LAYC Training Courses for 2026/27

This interactive session aims: • To raise practitioner’s awareness and develop their knowledge of UNCRC. • To support a rights-based practice across organisations • To link rights-based practice to the Scottish legislation and policy context • To enable children to know, understand and claim their rights. Due to high demand, we only allow two members of each organisation to attend a course. If further members of your organisation would like to attend, please still submit an enquiry and we will place them on a waitlist.

This course will offer you an introduction to offering one to one support and supervision. It is aimed at people who are new to the role and people who would like to refresh their knowledge and check out their practice. The focus of the course is on planned supervision sessions however most of the concepts will be relevant for informal support and supervision also. Over the 2 half days you will explore; • The functions, key stakeholders, and focus of effective support and supervision • The beginning process constructively negotiating a supervision agreement and clarifying boundaries • Help people to reflect on their work and learn from their experiences • Identify a number of steps to develop as a supervisor To learn, observe and reflect from this practice it is advisable that if you are currently in the role as line manager that you schedule at least 1 S&S session in between session 1 and session 2. Session 2 offers an opportunity for sharing your reflection of any implementation or observation of this session. Session 1 - Online Session 2 - In Person @LAYC Free to members. £60 non-members

The workshop will provide a brief overview of Signalong which is the key word signing system used in Health and Education throughout Lothian. Using Signalong can support understanding and communication. The workshop will cover a range of vocabulary for use with children and young people, focusing on using handshapes and producing signs accurately. 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members, non-members please LAYC.

LivingWorks ASIST helps learners become willing, ready, and able to intervene with someone who has thoughts of suicide. Over this 2-day course, you will learn to: - Help someone with thoughts of suicide develop a safety plan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help - Apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this SafePlan through a collaborative, helping relationship - Understand how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it - Build confidence and capacity in providing suicide first aid In person @LAYC. Free to members. Non-members, please contact LAYC for course costs.

Ready for Youth Work is a practical course for youth workers and volunteers to ensure that they can: - Create a safe space for young people - Plan, deliver and evaluate fun youth work sessions for young people - Engage young people meaningfully and celebrate and recognise their achievements Course content: - Introduction to Youth Work - Introduction to Youth Participation - Hi5 and Dynamic Youth Award Introductory Training - Leading Games and Creative Evaluation - Child Protection Awareness - Trauma informed Practice Accreditation available at SCQF level 3 you will be asked to do some portfolio building in your own time. In person @LAYC. Free to members. Non-members, please contact LAYC for course costs.

The Youth Scotland Arts toolkit is a fun and creative activity toolkit, featuring 25 arts and crafts activities for use in our awards or for any groups participating in creative activities. Arts and crafts are a staple activity in any environment with young people. Our Arts Toolkit features 25 activities that are ready to use in any group with the minimum of fuss. Every activity has detailed instructions in clear English and a guide age group. Our toolkit features 25 activities that all feature the following: - Instructions on how to complete each activity - What you need to run the activity - What key skills are used in each activity - Helpful hints, where useful - Helpful diagrams, where useful 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members. £30 non-members.

This training aims to increase professionals' knowledge of online child sexual abuse and how to respond to it – through education and safeguarding. The session will focus on: • An introduction to online sexual abuse • Children and young people online • Non-consensual nude image sharing amongst children and young people • Livestreaming • Challenging victim blaming attitudes… 👥 In person @LAYC Free to youth and childrens workers/volunteers.

This introductory workshop is designed to increase your understanding and raise awareness of how to manage behaviour that is challenging in a youth work setting. This interactive session will cover: • Framing the behaviour that presents as challenging, • Understanding what drives behaviour • Exploring strategies for working with behaviour that presents as challenging. • Positive strategies to support behaviour – what to say, what to do and how to be 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members. £60 for non-members.

Do you handle food as part of work or volunteering with children and young people? This course is designed for all food handlers working in all aspects of the food industry, including: catering, cafés and for those in caring and voluntary situations involving food preparation or handling. What do you get out of it? - Learn skills for the workplace and the home - Prepare food safely and confidently! - Satisfy legal requirements in the workplace - Ensure the safety of your service users The course includes a short examination and a certificate on successful completion of the course (both sessions most be attended). 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members. Non-members, please contact LAYC.

This training is part of the “Transforming Psychological Trauma” framework developed by NHS and the Scottish Government. The training must be attended in full and will focus on: - Trauma and its Effects: Looking at principles of trauma informed practice whilst providing information on the impact of trauma on young people. It will give an overview of how traumatic experience can affect the brain and manifest itself in a young person’s ability to regulate themselves. - Recognising & Responding to Trauma: Exploring ways in which people cope with trauma. Focusing on how workers can respond to a disclosure of trauma and consider the impact on staff of working with young people who have experienced trauma and the importance of self-care. - Relationships & Recovery: The importance of relationships for promoting recovery from trauma. Reflecting on the principles of trauma informed care and consider how we can facilitate those in our working relationships with young people who have experienced trauma. Factors which influence recovery including when to refer to specialist services will also be considered. Level 2 is suitable for workers who have direct and frequent contact with young people who may be affected by trauma. This course involves a 2 hour e-module before the training. 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members. £60 for non-members.

This workshop aims to help dispel the myths about self harm and equip participants to support people who may self harm. This will include input and discussions on the following: • Definition of self harm, which recognises that it is predominantly a coping strategy • The difference between self harm and suicide • The emotional, social and physiological factors that may underlie self-harming behaviours • Reflect on your own feelings and reactions to self harm and how these can impact on interventions • Appropriate and safe responses/ interventions, including harm reduction • Issues which impact on working with self harm within the context of your own workplace/role 👥 In person @LAYC Free to members. £60 for non-members.

This course is for youth workers, play workers and volunteers who wish to gain knowledge and experience of First Aid. This interactive course will include: - Recovery position - CPR and treatment for shock - Disorders of breathing - Hypothermia - Disorders of consciousness - Wounds and bleeding - Injuries to bones and soft tissue - Burns and scalds - Poisons - Miscellaneous conditions Certification is for 3 years and each individual receives a comprehensive handbook. 👥 In person @LAYC £35 for members. Non-members please contact LAYC.