Author Archives: Heather

Women’s History Festival: Interrogating the Past to Change the Future

The Sex and Power Report in 2014 stated that at the current rate of progress that “a child born today will be drawing her pension before she has any chance of being equally represented in the UK Parliament”. It is not just parliamentary representation but other positions of power where we are falling short, only 5% of national newspapers are edited by women. A recent report on Higher Education by the Equality Challenge Unit showed that only 20.1% of Vice Chancellors and Principals at Universities are women, with women also under-represented in other senior roles across the sector.

Part of the reason for this is the stories we are told, and the stories we tell ourselves, help shape who we are and what we choose to do. So much of the history around us such as the statues we see, the pictures on the walls of our educational institutions, and the authors and protagonists we are given to study, are male, and tell a story of male dominance. Merely having a consciousness of the change from when these were created, to the times of legal equality now, is inadequate to change the impact this historical replication of patriarchal construction has on women today.

Free University Brighton is a community-led initiative that organises and promotes practical and academic education. Following on from their events for LGBT History month, Free University Brighton are putting on the city’s first ever festival dedicated to women in history. The one-day event on 14 March 2015 will mark International Women’s Day celebrations and it will launch a year-long women’s history project to promote positive female role models within schools and the wider community, giving an awareness of the historical significance of women that will help us write a fairer future.

The event will feature the hidden histories of extraordinary and pioneering women such as Brighton and Hove suffragettes, the African Princess in Brighton and women who inspired the trade union movement. There will also be guided walks, workshops, activities for children and an interactive exhibition.

They are still looking for support to put on this inspirational event, it will allow them not only to cover the costs of the event but to have a fund for childcare and travel for those who may not otherwise be able to attend. Please click here for their crowdfunding page to support this project and help shape how we live as women today and tomorrow.

Bespoke Training Sessions

Training

We offer bespoke training and can work with you to develop training within your organisation to meet the needs of your staff.  Uniquely we will also work with you to ensure that you are able to deliver this training in house in the future by offering a free half day of training to staff members in how to deliver each of the sessions.

In addition to working with you to develop specific training, we also have some set off the shelf training sessions ready to deliver in your organisation.  Each one we will spend time with you adapting to suit the needs of your staff or volunteers.  With the exception of the Train the Trainer courses, which must be delivered over two days, the other courses can be delivered over one or two days.  Please click here for costs.

  • Train the Trainer 1: Delivering the ideal training session – 2 days
  • Train the Trainer 2: Training Design and Development – 2 days
  • Events Management in the Community Sector: An Introduction to Events Management in the community sector from local networking events to large conferences
  • Researching and Evidencing: Research and Evidence Gathering for Annual Reporting, Funder/Sponsor Reports and Funding Applications
  • Making Applications and Developing your Presentation Skills
  • Students’ Unions: Research Authenticity and Accountability: Setting up and running student-led research projects
  • Students’ Unions: Beyond KPI’s: An Enhancement Base Approach to Planning and Evaluation
  • Students’ Unions: Developing Your Course Rep Training and Supports
  • Students’ Unions: Internationalising your union – making your union more accessible to international students and gloablising your outlook

Workshops

We also have a number of workshops that we can run in your organisation, each workshop is 2 hours long.

  • Time Management (2hrs)
  • Cooperative Values (2hrs)
  • Assessing Workplace Wellbeing (2hrs)
  • Running a Networking Event (2hrs)
  • Become an Effective Networker (2hrs)
  • Evidence Based Campaigning (2hrs)
  • Research Basics Workshops
  • Qualitative Analysis (2hrs)
  • Interview Techniques (2hrs)
  • Running a Focus Group (2hrs)
  • Effective Survey Questions (2hrs)
  • Writing a Research Proposal (2hrs)

Please click here for costs.

If you have any questions please email heather@magneticideals.org

Train the Trainer – Learn to deliver the ideal training session!

What is the Course?

The course is ideal for individuals working in or for the community interest who are just starting out as trainers, or those with some experience who would like to learn more and refine their practice and become reflective pratitioners.

The course runs over two full days, during which time attendees will get practical experience in delivering training and get feedback on how to develop in practice.  It will focus on how people learn in training sessions, how reflective practice as a trainer, how to evaluate your sessions, creating a positive environment for training, and dealing with challenges that may occur in training sessions.  There will also be a brief introduction to training resources for designing your own training programmes.

The course is assessed on day two when attendees give a short training session and get feedback from the rest of the group, a certificate of completion will be issued to each attendee.  Attendees will also be signed up as members of the Magnetic Ideals Training Network where they can share best practice with other developing trainers and receive invites to skills sharing sessions.

When is the course?

The course runs over two days on the 5th and 6th March from 9.30am – 4.30pm at the Bridge Community Education Centre, Brighton.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  To book a place please email heather@magneticideals.org

Pricing

While may local courses charge £400 – 500 or upwards for a Train the Trainer courses we have kept the prices as low as we can.  If you have multiple people wanting to attend from your organisation please get in touch to see if we can offer a discounted rate.

Corporate Rate n/a *
Public or Education Sector Organisations £225
Community/Voluntary Organisations, Social Enterprises (with paid staff) £175
Sole traders/freelancers working in community interest/development/arts £125
Community Organisations/Groups (with no paid staff) £75 or Free **

To book your place please email Heather McKnight: heather@magneticideals.org

If you are unsure of which rates apply please contact heather@magneticideals.org payment must be received before booking can be confirmed.

* Magnetic Ideals does not provide training for corporations

** As well as keeping our prices low we reserve two free slots per training session for community groups with no paid staff as part of our ongoing commitment as a social enterprise to build capacity in smaller organisations, who may not always be able to access training.  These are allocated on a first come first serve basis.