SIAA facilitates many training events, roundtables, and information sharing sessions specifically intended for independent advocacy organisations. These events are member-only and designed to provide you with new skills, build organisational capacity and provide an opportunity for you to share your views on key policy topics relevant to human rights and independent advocacy.
SIAA also run regular online peer support sessions. The peer support sessions are informal opportunities for you to meet colleagues from across the sector, share ideas and provide mutual support. We run sessions for managers and sessions for staff once a month.
Find out more about upcoming events and peer support sessions, and sign up below!
This Zoom session is a chance to connect, share knowledge, and exchange experiences with colleagues facing similar challenges. It’s intended for all individual and collective advocates, administration & support staff, managers, chief executives, and any other worker at SIAA member organisation that supports advocacy partners in prisons (including liberated from prison), forensic settings, criminal justice…
Who is it for? This is a session for SIAA Liaisons or members who would like to become SIAA Liaisons in their organisations. It will be especially useful for those who missed last year's induction, or would like to know more about what it means and what it takes to be SIAA Liaison. What can…
We will begin this session with some planning: we'll discuss topics for the sessions, their frequency and timings for the year ahead. Afterwards, we'll discuss upcoming changes to the PVG scheme. This Zoom session is a chance to connect, share knowledge, and exchange experiences with colleagues facing similar challenges. It’s intended for all citizen advocates,…
This Zoom session is a chance to connect, share knowledge, and exchange experiences with colleagues facing similar challenges. It’s intended for all individual advocates managers, and any other worker involved in planning or delivering non-instructed advocacy. This is a recurring meeting that will take place every 3 months. What to expect from the session: We…
Together, in this peer space, we'll reflect on and explore what balancing work and life means to us. What does the balance look like for us at the moment? Why is it important? What is the purpose? What works for you? What barriers are in place? The discussion will be guided by these questions, with…
This peer support session is intended for all independent advocates, managers, and anyone who supports advocacy partners in prisons, forensic settings and criminal justice system. It's a space to ask questions, receive support from peers and share your own insights and expertise. We will base the discussion on the challenges and questions attendees bring on…
In this peer support session, we'll focus on Leader resilience - the ability to navigate stress, uncertainty, and setbacks while maintaining effectiveness and guiding others through these challenges. The session will begin with a short (10 minutes or less) presentation from our facilitator, Joette Thomas, introducing key aspects of the topic. From there, we’ll open the…
This session is open to everyone in SIAA member organisation, including trustees and volunteers, who has an interest in how lobbying and influencing work. We'll explore proven tools and strategies used by SIAA and our members to influence local and national policy and decision-making around independent advocacy. Through practical examples, we'll highlight effective influencing techniques…
This is the first session in our wellbeing-focused peer support series. In this session, we will begin by thinking about our own individual wellbeing. This is time out for people working in independent advocacy to have an opportunity to share their experience and learn some practical ways of supporting wellbeing at work. The session is open…
This peer support session is intended for all independent advocates, managers, and anyone else involved in supporting advocacy partners - adults and children - in a non-instructed setting. It's a space to ask questions, receive support from peers and share your own insights and expertise. We will base the discussion on the challenges and questions…
In this peer support session, we'll focus on engaging local MPs and MSPs to support citizen advocacy in Fife. This peer support session is intended for development managers, citizen advocates and any other staff involved in citizen advocacy. You can access notes and resources shared at previous sessions in this collaborative document, which is updated…
In this peer support session, we'll explore strategies to navigate leadership challenges as we step into autumn season. The session will begin with a short (10 minutes or less) presentation from our facilitator, Joette Thomas, introducing key aspects of the topic. From there, we’ll open the floor for discussion, offering space for participants to share…
I’ve found the Managers Peer to Peer support sessions invaluable; it feels supportive and safe and as a relatively new CEO it really has helped build my confidence as well as relationships with peers. Thank you.
SIAA member, 2022
I have enjoyed the SIAA training events I have attended and I have been able to attend more than I would have in the past due to courses being on zoom etc.
SIAA member, 2022
I found it really helpful to be connected to a larger group and to hear the variety of perspectives from others as we all face the impact of the coronavirus on our organisations, people, clients and key stakeholders.
SIAA member, 2020
SIAA are Living Wage Employers and The Lasting Difference symbol holders.
SIAA are currently working towards the LGBT Charter. Visit LGBT Youth Scotland to find out more.
