East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 24 June 2021 | Comments

Voluntary, community and covid response groups and local councils in East Suffolk are invited to attend free virtual training sessions to help them support the most vulnerable people in their communities.

East Suffolk Council has funded a range of new online training sessions which will be taking place next month as part of a pilot scheme to provide local groups and councils with the knowledge and confidence needed to continue their work to support vulnerable people in their local communities.

Initially, the sessions will focus on three specific topics which have been identified through the Council’s work with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals over the past year and feedback from covid response groups across East Suffolk:

• Domestic Abuse Community Advocates
• Mental Health First Aid Awareness
• Working with those in Distress

Cllr Letitia Smith, Cabinet Member for the Communities, Leisure and Tourism, said: “The past year has been challenging for many of us, even more so for the most vulnerable people in our communities. That is why the work that local groups and councils have been doing – and continue to do – has never been more important, helping so many people who might otherwise have struggled.

“We have designed these free training sessions to focus on specific areas which have been identified as priorities. The aim is to provide local groups and local councils with the knowledge, tools and confidence to deal with these topics so they can continue to provide the vital support that the most vulnerable people in our communities need during what continues to be a difficult time for many.”

For more information or to book your place, please email Joanna.jonas@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

If the events prove successful with attendees, the Council will aim to roll out more over the Autumn. The Domestic Abuse Community Advocates training is now fully booked but please contact us to register your interest and we will plan additional sessions for the Autumn.

Training details

Domestic Abuse Community Advocates
5th July 6.30pm – 8.30pm
19th July 6.30pm – 8.30pm
(participants need to attend both of the above sessions)

Session 1

• • Myth Busting conversation
• • What is Domestic Abuse
• • An introduction to Coercive Control
• • Power & Control/Equality Wheel

Session 2

• • Barriers for victims (personal and community/society based)
• • How to start a conversation
• • How to respond
• • Signposting
• • Advocacy in Action

Mental Health First Aid Aware course
6th July – 1.30pm – 5pm
8th July – 5pm – 8.30pm
15th July – 1.30pm – 5pm
22nd July – 9.30am – 1pm
(participants need to attend one of the above sessions)

This introductory four-hour session raises awareness of mental health. Attendees will gain:

• • An understanding of what mental health is and how to challenge stigma
• • A basic knowledge of some common mental health issues
• • An introduction to looking after their own mental health
• • Confidence to offer support to someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue

Working with those in Distress
13th July – 1pm – 3.30pm
14th July – 6 – 8.30pm
(participants need to attend one of the above sessions)

• • Listening skills
• • Conversations about suicide
• • How to look after their own wellbeing – boundaries and avenues of self-support
• • How to help the speaker to identify avenues of support for companionship and how to start to venture out into the community
• • Next steps and other learning needs