In collaboration with Bespoke Communications, Copper Square/Channel56 and Roger Gowdy we have developed tailored training for staff, volunteers and board members in our sector.
Training sessions
You can find out more and book your place by clicking the links below. All courses have limited places so please book quickly if you wish to attend.
21 October 2025 - Podcast Accelerator | NICVA
If you have a message to tell the world, and an audience that needs to hear it, there is no better vehicle to make that happen right now than a podcast. This half a day will lead you through all the key steps to launch a successful podcast, saving countless hours of research and mistakes along the way.
13 November 2025 - Social with Strategy: A 7-Step Framework for Purpose-Driven Social Media | NICVA
Social media holds the potential to generate a massive amount of awareness of what your organisation has to offer and how to promote the work in a consistent and engaging way. This session will help you develop a social media strategy to stand out from the crowd and build an audience of activated and informed followers.
25 February 2026 - Using AI to create Social Media Content | NICVA
This session is for anyone needing to understand how AI can support their social media efforts. It is a practical session in which you will learn how to use AI tools to brainstorm ideas, create content, and improve efficiency. Important also for feeling confident in incorporating AI into your social media strategy while maintaining a human touch.
10 March 2026 - Managing the Media | NICVA
Do you want to improve how you work with the media and be more effective in communicating your message? This session gives you a behind the scenes look at how journalists construct and interview for a story, so that you are prepared and ready for maximum impact when the cameras turn up live on the day.
Our trainers for the series
Roger Gowdy is highly experienced in all things podcasting and audio/visual production. Starting his training in the world leading Sonic Arts Research Centre in Belfast, Roger completed his Masters in 2005, and since then has been producing audio visual content for organisations all over the world, including the US, Eastern Europe, Africa and at home in NI. Roger has launched, hosted and edited multiple podcasts with particular focus on the not-for-profit sector, so is ideally placed to help guide organisations as they start their journey into posting.
Ashleigh Watson – Ashleigh Watson is a marketing professional with over 20-years’ experience working at a senior level specialising in marketing strategy and communications. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge of developing and delivering integrated marketing campaigns using digital and traditional techniques. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Vice-Chair of the CIM Ireland Committee. Ashleigh was named a Top Five Advisor in Social Media in the UK and Ireland (Enterprise Nation 2022).
Sarah Travers is co-founder and director of Bespoke Communications. Sarah is a former BBC news journalist and TV presenter, with a keen interest in stories and the people that shape them. Sarah is a familiar face to many in Northern Ireland, where she was news anchor in the BBC newsroom for 17 years, covering high profile stories. She has also presented lifestyle programming for UTV. Sarah is a proud ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society in NI, Tinylife and Young Enterprise.
