A number of DAY Session Leaders have requested support on understanding children and young people who identify as transgender. With increasing numbers of children and young people identifying outside the gender binary of male and female, there are few resources for practitioners which will enable them to understand and make sense of the gender identity issues children and young people are dealing with.
As a result of this, we have developed a brand new one day training event for practitioners entitled Building Your Compass. The premise for this training is that this issue is "unchartered waters" for most practitioners, and when presented with a gender non conforming child, the immediate priority becomes practical considerations and pastoral responsibilities, usually without much previous understanding of gender identity.
This day will provide an opportunity to understand the wider frameworks around gender identity, exploring how gender identity is formed and what the different ideological positions about it are. Including numerous case studies and scientific evidence, it will be a thoroughly practical day rooted in robust research.
Currently this training is being offered exclusively to the DAY network and has already been described as "excellent" and as "one of the best training sessions I've been on".
Building Your Compass training runs from 10am - 5pm. It includes three sessions, separated by lunch and a coffee break.
Session 1: Context
How do we develop our gender identity? Exploring neuroscience and gendered socialisation, this session will look at nature and nurture. It will also include key language around gender identity and will explore the types of oppression trans* people are subjected to.
Session 2: Compass
Presenting the four main ideological positions related to gender identity, this session will focus on the conflicting and often opposing positions taken on key issues by each ideology. Participants will be invited to build their own compass, with the ideological positions taking different points on their compass.
Session 3: Case Studies
Having considered the different ideological approaches, this session will provide a set of case studies to work through. How does our compass direction work when pastorally supporting gender non conforming children and young people? By proactively considering potential scenarios, we can begin formulating strategies and support plans, in advance of potential situations with children, young people and families struggling with gender identity challenges.
Organisation Training:
Organisations can book the DAY Programme to come and deliver this training to their staff, or to a multi-agency group within their local area.
Maximum Participants:40
Cost:£600
Individual Training:
If we receive enough interest from individual practitioners, we will organise a Building Your Compass training event in London later in the year. This will cost £100 per person.
If you would like to book a Building Your Compass training event or register your interest in a London based training event, please email Andrew: andrew@dayprogramme.org.
