The skills required by teachers to effectively deliver Community Relations programmes in school are closely related to the skills required to teach any subject –clarity of delivery, knowledge of the topic, confidence, preparation and an ability to accommodate the differing needs of pupils. Dealing with potentially contentious topics, however, requires enhanced skills. Whilst these are best learnt through practical experience, a number of accredited programmes - Post Graduate Studies and Continuous Professional Development - exist which have the potential to accelerate or supplement this learning-by-doing.
Training for leaders involved in community relations work is necessary for the successful implementation of community relations programmes. Leaders participating in the Youth Service Communitiy Relations Support Scheme need to be equipped with the necessary skills if the work is to be focused and programmes developed and expanded.
Therefore, each individual should be offered the opportunity to:
Appropriate training will be offered on an annual basis. This will include training accredited by NIOCN at Introduction and Advanced Level.