Training & support

“Such a brilliant course and so enabling – I feel much more confident that I can go out and interview children and young people as I know I have clear guidelines. Thank you.”

Course participant June 2023

“Thanks for the inspiring and informative training course”

Course participant, Feb 2022

I develop and deliver training on how to conduct research and evaluation.

Each year I deliver regular training courses for the Social Research Association on the ethical , methodological and other considerations around conducting research or evaluation with children and young people.

“I found the course really engaging. The trainer helped apply the content of the course to the research we’re currently undertaking in our jobs and would highly recommend the course”

Post course feedback from participant June 2023

These issues are typically not covered in mainstream courses and many researchers feel very anxious about or even put off working with younger participants, despite the multiple justifications and benefits. My courses help overcome common fears and misapprehensions and provide the theoretical and practical basis required.

This course was absolutely excellent, full of useful knowledge, with an engaging delivery. In fact, it’s the second course I have attended with SRA and this one was worth every penny

Course Participant Oct 2022

Courses are designed to suit both those new to research and experienced researchers, who want to develop their skills further and better understand the main considerations, challenges and practical aspects when working with a younger age group.

“… thank you so much Berni for delivering the training … I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and will be taking away the insights gained to improve our research in the future.

I think it’s the best training I’ve been on …”

Course participant, July 2022

As well as ‘open’ courses, I create and deliver bespoke courses for organisations. Over recent years this included Women’s Aid, the DofE, ONS, Action for Children, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Sustrans and Ipsos Mori.

The training was really useful, informative and very well explained with lots of time for discussion and questions in relation to the attendees’ research.

Course participant, Feb 2022

“I really really enjoyed the course. Berni has a wealth of knowledge, ideas and experience. I have come away with so many ideas for my PhD research feeling more confident and excited”

Course participant, February 2022

As well as direct teaching and a comprehensive written materials, all courses include plenty of opportunities for small and large group discussions and practical work, to help participants apply the learning to their own situations and specific challenges.

“This was a really informative and well led course with good use of breakout sessions and discussion. It covered all the basics in the right amount of detail and the course handbook was very comprehensive”

Course Participant November 2022

A really good balance of issues around ethics and methods for researching with children. The activities chosen were well-designed to help us think about researching with children more broadly, and how it relates to specific projects we’re working on. I’ve got lots to take away to implement in my work”

Course participant November 2022

I often train and support non-researchers to work as peer researchers, for example:

  • In 2022 I trained young people from Moorfields and Great Ormond Street Hospital on qualitative interviewing skills, including ensuring consent, confidentiality, privacy and bias;
  • I jointly developed a training pack with sample materials and templates for Barnardos to help them engage and train children and young people as peer researchers/ evaluators
  • I trained and supported care leavers to conduct a national survey about support services
  • I trained young people on Princes Trust programmes to evaluate their local programmes
  • I trained families to evaluate their local early years’ services and
  • I trained local people to conduct research interviews to gather views on parks and green spaces in East London.

Other strategic support offered