This course is designed to enhance and develop your practice and increase competencies in participation and engagement.  The course will be delivered over 6 full days (3 days face to face at the University of Exeter Streatham campus and 3 days online). The cohort will run January – March 2027 on the following dates:

• Thursday 21st January (on campus)
• Friday 22nd January (on campus)
• Thursday 4th February (on campus)
• Thursday 18th February (online project building & coaching)
• Thursday 5th March (on campus)
• Friday 6th March (on campus)

There will also be an optional development day for delegates’ managers, service leads and commissioners to attend via Teams on:

• Friday 5th February (online)

You will be required to engage in a reflective practice assignment to support your learning. A place on the programme will cost £675.  

This event is designed for professionals who want to develop advanced knowledge, skills, and confidence in meaningful participation and co-production. Through this comprehensive programme, participants will explore the ontology, philosophy, and ethics of participation, gaining a deeper understanding of participation models and when they are most appropriate to use. The course examines the role of lived and learned experience, how these develop over time, and how to support individuals in sharing their experiences safely and effectively.

Attendees will learn how to plan and manage successful participation projects, work collaboratively with others, navigate difficult conversations, and respond constructively to challenge and controversy. The programme also covers evaluation and impact measurement, enabling practitioners to track the difference their work makes at individual, service, and commissioning levels. With a strong focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, participants will discover how to design principle-led projects, move beyond traditional steering groups towards youth-led approaches, and embrace creative thinking and innovative practice.

Ultimately, the event supports participants in becoming effective Agents of Change, equipping them with the strategies, influence, and leadership skills needed to win hearts and minds, drive meaningful improvement, and maximise the impact of their participation work.

The training will be delivered by Tim Tod & Kate Sandel.

Tim Tod 

Tim has been a Chief Executive of various children’s and young people’s charities in the Southwest over the past 25 years. He has worked extensively with children, young people and their families as a professionally qualified youth worker. In addition, both Tim and his partner are Foster Carers of teenagers.   

In parallel, for the past decade has worked within Cedar as the Participation lead supporting Children and Young People Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programmes; and more recently also supporting the Southwest provider collaborative for children and young people’s inpatient provision in developing and implementing their participation strategy.  

Kate Sandel 

Kate has worked in a variety of sectors for the past 20 years combining her passion for the wellbeing of people with the rest of the more-than-human-world.  This began by working in environmental education, before focusing on person centred practice for young people with special educational needs and their families. She has worked strategically for DCC as part of the Transitions Commissioning Team, and lead on a variety of advocacy and participation projects at regional and national level.

in recent years her focus has been on training and development of the workforce, and Kate has been co-lead for the participation training programme for CEDAR for the past decade.  Alongside this she runs her own business supporting people and horses, and has recently undertaken a Masters in Mind, Movement and Ecology. 

If you are interested in taking part in this training course you can book your place here:

If you have any questions, please contact: cyp-participation@exeter.ac.uk