Dear Val,
Sorry for the delay in replying, glorious weather has kept me in the garden!
Our trained members follow a two day initial training programme, this is followed by bi monthly training days of which they are expected to attend three in any one rolling year. We usually run one initial training programme every year across the whole of the CSF Sud area. This year, with the addition of members in the Tarn, we have run one programme there and will be running another in the Aude in March. This is already full.
The training is to enable our members to act as "listeners" rather than advisers. Our aim is to support and we insist that anyone who would like client contact must complete the course satisfactorily. This includes, for example, those who feel they wish to give language support at hospital, or hospital or home visiting, as well as those giving telephone support.
I should add that the training course is a CSF National Programme, followed by all the CSF associations across France. Although all the associations run themselves independently, we are all affiliated to the National body which means that the standards are the same in each association. Differences are mainly influenced by the size of the anglophone population and their local needs.
Our main need is for publicity as our aim is that every anglophone who MAY need support knows that it is available. Thus, we are always looking for members - the membership fee is €10 per annum - who can help to publicise us and the kind of support we offer, as well as helping at and/or attending our events.
If anyone would like more details about membership then please contact Helene Barratt, our Tarn Department Representative, the e-mail address at helene745
I hope this is of some help and do thank you very much for promoting us.
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