Information for trainers

Resources, guidance and policy for trainers and those who support them

Thank you so much for providing our volunteers with great learning and development opportunities.

Whether you're a new trainer or leading a team, we provide lots of resources to sharpen your skills and get participants fully involved with learning and development. If you’re a tutor or reviewer, you'll find guidance documents to support you in this section, too.

Training

Training covers everything you need to know about training at Girlguiding. You can download the whole manual, or select a chapter that's relevant to your needs.

  • Chapter 1 - Training and Girlguiding - how does training work at Girlguiding - and how do you, as a trainer, fit into our organisation? Understand more about the policies and process that affect you and where you can go for support.
  • Chapter 2 - Learning - understanding how adults learn is key to your success as a trainer. Find out how to identify and respond to different learning styles and explore the theories that underpin the practice.
  • Chapter 3 - Planning and designing a training session  - this chapter covers everything you need to know about organising training, from deciding on your aims and objectives to the practicalities of event management. See an example of a training plan and what aids might help you best engage participants.
  • Chapter 4 - Training methods- energisers, brainstorms and fishbowl discussions - explore a range of training methods and learn when to use them.
  • Chapter 5 - Delivering learning- learn how to create a proactive, learner-centered environment on the day, and respond to various barriers and challenges you might encounter with participants.
  • Chapter 6 - Evaluation- it's vital to evaluate your training to make sure you're giving participants the best learning experience possible. See how best to collect feedback and turn it into key actions.
  • Chapter 7 - What's next? - once you've got some experience under your belt, discover what other training opportunities are available to expand your skills further.
  • Appendix - Policy and good practice - this appendix explains the Girlguiding policies you need to stick to when training, and how to implement them in your work.

As well as our suggested core agenda for trainer support groups ,our Trainers' Talk series is designed to provide a framework for groups to discuss key issues in learning and development. Each document below contains discussion questions and activities for you to use - and topics have been suggested by trainers themselves!

  • Trainers' Talk: Non-directive training methods -many methods can be used to deliver training, and are broadly divided into two approaches: directive and non-directive. This Trainers' Talk explains the difference between the two and how you can incorporate both styles in your training sessions.
  • Trainers' Talk: Honest conversations - this Talk is designed to encourage discussion about the difficult conversations you may need to have in training sessions. Use the examples here to create an environment where participants feel comfortable expressing themselves, and allows them to create clear, positive actions from concerns.

Taking time out from training

If you want to take a break from your role as a trainer, you can!

The process depends on your plans.

  • If you simply want to pause your role - for up to 3 years - you need to place your role in 'abeyance' - which means a planned period of absence.
  • If you're planning on leaving your role for longer - or indefinitely - your trainer role will be removed from GO and the process to reinstate it will be a bit more comprehensive.

Once you've decided how long a break you want to take, agree this with your country or region trainer coordinator. If you're planning to put your role in abeyance, your country or region office will note this on your GO record. The date of your anticipated return will be kept at country or region level.

Returning to your role

3 months before you're due to resume your role, your country or region coordinator will contact you to confirm you wish to return. If you'd like to return sooner, you can make contact before this.

You'll then meet with your country or region trainer coordinator or nominated deputy to discuss:

  • How you've remained up to date with Girlguiding during your abeyance period.
  • How you've remained up to date with training during your abeyance period.
  • Your roles within Girlguiding.
  • The trainer abeyance and returners guidelines.
  • The training role you wish to take on, and whether this matches your previous qualification.

In this meeting, you'll need to agree your next steps. There are 2 options - you can either:

  • Complete the renewal process within the next 6-9 months.
  • Work with a tutor for up to 6 months to gain or refresh skills and then complete the renewal process within the following 6 months.

The renewal process includes:

  1. A role visit to confirm you uphold the guiding method in your role.
  2. A training practice observation.
  3. A training practice self-evaluation.
  4. Becoming an active member of a trainer support group.
  5. Completing a personal development plan.

In exceptional circumstances - such as bereavement or illness - the country or region may extend the period of abeyance by 3 months. Each abeyance can be extended only once.

If you want to return after an extended leave of absence (over 3 years), you will need to follow a slightly different process to become a trainer again.

  1. You'll first need to notify the volunteer development team - [email protected]- stating your membership number.
  2. The volunteer development team will then confirm your suitability on GO and ensure you meet the requirements. If you do, your local country or region will be informed. If you do not meet the requirements, our team will let you know what is required before you can reactivate your role.
  3. Your country or region trainer coordinator will then arrange for a role visit to ensure you are still working to the guiding method. If this visit is successful, the country or region trainer coordinator will ensure you are placed with a tutor. If it's not successful, the country or region trainer coordinator will help to create a development plan.
  4. Finally, you'll need to complete module 1 and the relevant modules from 2-4 which will include completing a personal development plan, undergoing three observations, becoming a member of a trainer support group and keeping up to date with the Girlguiding programme, policies and projects as necessary.
  5. Once this has been successfully completed, your trainer role will be reactivated on GO.

More information on taking a break

Download our full policy on abeyance and extended absences - which contains detailed information for those overseeing this process.

Resources for tutors and reviewers

Support for tutors and reviewers

Our full guidance for tutors, reviewers and country/region Trainer Qualification Coordinators, to support volunteers through the Trainer Qualification.

Download (PDF, 591KB)

Suggested format for trainer support group meetings

Our suggested core agenda for trainer support groups

Download (DOCX, 16KB)

Suggested format for tutor support group meetings

Our suggested core agenda for tutor support groups

Download (DOCX, 15KB)

Role visit form - for those working with adults

To be used if you're an observer attending a role visit where someone becoming a Trainer is working with adults

Download (PDF, 135KB)

Role visit form - for those working with girls

To be used if you're an observer attending a role visit where someone becoming a Trainer is working with girls in a unit meeting

Download (PDF, 133KB)

Trainer observation form

To be completed when observing a prospective trainer who is delivering a module session

Download (DOCX, 100KB)

Shadowing a trainer form

To be completed by a volunteer when they are shadowing a qualified trainer

Download (PDF, 145KB)

Renewal observation form

Observation form for trainers who are renewing their qualification for a further three years

Download (DOCX, 70KB)