Leadership, Advocating for Policy Change
The leadership programme is aimed at leaders or potential leaders within our groups. Lone parents who have already undertaken a number of programmes, or have been involved on voluntary committees/boards within their group and/or community.
The programme provides an opportunity for lone parents who have gained skills and abilities pertaining to leadership through their involvements to actually formalise some of their knowledge, gain new skills and receive accreditation.
The programme covers four units all aimed at extending the capacity of our member groups:
1. Advocacy and Influencing Policy Provides the knowledge and skills on how to influence policy at local regional and national levels.
2. Fundraising Strategies for Development explores the many fundraising avenues "open" to local based groups. Many of which are untapped to a great extent – but could provide real opportunities to support the sustainability of groups.
3. Media Skills covers how to utilize the media to the benefit of your group – getting your message across, developing press releases etc.
4. Developing and Sustaining Coalitions of Interest. No group can work effectively in isolation. In order to effect change we need to build alliances and work with other key and appropriate bodies. This module demonstrates the steps of developing effective alliances to influence change.
The leadership programme is accredited at FETAC level 6. However, it has been developed in a way that it can be delivered as an entire programme or the individuals units can be delivered separately to meet specific needs of a group at any time.
With the support of the Department of Social and Family Affairs we have successfully piloted the Leadership programme in Dublin North and the North East Region of the Country. Twenty four Lone Parent Leaders will receive their certificates at the end of June "What a celebration that will be!"
This page was updated on 23rd June, 2006