Liz Rose from PACE Young Dementia UK was our very first guest facilitator for the DEEP facilitators support Zoom. She did a fabulous job!
Liz reflects on her experience here:
“When Rachel asked for people to volunteer to facilitate the Wednesday meetings, I am not sure what came over me but I said yes straight away, I didn’t think for a moment!
On the morning of the meeting I received a screen shot from a colleague that showed me that DEEP had tweeted that I would be the facilitator for the meeting, with a good luck message. That is when the realisation hit me that I was actually going to have to do this.
I was very nervous, and I had to really try and understand why. I have facilitated lots of groups in the past, I had been a trainer in a previous life. I facilitate a Deep group once a month, as well as run virtual groups for younger people with dementia in Oxfordshire, so why now was I feeling so much dread and anxiousness?
I think if truth be told, I had become a bit comfortable in my role. I know all the people I am facilitating, and have known them for a few years. It is a comfortable environment. I always plan, have an objective and organise my meetings (like all good facilitator do) but I know the people, the characters, the needs of the group and in some ways it is just part of my routine.
Facilitating the DEEP meeting was exhilarating! I had none of the comforts of familiarity, it was challenging working with a whole group of new people, making sure that everyone got to speak, share the conversation and provide a platform for discussion.
I really enjoyed the process and although at times I felt I was losing control of the agenda, and the whole thing was about to end in disaster I used the skills I have to keep on track.
I had some lovely feedback from one of the participants a day later, “excellent facilitating skills on today’s DEEP facilitators zoom meeting, you did a brilliant job. You are very understanding and empathetic and caring shows clearly on your face”.
This feedback has done wonders for my self-confidence and I know it will make me a better facilitator in the future, as I will try new things and take more risks. I recommend you try it, challenging yourself and doing something new is a really good way to keep things fresh, you learn more skills and it builds confidence!”
