What is the Commitment?
The number of sessions you deliver is up to you. Each person will decide what is right for them and their circumstances. Some Kindlers might facilitate one, two or three workshops in a year, some do more than this. When a Quaker Meeting makes a request for a Kindler workshop, the details (location, possible dates and topic) are circulated among the team to see who is interested and available. Workshops are normally delivered on a Saturday and typically start at 10.00 or 10.30 and finish around 4.00 with an hour’s break for lunch which is provided by the host meeting. Because we work across Britain Yearly Meeting, overnight stay may be required. Where this is the case, facilitators are usually accommodated by members of the local meeting. Some Kindlers are happy to travel long distances, others prefer only to do workshops that are closer to where they live.
What Will I Do?
- Facilitators are responsible for agreeing the topics and themes with the local meeting that has requested the workshop. As a Facilitator, working with your partner Kindler, you will typically:
- Arrange for relevant resources to be available (pens, posts-its, flip chart paper etc.), either by bringing these or by having the local meeting provide them.
- Set the tone of the workshop by your calm, supportive, open, non-directive and inclusive approach.
- Anticipate and adapt activities for those with disabilities or special learning needs.
- Deliver a range of activities designed to enable participants to listen to that of God within them (through silence as well as dialogue); to reflect upon relevant topics and issues; and discuss these honestly and safely where everyone’s views are honored and respected.
- Design a programme of activities for the day that enables issues to be engaged with in depth and breadth.
- Maintain the energy and momentum of the group through a variety of activities that are effectively paced.
- Manage interactions and time keeping to cover the agreed content within the arranged time.
- Support participants through active listening skills (reflecting, clarifying and building on ideas).
- Bring a sense of reverence and care towards the participants, treating them gently and kindly.
- Gather anonymous evaluation and review this and reflect on it with your partner.
- Prepare a short report for the Kindler Clerk which will go forward to the AGM.
Do I Need Relevant Experience?
No! There is no requirement for you to have done things before that are similar. We welcome new people with all sorts of experiences and backgrounds.
The key thing is that you have a supportive and facilitative approach to leading workshops, and are able to reflect on and develop your practice.
You will want to be, or become, fairly comfortable with the sorts of activities, attitudes and skills that the workshops require and of course will be committed to Quaker beliefs and practices.
What about Expenses?
Reasonable travel claims (with receipts) will be fully reimbursed by the Kindlers.
You are responsible for your own subsistence (i.e. food and drink you consume en route), however, lunch etc. will usually be provided by the group hosting the workshop.
If overnight accommodation is required this will either be arranged by the group hosting the workshop, or, by agreement with the Clerk, covered by the Kindlers. Evening meal and breakfast in these circumstances will be covered as well