The Transformative Leadership Programme: Participants tell their story - David Murphy, Village Westlink TLP Spring 2020

David did his TLP course in the Village Westlink area during Spring 2020.

“The course shows that people can make a difference – but there has to be a method. That’s what the trainers gave”

Motivation

What motivated you to sign up for the course?

I signed up for personal development and change, knowledge of the subject areas, and new and imaginative relationships between and within communities to create better ‘good relations’.

Experience and Learning

What did you like about the course?

I learned from the whole course and I especially learned from the project planning and team building and communication modules.  The small group work was very useful. I learned a lot of real ‘stuff’ that is useful.  The group work was also very useful and I learned a lot from this process. The course was of a high standard, the questions were challenging, and the group work was a great way of getting through the learning. The trainers were good – there were complicated concepts that they did well.

What topics stood out for you?

I especially learned a lot from the project planning module.  This has challenged me to critically reflect on the need, process and procedure for project planning.  The facilitation of the course was good because of the educational delivery, it involved diverse techniques such as small group working.

What are you likely to ‘take back’ to your life/work in the community?

The need for communication and listening as an integral of leadership.  Further the importance of a process into planning and decision making.Lifelong learning is key in personal development.  The course has provided me with new perspectives on methods of working and styles of working. Through reflective practice I will be challenged to evaluate on the quality of my work and to listen to the ideas of others.  My approach will be based on the concept of empowerment.

What difference has it made?

Is there anything you could or would do now that you wouldn’t have felt able to do before?

I will spend more time in the process of planning and working in relationships with others.  Working towards the creation of better working relationship is key to the process.

Are there people/agencies you feel able to talk to and work with now that you weren’t before?

The Housing Executive and civil servants.  Statutory agencies are a complex language that can be complicated to understand. The PSNI and the Community Together (PACT) an interagency group that meets in the Duncairn, Tigers Bay areas, I will get more involved in this group as it works to create a better area and a more stable interface.

What difference will this make to how you engage in your interface area?

There is a real need for a process between the two communities. This should facilitate better and positive working relationships.  Problem solving and honesty are further key points of building the process of engagement on practical issues.

What difference will the course make to the interface area overall?

The interface problems are shared problems.  There is a need to collaborate on issues of mutual concern for the ‘common good’.  Understanding of the other is developed through people visiting communities across their respective interfaces.The course shows that people can make a difference, but there has to be a method. That’s what the trainers gave.