23rd – 26th June 2015
A residential training course in the applied psychology of human motivation for communicators, organisers and leaders of social change
This summer, we’re offering three days of practical and inspiring participatory learning in the beautiful mid-Wales hills. Together, we’ll be using the Common Cause approach to explore the psychology of values and develop tools for applying it to our work.
“Wise, expansive wonderful ‘weekend’ with time to think and be. Exceeded my expectations… Facilitation was excellent, responsive. In the weeks since the course ended a definite shift has taken place at my organisation.”
Susan, Buglife
What you’ll leave with
By the end of the three days, you’ll know how to:
- frame messages in a way that will coherently and effectively engage with the values of others, help your own organisation’s goals, and benefit the rest of civil society;
- create strategies and campaigns that will be effective in the long-term and short-term alike;
- understand the role of values in organisational dynamics and in change programmes;
- identify disparate organisations working towards the same values and understand how to build alliances with them;
- communicate your insights about values and frames to others, including the rest of your organisation.
We will also help you to establish a network of support in the months following the training.
“This training was the perfect way to get to a new, deeper level of understanding. It was absolutely inspiring, brilliantly facilitated with a great mixture of expert input, group discussion and personal reflection, and ideally ‘framed’ in the gorgeous setting of CAT. I came away with loads of ideas, more confidence to apply values and frames thinking, and even more conviction that this is something my organisation needs to be doing. I totally recommend the training to anyone who is itching to know more about how to work with Common Cause principles.”
Fran, Friends of the Earth Europe
Why you’ll love it
On the training you’ll get a chance to connect with with a diverse group of inspiring people, in the beautiful surrounds of the Welsh mountains. There will be time for personal reflection, for sharing each other’s experience and understanding, and also for working together to come up with solutions to challenges in your work.
“It was an inspiring subject, setting and group of like-minded people which allowed for an exciting development of teachings, ideas and creative development over a course which was just long enough. I arrived not sure what to expect and was blown away on every level. The facilitators do an incredible job of making it accessible to everyone and the approach to working and teaching techniques is unlike anything I’ve ever done for that extended amount of time. It really helped us retain a lot of the ideas and teachings.”
Dom & Jimmy, MinuteWorks
Who it’s for
To make sure the group gets the most out of the three days, we ask a few things of you. You’ll be working for social change or interested in ensuring that your organisation does as much as it can to protect the environment and to promote a just world, and it’s critical that you:
- Have had a prior introduction to Common Cause: preferably through a workshop (please get in touch if you haven’t been to a workshop before to discuss whether this training will be suitable for you).
- Are enthusiastic about applying Common Cause in your own work
- Are motivated to work with other people and from different organisations and sectors
If you’d like to read up on Common Cause work, start with our publications here.
When & where
23-26 June 2015 at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth
Cost
Shared (4-bed rooms): £450
Shared (twin rooms): £550
Single rooms: £660
Prices include accommodation, meals and refreshments, and course materials.
The accommodation is in CAT’s rustic and communal Eco Cabins, powered by their own solar panels, hydro turbine and wood-burner. It’s cosy but basic. Please bring towels and anything else you need to feel comfortable, and get in touch if you’d like any more details.
Bursaries
Want to come, but can’t afford it? We will be offering a few full and partial bursaries for people working for small organisations, with networks on a voluntary basis, or in low-income social change work. Please contact us if you would like to be considered for a bursary.
We’d also love to hear from you if you could support us giving out bursary places – perhaps, for example, you’d like to come and your organisation could afford more than the costs we’re asking. You’re doing something great!
Apply
Please fill in the application form. If you would like a form sent via email or snail mail for you to fill in, please email Jamie. All applications should be received by us no later than April 22nd, and we will let you know within three weeks of this date whether your application has been successful.
Facilitators
Pamela Candea, The Surefoot Effect; Rebecca Nestor, Learning for Good; Elena Blackmore, PIRC; Richard Hawkins, PIRC; Tom Crompton, WWF; Ralph Underhill, PIRC; Jamie McQuilkin, PIRC.
Detailed programme
Will be circulated nearer the time.
Want to know more?
If you want to discuss your participation with one of the workshop organisers please email Jamie.
More from last year’s participants:
“Inspiring AND practical…”
James, National Union of Students
“This is an eyeopening course that got me to totally re-evaluate the way we interact with and communicate with our members. It doesn’t only get you to question what you are doing but provides a really useful toolkit of what you can do instead. All round, very worthwhile.”
Marina, The Mammal Society
“Common Cause training sessions open you up to a new perspective on the power of values in our culture; you’re given the space to question the assumptions you brought with you, while being provided with the support needed to see the process through. It’s engaging, compassionate, and manages to resonate across sectors. The training challenges and uplifts at the same time, and you won’t see your work in quite the same way afterwards.”
Roy, World Animal Protection
