Summer update from ICA:UK

ICAUK summer newsThe recent EU referendum and its result have thrown up a lot of questions for democracy and the UK’s political system, and challenges us in our mission to develop and maintain a culture of participation. What can facilitators contribute to bridging the divisions that are increasingly apparent in our society? Several initiatives are emerging to address the issue. Recently Involve organised an event for facilitators to ask just such questions. Read Involve Director Simon Burrall’s reflections on the event.  This was an initial conversation. ICA:UK and several of our Associates either attended or expressed support for the event, and IAF England & Wales have offered their free facilitation meet-ups around the country as places where the discussion can be continued.

Since our involvement in the Kumi project in Israel and Palestine (2006-2010), ICA:UK has continued to apply its approach in conflict affected countries (e.g. Tunisia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Palestine). This year we supported the International Peacebuilders’ Forum at Caux, and in September we will be presenting with Palestinian colleagues at the Adam Curle Symposium at the University of Bradford – join us there!

In addition to several planned in-house courses this autumn, ICA:UK continues to offer a range of scheduled courses for delivery in London, Bristol and Manchester from September to December. After the success of the first Group Facilitation Methods course in Warsaw in May, Akademia Facylitacji are planning a further GFM course in late October, and Initiatives of Change in Switzerland have scheduled a series of courses in Geneva in early November. All these courses will be delivered by ICA:UK Associates working with the emerging ToP trainers in Poland and Switzerland. In addition ICA:UK Associate Martin Gilbraith will be running ToP courses in Brussels in November 2016.

ICA:UK will be hosting the 2016 ICA Europe gathering in Warrington, 28th November-1 st December- more in the next newsletter.


These and other items were first published in the ICA:UK Summer 2016 Update.