Establishing a Internal Facilitator Resource Pool

Over the past 2 years we have been working with a children’s charity to set up a sustainable internal facilitation resource. We initially delivered a two day core facilitation skills training programme to senior managers followed by a practice period where they had the opportunity to facilitate internal sessions using their new skills. Six months later we delivered a further two day high performance facilitation skills for this first cohort. Then followed a consultation period and over a time the facilitation team was firmly established and a process was agreed for developing more facilitators. It was decided that staff from across the organisation should be invited to apply to attend the next round of training stating their objectives and identifying their skills. Successful applicants then formed the 2nd cohort and they too went through both the core and high performance programmes.
This programme of work has had a positive impact on both individuals and the organisation and this February several members of the first cohort successfully completed their International Association of Facilitator’s Certification (see http://www.iaf-europe.eu/ and http://www.iaf-world.org/) .
The charity now has a professional internal resource that is being used regularly throughout the organisation. The outcomes organisationally include increased capability and capacity, effective and productive meetings and significant cost reductions.