Facilitators Retreat Reflections, 2027 Programme Updates & Upcoming Learning Days

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first ever Facilitators Retreat last month. It was a really special few days of connection, reflection, learning and time away from the usual pace of facilitation work.

We were delighted to bring together such a thoughtful group of facilitators and friends, in the beautiful surroundings of Hazel Hill Wood, and we’re grateful to everyone who contributed to making the retreat such a warm and restorative experience.

During the retreat, Bella ran a session on constellations, and we re-shared her previous article on working with constellations with the group after. We thought we would re-share it again here, along with some of the other reflections and pieces that emerged from our time together, including Polly’s poem, shared with us on our final day, and the ‘What If’ poem, shared by Michele Strudwick-Alexander as part of her Nature Connector session.

We’re pleased to share that we plan to run the Facilitators Retreat annually, and the dates for next year’s retreat (9-11 June 2027) are now live on our website. If you’d like to find out more or reserve a space early, you can do so here.

Working With Constellations image

Certificate in Facilitation Skills January 2027 - Cohort now forming

We are beginning to form a cohort for our next Certificate in Facilitation Skills programme, running from January–March 2027 and leading to Level 2 Accreditation.

For those who are already accredited at Level 1 and are looking to deepen and extend their facilitation practice, the Certificate offers space to explore both the wider organisational impact of facilitation and the personal presence required to work skilfully with groups.

The programme includes:

If you have been considering continuing your learning journey with AoF, we would love to hear from you. We are asking for a 20% deposit to secure a place, with the balance payable closer to the start date. Bursary support is available for those who may need it.

Find out more about the programme on our website, or book a call with the team to explore whether it is the right next step for you.

Learning Day: Facilitator Training - The Human Element (FIRO®)

19 October 2026, 10:00–16:00

Thank you to those who have already booked a place on this Learning Day! Our next Learning Day, on FIRO®, is now live on the website and we’re pleased to share full details below.

Our October Learning Day in London, will explore FIRO® (Fundamental Interpersonal Relationships Orientation) theory — a key component of our facilitator training programmes and one that participants consistently tell us provides deep insight into themselves, their facilitation practice and group dynamics.

This participatory day will explore the emotional realities of groups and relationships through the lens of FIRO®, supporting facilitators to deepen their understanding of inclusion, control and openness, and how these dynamics influence our work with groups.

Our previous Learning Day (on Theatre of the Oppressed) reached capacity and had a waiting list, so we recommend booking early if this is of interest.

Read more and book your place here.

Looking ahead to September...

After our July Learning Lab and Accreditation Days, we’ll be taking a short pause and looking forward to reconnecting with our community again in September.

We'll have a new programme of courses, events and opportunities for learning and connection starting, including:

An informal opportunity to connect with other facilitators, share experiences and chat over lunch.

A space to pause, reflect on your facilitation practice and learn alongside others.

You can explore all upcoming events and book your place via the calendar on our website.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to connect, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

To find out more, please email
info@associationoffacilitators.co.uk
or call us on 020 3282 7128

Bella Mehta & Brian Watts
Association of Facilitators (AoF)