Challenge Events
Three online interactive workshops on 22-24 September tackling cross-service challenges connected to our missions. These are designed to be different to your day job, letting you try something new and giving you or your teams opportunities to connect with others and have your voices heard.
What’s happening?
What you need to know
What: Three opportunities to take part in online interactive mass-participation workshops (up to 200 people can take part in each so you’ll be part of something big!). These will be fun, imaginative sessions facilitated by experts in participatory events - you’ll come away feeling energised, listened-to and excited about being part of a momentum shift.
Why: We’ll be working through some core cross-service challenges connected to our missions: Advice fit for the future; Closing the gap for marginalised communities, and; Taking early action to prevent crisis. The solutions we generate will be locally-focused: actionable ideas which local offices can put into practice. The ideas we collectively come up with are the ones we’ll be talking about at Conference in November, so you’ll be directly shaping our conference agenda.
How: We’ll help you try new and fun ways of working so no prep is needed. These sessions are designed to be accessible and really engaging, and they only work if you’re fully present. So while we DON’T need you to be an expert on our missions or the themes we’ll cover (although you’re very welcome if you are), we DO need you to be an active participant on the day. Each session runs for three hours (including a break) and is held on Zoom.
Who: These are for everyone but we’d especially love frontline staff and volunteers in local offices and junior staff in national teams to be given the chance to take part - leaders and managers, our ask to you is to find ways your teams can get involved. These are an opportunity for anyone across our service, especially anyone who can’t attend in person in November. We’ve also outlined below which Challenge Event might suit you best if you work or volunteer in particular areas.
Register on one of the links below
This session is for you if your work or volunteering involves or has a focus on: business development; partnership work; connections building; devolution; regional working; and anything connected to our first mission of providing advice fit for the future by being there for people when they need us. You are also welcome to join if you are simply interested in this topic.
This session is for you if your work or volunteering involves or has a focus on: EDI; co-production; lived experience; client experience; and anything connected to our second mission of closing the gap to end disparities in access and experience for marginalised people. You are also welcome to join if you are simply interested in this topic.
This session is for you if your work or volunteering involves or has a focus on: research and campaigns; digital and data; AI; policy work; external affairs; and anything connected to our third mission of taking early action to prevent more people reaching crisis. You are also welcome to join if you are simply interested in this topic.
““Perle and team set a tone of trust and openness right from the start so that our +200 Zoom call quickly felt like a safe space to share what we felt was stopping us from doing more, what skills we could bring to the table, and ideas to bridge this gap””
FAQs about our Challenge Events
Can I just observe at these events?
No, these are full participation events! We'll ask you to close your email, turn off your phone and be totally present. And we promise it will be worth it.
I can't attend for the full three hours, can I just join for part of the session?
We're afraid not, we really do need you engaged for the full session. If there is anything you can do to clear your calendar, or encourage your manager to help you take part, we really hope you can. These events are a rare opportunity to get involved in something big, different and which can benefit you individually as well as Citizens Advice - and our clients - as a whole.
I don't have any specific knowledge about any of these topics, does that matter?
Not at all. We'll be explaining each session's topic on the day and prior expertise is not mandatory. That said if you are an expert, or feel like you know a little bit already, you are particularly welcome. The individual sign-up links above show which job or volunteering areas would be particularly appropriate for each challenge event.
I find participation in online sessions intimidating - are these for me?
Yes! While we will be asking you to take part in our creative exercises and sharing the ideas you'll come up with (and don't worry, you'll definitely come up with ideas), we have developed these sessions with everyone in mind: we're not in the business of making anyone feel scared or anxious. And if this kind of working is new to you it might take you a little bit out of your comfort zone, but we promise you'll feel supported and looked after.
How are the sessions run - what's involved?
Everything will take place on Zoom, using a combination of breakout rooms, polling options and other simple interactive tools. The only technical requirement is for you to be on a device with a good internet connection, and ideally one with a camera which is separate to your phone (e.g. a laptop) to allow you to easily take part in all the activities.
Who is running the events?
Our lead facilitator is Perle Laouenan-Catchpole, an expert in collaborative, interactive, large group online events. Read more about Perle and her approach to online sessions.
Can you accommodate my accessibility requirement?
When you register you will have the option to share details of any accessibility requirements. If we have any questions about the best way to support you, we might get in touch directly to clarify these with you.
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
You can register using one of the three Challenge Event links above.
I have more questions
No problem! Get in touch with our Events team at events.team@citizensadvice.org.uk.
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