Dialogue for Peaceful Change - 4.5 Days Immersive Training

Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DpC) is a comprehensive training programme designed to enhance personal and collective capacity to navigate conflict and change. Developed over decades of living the gritty reality of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland and the subsequent complexity of daily life following a peace agreement, it has been integrated into local governments, international aid organisations, universities, faith groups and charities, and proved an effective resource for those living and working in community across the globe. It has been adopted by practitioners in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Israel, Palestine, Sweden, Germany, Lithuania, Australia, Korea, the Philippines, the U.K., and the U.S.A. In recent years, somatic and ecological elements have been intentionally incorporated into the training, alongside acknowledgement that we live in unprecedented times of global polycrisis.

During the 4.5 days we will establish ways of learning together and draw on the diversity of collective wisdom amongst participants; it will be a truly supportive and collaborative experience.

Participants will receive a certificate upon completion and are invited to join the DpC Global Community of Practice.

WE RECOMMEND COMING WITH A COLLEAGUE/FRIEND WITH WHOM YOU CAN TAKE THIS LEARNING FORWARD.

KEY ELEMENTS

Introduction to peacebuilding - deepening our understanding of the nuances of language, cultural perceptions, and potentiality of difference/disagreement/change.

The Neurobiology of Conflict - gaining insights into the influence of the sympathetic system and polyvagal theory and practice in escalating/deescalating conflict.

Conflict Styles - reflecting on our personal responses to conflict and enhancing ability to choose.

The F.E.A.R.S. Model - reflecting on factors that drive conflict.

Mimesis and Scapegoating - reflecting further on factors that drive conflict.

The S.A.F.E.R Model - learning a framework to mitigate harmful conflict and live well with difference.

Mapping + Pillars - acquiring visual tools to analyse and diffuse conflict.

The Iceberg Model - gaining practical insights into protracted and recurring conflicts.

Ways of Resolving Conflict - gaining an overview of conflict resolution options.

Principles of Mediative Communication Skills - introduction and practice of key mediative communication skills.

6 Stage DpC Mediative Process - fully immersive deep-dive into mediation skills (in pairs) within a clear mediation framework and coaching.

2025 TESTIMONIALS

"What I’ve learned feels very relevant to my future because these skills apply to almost any situation whether it’s supporting others, working in teams, or handling difficult conversations. I can see myself using these tools to create safer, more respectful spaces and to help people move through misunderstandings in a healthier way."

"The learning and particularly the mediation training are helpful in situations where I am trying to hold space and enable others to hear differing points of view."

"I really appreciate how Laura mentored us throughout the training , her calm presence creating a safe space . She helps me understand conflicts in a new different way . I learned a lot from you and how you modelled DpC value in each sessions. You didn't just trained us but you embodied it .Because of your support i feel more confident and more aware and more equipped to hold space for others. Thank you for your patience and for your kindness . And the way you believed in me throughout the training truly made a difference ."

"...You gave us the opportunity to get into the thick of it and really try and fail and try again and explore and learn - all this while held in a safe space - learning together. I found it helpful to experience all 3 roles of mediator, person in a conflict and observer, because I benefited from all three of them and could feel it in my body - the changes in the different steps."

"It was truly a great course. I loved every class, activity, and game. Each class was very dynamic and interesting."

"I came to learn that peace building doesn't always look like diplomacy or conflict resolution but rather like sharing a meal or setting a boundary, or having the hard conversation i have avoided."

SETTING

Ashburnham Place is a retreat centre nestled in 220 acres of ancient woodland, meadows, lakes and gardens offering invitation to embodied reflection on our relationship to land and nature, and the signficance of this in both conflict, and in peacebuilding. In the mornings and evenings participants are encouraged to wander amongst the trees (and hopefully bluebells!), watch for wildlife (numerous birds and resident deer), learn about the ecological initiatives on-site (designed to help reweave all ages back into a caring relationship with the land) and even enjoy wild swimming in the lake. https://www.ashburnham.org.uk/grounds-gardens/land-engagement/

All bedrooms are en-suite, with a selection of single, twin, and wheelchair accessible options available. Bed Linen, hairdryers and towels are provided. Please bring an extra towel if you want to book a wild swim.

TRAINING TEAM

Colin Craig MBE is the founder of the DpC methodology and a Co-director and Coach within DpC Global. Born and based in Northern Ireland, Colin has been working in the field of peace and reconciliation for over 50 years and has delivered DpC training in 22 countries. His ongoing passion is in working on how, together, we can face the complexity and challenge of moving beyond the personal and cultural narratives that continue to fracture our social and ecological worlds.

Shaunagh Craig is a Co-Director of DpC Global. As a former elite athlete Shaunagh focusses on somatic (mind-body) awareness, flexibility, and courage to enable systemic change, helping teams and communities thrive in rapidly evolving environments. Passionately driven by her concerns about the climate crisis, she more recently pivoted to the ecological sector, designing outdoor health interventions, green career programmes, and regenerative woodland management. She is deeply committed to the work of addressing ecological breakdown, food and resource insecurity, and human disconnection from nature and sees this as a root cause to the growing fractures and conflicts of our time.

Laura Steven is an educator, holistic psychotherapist, leader and facilitator. She designs and delivers training in mental health & wellbeing, conflict transformation, and emotionally intelligent leadership. Laura is committed to facilitating self-reflexivity in herself and others. Professionally and personally she is pursuing the invitation to hospice embedded, unsustainable beliefs and behaviours, and towards midwifing the yet unknown.

INVESTMENT

We are taking a shared economy approach to this training, spreading the contributions between participants in as equitable a way as possible, with those coming from well-resourced situations offering more so that those who may need support to access the training are able to. Please select which of the four options below best applies to you. If you need to pay in instalments, email annie.mackenzie@ashburnham.org.uk

1. PAY IT FORWARD Ticket - £1350 (minus £50 p/p if sharing a twin room with a colleague/friend) = 4.5 Days training + full board accommodation
2. STANDARD Ticket - £1035 (minus £50 p/p if sharing a twin room with a colleague/friend) = 4.5 Days training + full board accommodation
3. LIMITED INCOME (Less than £25k) Ticket - £800 (minus £50 p/p if sharing a twin room with a colleague/friend) = 4.5 Days training + full board accommodation
4. SCHOLARSHIPS (No income) If money is a barrier to participation for you, please get in touch to apply for a scholarship. E-mail annie.mackenzie@ashburnham.org.uk

Is there further support?

Yes! Join DpC Global Community of Practice to actively engage in learning, share experiences, forge connections, and enhance your skills in applying the DpC Methodology.

https://www.dpcglobal.org