27th November - Algate east, London

There are positive and negative aspects to social media – but whatever our views - young people are in those social media spaces and we as youth practitioners need to understand this online environment.

Social media are part of young people’s everyday lives (Facebook, messenger, bebo etc). As practitioners, and managers of practitioners working with young people how should we respond to this?

Should we ignore the technology and play safe by keeping to old means of communication?

Should we embrace the technology and become virtual youth practitioners? What are the ethics and the practicalities involved with online youth work? Which methods should we use?

What are the risks and benefits?

All these questions and more are the reason that we have commissioned this new innovative training to explore this pressing topic.

 Course content:

Learn how young people use social media; explore how new social media approaches to engage with young people could be used within your practice/organisation; develop practical skills in the use of social media tools (the afternoon session will be dedicated to getting ‘hands –on experience’; identify practical ways to support young people to be safe online; and find ways of applying your professionals skills and values to new digital environments.

 Learning outcomes:

• Learn how to modify Facebook privacy and account settings to protect and maintain professional boundaries.
• Create a Facebook Group, upload content, create an event, group chat and security settings.
• Explore how to create, manage and drive traffic and engagement through a Facebook Page.
• Discuss and review opportunities and risk management when using social media within a professional environment.
• Learn how young people use social media in isolation and within peer groups.
• Understand how to contract informed consent, confidentiality and community guidelines when using social media platforms
• Explore and review online e-safety resources and how to support young people to make informed e-safety choices about their online persona and conduct.
• Learn how to enable blended facilitation of online and offline content to drive engagement and dialogue.
• Basic Twitter essentials and how to gain followers to drive organizational online brand presence.
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 Training Format:

• Presentations by the trainer 
• Practical individual digital media tasks for each training delegate
• Group work activities and case scenarios to explore 
• Film clips on related topics from Facebook and young people

Trainer:

Katie Bacon is qualified Youth Worker with over 13 years’ experience of working with a wide range of hard to reach and vulnerable young people across a variety of settings, i.e. youth centres, schools, detached youth work, prisons and community venues.? She is the Director of Online Youth Outreach & has I researched, consulted and developed online youth engagement and marketing tools to engage, inspire and raise young people's aspirations to access online youth support services, employment and training opportunities. She has designed and delivered a wide range of training courses. Katie chairs and manage an online forum called ‘Youth Work Online’ with a membership of over 1,000 youth professionals.

Katie is currently writing a comprehensive Social Media book for Youth Professionals and Teachers

Cost:  £98 per person   (no VAT charged)

How to join:
Please  book online http://www.15billion.org/training-directory/dir/listing/56/