's partnership with the Community Leadership Programme underscores the value of accessible, flexible training in enhancing the capabilities of charity sector staff. This initiative not only strengthens individual competencies but also contributes to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of charitable organisations in meeting community needs.