What Are Online Workshops?

WHO ARE WE?

Online workshops are free online group sessions. They offer you practical tips and info about issues you might be struggling with as well as the opportunity to meet other young people and share ideas in a safe, secure and confidential chat room.

Workshops work best on a laptop or desktop computer however you can also access them on your mobile. You'll be prompted to download the Clickwebinar app which will then allow you to take part from your phone. 

WHAT WE DO

Workshops are short, interactive, group sessions that take place at a particular time (see What’s On), bringing you together with other young people to talk about issues like:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Relationships
• Confidence Building

To find out more about what happens in these workshops, click here for more information.

WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?

When something feels really overwhelming, we can often feel completely alone. We might be desperate for help, but find the idea of ‘talking’ to someone virtually impossible. That’s where these online wokshops come in, because you don’t have to meet someone face to face and you don’t have to ‘talk’ (or type!) if you don’t want to!

Our workshops give you the chance to get together with other people who are struggling with similar issues. You get the chance to find out more about what you are struggling with, as well as the chance to talk to other young people facing similar issues, which can help you to feel less alone as well as give you helpful hints on how to manage your problems.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Each online workshop is 30 minutes to an hour long and usually happens in the evenings from Monday – Friday. There’ll usually be around ten people at the workshop, including two facilitators and other young people from Croydon, Sutton and Merton who want to explore this particular issue. Some of the topics that are covered include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Relationships
• Confidence Building

DURING THE SESSION

At the beginning of the session, the people facilitating the session will say hello and explain what is going to happen in the workshop. They’ll be a reminder about the group guidelines as we want everyone coming to the workshop to know that things will be kept private and that what they say will be respected.

Depending on which workshop you’re signed up for, there’ll be a bit of an introduction about that particular topic to help you understand the issue in more detail. There’ll be a chance to talk about people’s experiences, but there will never be any pressure to share, you can just sit and watch if you want to. The workshops have a practical focus, looking at coping strategies and positive things that might help when facing the particular issue you’re dealing with.

GETTING REGISTERED

If you’d like to attend an online workshop that’s coming up (What’s On), you need to register first. When you register, we will ask you a few questions about yourself. All of this information is subject to our data policy and will be kept private and confidential. However, we do ask that when you register, you pick a display name that is not your name, an email address or a username you use regularly on other sites, so that you feel able to chat in the workshop knowing things are anonymous and confidential.

SIGNING UP

Once you’re registered, you’ll be invited to sign up for some of the online workshops that are coming soon. Have a look at what’s on and sign up to a session that is running at a convenient time. 

Once you’re signed up, we’ll send you some reminders by email ahead of the workshop. We will also send you a text on the day of the session. All you have to do is log in on the day, before the session, and you’ll be automatically sent to the workshop. Before you can join, you’ll have to answer a few quick questions, so that we can get an idea of how you’re feeling (if we’re concerned about how you’re feeling, we will get in touch with you either during or after the workshop - see here for more information).

Because wea re always looking for ways to improve, at the end of the sessions we’ll ask you quickly for your feedback. If you found the session useful, then you’re very welcome to sign up for more. Simply return to the What’s on page and sign up to another session that you’re interested in

WHAT IS #SKYGROUP?

Our new private group open to young people in Croydon, Sutton and Merton. The group runs once a month, on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm. We cover all sorts of topics related to relationships, whether these are with friends, family, boyfriends or girlfriends.

We'll look at what a healthy relationship is, how to build your self-esteem, how to stay safe and much more. It may be that you have even experienced domestic violence or emotional abuse. We'll look at where you can go for support if you're worried about yourself or a friend.

The sessions will last about 40 minutes (a little longer than a normal online workshop) and take place on a weekday evening. Places in the group are limited to make sure the group is a comfortable place to talk and listen. Two members of our counselling team will host the session and there will be time to chat to other members and ask questions too. You can chat as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

HOW DO I JOIN?

If you already have a online counselling or online workshops account, simply drop us an email to onlineworkshops@talkofftherecord.org letting us know you're interested in #skygroups. One of the team will get back to you with all the info you need to get started.

If you don't have an account yet, click 'Register' on the top right of the screen and mention #skygroup in your 'reason for registering'. We'll be in touch via email to get you started.

This group is private and confidential so you won't see it listed on the What's On Page until we give you access. You'll then get email alerts to remind you when the session is happening. Don't forget to cover your tracks online if you need to.

NOT SURE AND WANT TO ASK A QUESTION?

We're happy to chat to you about what the group involves. Just email us via onlineworkshops@talkofftherecord.org.

Getting along in the group

We ask that everyone who attends a SkyCast agrees to our group guidelines at the start of every session.

1. Look after yourself: Please do take a break if you feel emotional during a SkyCast session. Or, you can use the ‘ I Need Help Now’ button which will be pointed out by the person hosting the session. This button sends us an email alert and one of the team can then contact you after the session with some useful links and information for further support.
   
   
2. Confidentiality: Everything you choose to share stays confidential within the group. You'll agree to respect each other's privacy and keep things confidential. If you think you recognise someone in the room please keep this to yourself and be respectful. If you're concerned about something, you can press the 'I need help now' button and speak to the facilitators privately about your concerns after the workshop; we will always take action to make sure you and others are safe. Don't post any personal details such as contact details or your real name. This helps us all to stay safe and anonymous.
   
   
3. Focus! If you usually like to multi-task online then we ask you to sit back, put your mobile on silent, close down you're other tabs and focus on the session whilst it's happening. This will really help you to get the most from the SkyCast.
   
   
4. Respect others - we're all from different backgrounds and have had different life experiences. You'll agree to respect other members' ideas and listen to one another without judging.