Advice First Aid training
2021 Advice First Aid Training & Events Timetable launched
During 2020 we, like many others, adapted to deliver sessions online. We held our first online annual conference, and delivered smaller AFA training sessions with a number of local community and faith groups.
We have now launched our 2021 Advice First Aid Training & Events Timetable. Please click here to see the schedule of online sessions, including details of how to register. These sessions are all aimed at staff or volunteers working with community and faith groups, voluntary sector organisations, and statutory services in Wandsworth. We are excited about the mix of training in advice areas such as welfare benefits, housing and debt, and network events which enable all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other. Please contact us using our online form if you would like further information.
*Spaces are limited on the sessions Introduction to Welfare Benefits, Universal Credit Overview, and Talking about Debt – please contact us if you would like to register more than 3 participants from your organisation.
Advice First Aid Training – March 2020
We delivered AFA training in March 2020 at our office in Battersea Library.
We had participants from Primary Care Plus, Elays Network, Deeper Life Ministries, Carney’s Katherine Low Settlement, Shree Ganapathy temple, Eritrean Muslim Community Association, and Wandsworth Council.
Advice First Aid Training – November 2019
We delivered AFA training on 7th and 8th November at our office in Battersea Library.
We had 12 participants from Primary Care Plus, Home Start Wandsworth, Family Action, Big Local, Thrive in touch, CARAS, Shree Ganapathy temple, Deeper Life Ministries and Katherine Low Settlement.
The training involves an introduction to welfare benefits, housing and homelessness and debt as well as the best local and online resources to help people.
We plan to run the course again in March 2020. For more information, please see this AFA Training InfoSheet
Advice First Aid Training Programme – November 2017
People from ten organisations in Wandsworth came together to complete the introductory ‘Advice First Aid’ training course developed by Citizens Advice Wandsworth in November.
A diverse group of staff and volunteers from the Community Church Putney, Earlsfield Food bank, St George’s University Hospital Trust, Eritrean Muslim Community Association, Sunni Muslim Association, Islamic Culture & Education Centre, Elays Network, S.T.O.R.M Empowerment, Jimmy Asher Foundation and Be Enriched participated. They have in common their day to day interaction with people facing hardship in the borough and a desire to work together with other organisations to assist people in navigating the systems which affect their lives.
Citizens Advice Wandsworth staff delivered highly interactive sessions introducing the welfare benefits system, housing and homelessness and managing debt. Participants also had an introduction to online resources which will help them find information and access other local services to help their communities.
The project team is now working with the these organisations to support them in using their new knowledge and skills effectively.
Advice First Aid Training Programme – June 2017
The first Advice First Aid training course took place in June 2017 at Citizens Advice Wandsworth offices in Battersea Library. The training was held on 3 days over 3 weeks and aimed to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills to provide information to people facing hardship and support them in accessing appropriate local resources.
Representatives from Age Activity Centre, Elays Network, LittleVillage, S.T.O.R.M, St Mungo’s, Family Action Newpin, Mushkil Aasaan, WCEN and Citizens Advice Wandsworth participated in the training. Topics covered included Welfare Benefits, Housing and Homelessness, Debt, Confidentiality, Interview Skills and Resources and Referrals.
Feedback from the participants was very positive and the group are now practising their skills in their volunteer and staff roles, supporting people facing hardship. The group will meet again in September 2017 to share their experiences and plan their next steps.
How it all started
Potential Advice First Aid trainees and representatives from Help Through Hardship Crisis project partners came together in March to discuss and co-design the pilot Advice First Aid training programme.
Representatives from Age Activity Centre, Elays Network, LittleVillage, S.T.O.R.M, Putney Wellbeing Friends, WCEN and Citizens Advice Wandsworth participated in the workshop. The group discussed situations Advice First Aiders will face and what skills and resources they need to gain, through the training programme, so they can assist people effectively.
Issues around homelessness, social housing, mental health issues, addiction, claiming benefits, domestic violence, asylum seeking and pay day loans were discussed and participants discussed their training needs in order to be able to work with individuals experiencing these hardships in their communities.
