Approach Young Leader Training
Q: I have finished reading all of the useless material for leading training
available from HQ, now i would like to hear from those runnning schemes
already and how they are finding it?
I just can't see how it works well, i might be wrong but it just doesn't
seem to fit together, perhaps i'm still some pieces missingg from this
jigsaw.
A:-I think you're being a little harsh in describing it as "useless"!
There is some good stuff there (and I must admit I've only seen bits), but I
don't doubt that there are "concerns".
I got the feeling that from the beginning that it was somewhat "rushed". For
a start it came out late which really shouldn't have happened as one would
have thought that, it being a integral part of the ES programme, it would
have been launched at the same time as the ES programme launch. I also think
that a lot of it is in a sort of conceptual state at the moment and not
based on experience, which of course doesn't really exist. However, I
suppose you've got to start somewhere!
My one big concern about YLT is that it's very much based on, and derives
from, the AT scheme. One of the ultimate aims of the YLT scheme is to train
the leaders of the future, however, I think it's more important that we
train YL in leadership and not as leaders per se. I suppose it's the way you
approach it, but I for one would not attempt to try to train a 14/15 yo YL
in the same ways and means as an adult leader; concepts can be similar, but
practicalities and delivery has to be different. I think you need to use the
scheme as a conceptual "base" to work from but tailor it to the yp and their
needs.
-I think there are some important pieces that are implicit in and important
to the scheme but are not necessarily put down and highlighted in print. A
YL should not work through this scheme alone and should also not see the
scheme as a standalone means/way of training/developing leadership skills
and qualities. There is an important mentor/support side to the scheme. A YL
needs to work through the scheme closely with an adult or adults - a section
leader, if they're doing the scheme in connection with "helping" with a
section; another adult (who could also be the section leader) who can be a
sounding board and provide personal support (the mentor idea) for particular
aspects of leadership training - plus they need to work with a training
group/unit of similarly engaged YL's - a peer group - so that they can share