SWAP’s training programme

SWAP provides training on refugee awareness, the asylum process and migrant worker issues. The training builds on the excellent reputation of our predecessor, Friendly Faces Mentoring Project, and comes in the form of standard packages and bespoke training. The positive feedback we have received from training co-ordinators and participants make us confident that our sessions will add value to your staff, your volunteers and your organisation.

We run a regular programme of ‘Refugee Awareness’ and ‘Migrant Worker Rights’ training. These sessions are open to service providers, community and voluntary sector organisations and members of the general public. Please see our training brochure for more details of these courses.

For organisations looking to train a number of staff, and for those needing training with a work-specific focus or particular learning outcome, we can deliver tailored training sessions on your premises or at an external venue. Ashton Wigan & Leigh Primary Care Trust, Job Centre Plus, Homestart, and Wigan Council’s Children & Young People’s Services are some of the organisations which have used our bespoke training programme so far.

Where possible we use volunteers from Wigan ’s new communities to co-deliver training sessions.

For further information about training in general, or to discuss your bespoke training needs, please call 01942 614486.

Comments from previous participants

The feedback from our training sessions has been extremely positive. Comments of individual participants include the following:

“All parts of the session were informative and interesting”

“Very good training session – thanks!”

“Enjoyed the course, found it very informative”

“Should be given to all staff dealing with the public”

“found it very useful and had questions answered”

“Thought the presentation was excellent”

“I think everyone would be wise to attend. It really does open your eyes to the plight that refugees face”

What the training co-ordinators think

“3 of our staff attended: they were very impressed with the way in which the event was run and found it useful to see the issues raised from a different perspective”

Other training in the Borough

If you are looking for further training on related issues, there are a few local possibilities.

The CVS BME Development Worker offers training on Cultural Awareness and an Introduction to Islam. Please contact sullah@cvswl.org for details.

Refugee Action deliver a training session called “Asylum Seekers and RefugeesInto Volunteering”, which is aimed at organisations that want to make it easier for refugees and asylum seekers to take up voluntary roles. Please contact Gwen Mason on 0161 233 1200 for further information.

For Equality and Diversity training, please contact