Family learning is so much easier with the support of a peer educator, often families are unsure of what family learning is and how to go about learning with their children.
For peer educators the project offers a supported environment to be creative and to learn new skills. The training peer educators receive involves building confidence, gaining communication skills and awareness of child development; equality and diversity issues all of which are considered essential.
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Not only do the peer educators receive a National Open College Network Progression level 2 award; they also get the opportunity to gain valuable work experience working with local residents within their homes and in a community setting.
Peer educators also have the opportunity to undergo their own personal development, through the use of individual learning plans and life plans we are able to support peer educators to identify their personal goals and ambitions. As a result of the Peer educator programme we have had remarkable results showing participants moving into higher education and into employment.
The Progressions Award
The progression award peer educators work towards is an excellent way of reintroducing education to many of our participants. The majority of our peer educators have been out of the education system for some time, many have had negative experiences of education, some left school with little or no qualifications. Some who have been on our course have lots of qualifications but have been out of the workplace for some time and have lost confidence in their abilities, the NOCN is an excellent way to take that first step back into learning regardless of previous experience.
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There are four units that are studied; they are Listening and Speaking, Teamwork and Communication Skills, Supporting your family in family Learning and making and using Story Sacks.
During the units various different subjects are covered which include:
- Assertiveness
- Communication
- Child Protection
- Equality and Diversity
- Disability Awareness
- Health & Safety, Decision Making
- Team working
- What is Peer Education
- What is Family Learning
Trainee peer educators attend two, two and a half hour sessions per week, plus two full days training in Child Protection and Equality & Diversity. All training is carried out on site at Turing Point Women's centre where there is a subsided crèche available for those who need it.
Once peer educators have received their training they are entitled to access our training allowance of £20 per week.
An important part of the role of a peer educator is being part of a team, to make it fun and a bit different we hold team building events, so far we have had a go at golf, eaten as much pizza as we could, walked in the woods and partied hard on a night out.
If you are interested in finding out more about the role and getting involved then please contact us on 01162795034