Free training for families with or groups working with neurodiverse children

Free training aimed at parents with neurodiverse children - those awaiting or wanting to pursue a diagnosis - as well as for volunteers and professionals who support neurodiverse children and young people in non-educational settings, is being made freely available at the end of March. 

The training entitled ‘Understanding and supporting your neurodivergent child’ and ‘Understanding and supporting neurodivergent children and young people in and out of school settings/ clubs/ activities’ has been organised by Orkney Islands Council’s Community, Learning, Development and Employability team.  

It will be delivered by Colin Foley, CEO of Neurodiversity Training UK, which provides practical, engaging, and evidence-based training opportunities for professionals and families to support neurodivergent children and young people at home, in community groups or colleagues in the workplace. 

These sessions offer a clear introduction to neurodivergence, covering key conditions, current research, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and the many ways neurodivergence can present. They also provide practical, evidence-based strategies to support neurodiverse children and young people. Participants will learn how to meet communication, sensory, learning, and well being needs, and how to create supportive environments at home or within organisations.  

They have been tailored especially for Orkney and have been designed following feedback from families and support services following a consultation carried out during the Family Fun Day in June last year.  

Lindsey Johnson, CLDE Team Manager Employability, said:  

“Specialist training like this is not always easy to access in island communities, so we’re thrilled to make it available free of charge. These sessions will give parents, carers, and youth workers the knowledge and confidence to better understand and support neurodivergent young people.” 

Parents/carers of neurodiverse children, or those awaiting assessment or diagnosi,s are invited to attend one of two training events, taking place on the 20th and 21st of March from 10:00 to 14:30 in Kirkwall Town Hall. 

Each session has space for 30 attendees, and spaces can be booked by emailing employability.support@orkney.gov.uk. Lunch will be provided. 

The training session for professionals and volunteers, including youth workers, will be held on the evening of the 20th of March via Microsoft Teams, between 19:00– 21:00. 

Please contact employability.support@orkney.gov.uk to book your place. 

The learning outcomes for each session are summarised in the table below: 

Parents – Understanding & Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child 

Youth Workers / Volunteers / Professionals – Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Young People in Clubs & Activities