ToP facilitation masterclass - Birmingham

Introducing ICA's Technology of Participation (ToP) - transformational tools for dialogue, learning, consensus & change – 1 day

“I highly recommend this day to anyone curious about ToP and looking to add new and adaptable skills to their facilitation tool box. I really enjoyed Martin’s approach to holding space, he is authentic, inclusive and has an absolute wealth of experience. It is also a perfect way to warm into [this year’s IAF England & Wales annual conference] #facilitate2026.” - Sam Moon, Passionate about creating belonging.

This course is scheduled in partnership with ICA:UK, the participation & development charity.

The course is scheduled in Birmingham as a pre-conference training option for attendees at the April 17-18 IAF England & Wales annual conference Facilitate2026, however it is open to all.

Who this course is for

This one-day master-class is suitable for all those who want to be able to involve people more effectively in dialogue, learning, consensus & change, including team leaders and managers within organisations, those working with Boards, management teams, partnerships and external stakeholders, youth and community workers and independent facilitators. The course has no pre-requisite.

IAF members enjoy a special 10% discount - see Exclusive Offers for IAF Members.

Attendees at the April 17-18 IAF England & Wales annual conference Facilitate2026 enjoy a 25% discount (IAF members and non-members).

Questions this course answers

"How can I enable more purposeful & productive conversations, bring out the wisdom of a group and reach shared awareness and new insight in meetings? How can I help a group take a comprehensive and long-term strategic view - to learn from the past, appreciate the present and anticipate the future? How can I enable a group to come to a common vision, a deeper understanding of its current reality and a real sense of ownership and commitment to a shared way forward - so that for once their plans actually deliver the change that they are seeking?”

What you will gain

This course will introduce two foundational methods of ICA's 'Technology of Participation' (ToP) methodology, and two that adapt and apply these foundations to strategic review, planning and change:

• ToP Focused Conversation provides a structured, four-level process for effective communication which ensures that everyone in a group has the opportunity to participate
• ToP Consensus Workshop is a five stage process that enables a facilitator to draw out and weave together everybody’s wisdom into a clear and practical consensus
• ToP Historical Scan (or ‘Wall of Wonder) is a powerful tool to enable a group to share and learn from their varied perspectives of a journey through history, and in context, to review the past in order to prepare for the future
• ToP Participatory Strategic Planning is a structured long-range planning process which incorporates ToP Consensus Workshop for building consensus, ToP Focused Conversation for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas into productive action and concrete accomplishments.

More experienced facilitators may be ready to apply the first three tools effectively in their own situations, and key principles of the fourth. For others the course will serve as a powerful, experiential introduction to ICA’s ToP methodology.

These methods have been featured in publications including:

• Brian Stanfield’s ‘Art of Focused Conversation: 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace‘,
• Jo Nelson’s ‘The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools: Over 100 Ways to Guide Clear Thinking and Promote Learning‘, and
• Brian Stanfield’s ‘The Workshop Book: From Individual Creativity to Group Action’
• Bill Staples’ ‘Transformational Strategy: Facilitation of ToP Participatory Strategic Planning’,
• Bunker & Alban’s ‘Large Group Interventions: Engaging the Whole System for Rapid Change’,
• Holman & Devane’s ‘The Change Handbook: the definitive resource on today’s best methods for engaging whole systems’,

See also my own blog posts on the four methods:

• Four steps to a universal principle of facilitation and learning
• Responding to changing situations and needs with ToP Consensus Workshop
• Adapt • Invent • Evolve: reviewing the past to prepare for the future at #EuroComm17
• Transformational Strategy: from trepidation to ‘unlocked’

Learning style

The methods will be presented in a practical and participatory way. Three methods will be demonstrated in turn in practice, each followed by an explanation of the method and an exploration of how it may be applied in participants’ own situations. Participatory Strategic Planning will be introduced by means of a case study with an international humanitarian NGO in Geneva, in which it and the other three methods all are applied.

This course is adapted from elements of ICA:UK ‘ToP’ courses including Group Facilitation Methods and Participatory Strategic Planning. Excerpts from ICA:UK course workbooks will be provided as a resource, and links to further online resources.

What your fee includes

Your fee includes a PDF of presentation slides and course outputs, and one hour's free telephone coaching after the course. Also included are refreshments and lunches during the course, but not accommodation.

For further details

Please contact me with any questions or for further details. For in-house and tailored training, see ToP facilitation training at your place – and free places for you! and please contact me.

Transfers and Cancellations policy

Course cancellation – with 10 days’ notice. Please note, we reserve the right to cancel any course with no less than 10 working days’ notice, without liability for any consequential or indirect loss. In this case, we will let you know by email and refund your booking with no charge.

Booking cancellation – with over 30 days’ notice. If you let us know by email more than 30 days before your course, then we can refund your booking less an administration charge of 10% of the course fee.

Booking cancellation – with 30 days’ notice or less. Unless you let us know by email more than 30 days before your course, we regret that we cannot cancel your booking. In this case the full fee for the course will remain payable and no refund will be made. Also if for any reason you fail to attend a course that you have booked, the full fee for the course will remain payable and no refund will be made. We are, however, happy to transfer your booking to an alternative participant to attend the course that you have booked in your place. Please let us know as early as you can if you will be unable to attend, and if another delegate will attend instead.

Full payment must be received more than 10 working days before a course to guarantee your place.