Overview

This full-day training programme is designed to build confidence, enhance communication, and strengthen leadership within Hackney’s vibrant voluntary and community sector (VCS). Split into two distinct half-day sessions, the workshop will support two key stakeholder groups: frontline staff/volunteers and team leaders. Each session delivers practical skills and reflective insights, with a clear focus on empowering participants to thrive in their roles and contribute more effectively to their organisations and communities.

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Session One: Speak Up

Building Confidence and Communication Skills for VCS Staff and Volunteers

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Session Aim:

To equip participants with the confidence, clarity, and presence to express themselves effectively in meetings, public forums, and organisational settings. The session is tailored to help individuals who may feel anxious or unsure when speaking in group environments, offering practical tools to overcome self-doubt and build a stronger communication style.

​Learning Outcomes:

Participants will:

• Develop techniques to manage nerves and communicate with self-assurance
• Practise clear, concise, and assertive verbal communication
• Learn to listen actively and contribute with confidence
• Understand the role of body language, eye contact, and tone
• Build a personal toolkit to apply in public meetings and collaborative settings

Delivery Approach:

Highly interactive and supportive, this session will combine individual and group exercises, role play, real-time feedback, and structured reflection. A psychologically safe space will be created to foster growth, participation, and peer encouragement.

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​Session Two: Managing Behaviours & Difficult Conversations Workshop

Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Session Aim:

​​To provide participants with the confidence, frameworks, and practical techniques to proactively manage challenging behaviour and navigate difficult conversations in community settings. The session focuses on maintaining a positive, safe, and respectful environment through assertive communication and de-escalation strategies.

​Learning Outcomes:

​Participants will:

• Identify the root causes and early signs of challenging behaviour.
• Develop strategies for de-escalating tension and setting clear, respectful boundaries.
• Recognise when discussions are becoming inappropriate or off-topic.
• Practice techniques to confidently redirect or conclude inappropriate conversations.
• Build a practical understanding of appropriateness and its impact on community cohesion.
• Apply a structured framework for handling difficult interactions with empathy and firmness.

Delivery Approach:

​A highly interactive and practical session combining real-world scenario analysis, role-playing exercises, and guided group discussions. The session includes a framework activity - The "Calm, Clear, Close" Model for Difficult Talks - providing participants with structured steps and actionable strategies for immediate application.

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​This workshop can be tailored to the specific needs and scenarios professionals encounter most frequently.

Participants are welcome to register for either the morning or afternoon session, or attend both sessions as a full-day course.