***Relationships in Practice Programme Update***

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We hope you are well. We are writing with important news regarding some fundamental changes in the Relationships in Practice programme.

The following statement has been agreed upon between Social & Health Education Project (SHEP) and the Ag Eisteacht Foundation (AEF):

‘The initiative placing the work of Relationships in Practice in the Social & Health Education Project (SHEP) is coming to an end and will cease on 11th May 2024. We would like to thank everyone who contributed during this time. From this date (May 11th), the Relationships in Practice programme can be contacted at: training@relationshipsinpractice.ie.’

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your interest in the programme, its values and mission- this has been appreciated and supportive.

Many, many thanks and very warm wishes,

Fern and Robyn

Fern Higgins Atkinson

Programme Manager- Relationships in Practice

Relationships in Practice is a collaboration between Ag Eisteacht Foundation and Social and Health Education Project (SHEP).The Relationships in Practice Programme is informed by a vision of Ireland where all practitioners are empowered with the self-awareness, skills and resources to respond in a sensitive and focused way when someone turns to them for help, particularly during times of change or relational distress.

Established (as Ag Eisteacht) in 2001 by Dr Maeve Hurley, a former GP, the Relationships in Practice Programme has become Irelands leading provider of relationship-centred communication training, upskilling over 4,000 frontline practitioners to date. Ag Eisteacht is the Irish word for listening a key competency in building relationships in practice.

From January 2022 Relationships in Practice will be a collaboration between Ag Eisteacht Foundation and Social and Health Education Project (SHEP). There are four strands in the programme: evidence informed training, advocacy, collaboration and evaluation.

The evidence-informed training courses develop practitioners self-awareness, interpersonal skills, insight and knowledge so that they can support and empower individuals and families

What continues to inspire me is the feedback and case studies we receive from practitioners illustrating how the Relationships in Practice training has enhanced their ability to relate, communicate and understand others – the gift that is to both client and practitioner.

Dr Maeve Hurley, founder of Ag Eisteacht and the Relationships in Practice Programme

The programme provides the reflective space, tools, insight and understanding to support knowledge in the field of relationships in practice – to build capacity in frontline practice to nurture quality relationships in practice and to support practitioners understanding of how relationships are a key contributor to health and well-being.

The ABLE training model also provides a framework to help practitioners to manage their time and boundaries for their own wellbeing.

All of us in SHEP are really excited about this new collaboration with Ag Eisteacht Foundation. We SHEP have long been admirers of the Relationships in Practice programme that Maeve and the team have developed and delivered over the years. We are honoured to be involved in the next chapter of the Programme which fits very well along side and complements the SHEP training programme. We are confident that this new collaboration will be a very effective and dynamic way to continue to support practitioners working in health, education and other settings with quality, evidence-informed relational training

Jim Sheehan  Director, SHEP

Please click the link below to visit the Relationships in Practice Website;

>> Click here to visit website <<