317 Aid courses delivered Live Online

Understanding and applying the rules on means assessment and providing the right evidence can be difficult given the many various circumstances that must be accounted for with each client. This course will discuss the key aspects of the LAA’s Means Assessment guidance, with discussions on topics such as whose resources should be considered; rules on income, deductions, and capital; evidence requirements - and common errors that are made; rules on allowances (e.g. subject matter of dispute; and how to find and interpret guidance for less common circumstances (e.g. self-employed clients). Means Assessment Guidance is often the same for controlled work and licensed work, but there are some subtle differences on occasion, and the course will highlight some of the main differences in rules. Target Audience This course is aimed at anyone involved in making civil legal aid applications or assessing civil legal help work for financial eligibility. Resources Course notes will be provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training. Please note a recording of the course will not be made available. Speaker Steve Keeling, Consultant, DG Legal Steve joined DG Legal after leaving the Legal Aid Agency in August 2016. In his 17 years at the LAA, he worked in the audit team as both auditor and manager and was a Contract Manager for several years. Steve is also a certified SQM auditor and undertakes audits on behalf of Recognising Excellence as well as running training sessions for the SQM Audit Team periodically.

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA, GRAPHIC NOVELS Katie Blagden is a Literary Agent at The Ampersand Agency, representing authors and author-illustrators across various genres and age ranges. She previously worked with Arabella Stein at the Bright Agency, where she helped launch their Literary list. Her notable projects include the Arcana duology by Sam Prentice-Jones (Macmillan US / Hot Key Books) and The River Thief by Hannah Peck (Piccadilly Press). In all areas Katie seeks commercial, plot-driven ideas with a great hook. In adult fiction, Katie specialises in, and is drawn to, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Magical Realism and Horror. She is particularly looking for works that cross genre lines or subvert reader expectations. She loves Babel by R. F. Kuang; Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell; Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik; Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich; The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers; The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin; Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree; The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters; Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke; The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey; One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston; Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao; The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch; The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo; Kindred by Octavia E. Butler; Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin; all and anything by Terry Pratchett! Graphic Novels favoured by Katie are across all ages and include the likes of Homebody by Theo Parish; Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe; Lumber Janes by N. D. Stevens et al; On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden; Through The Woods by Emma Carrol; The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen; Heartstopper by Alice Oseman; El Deafo by Cece Bell; Roller Girls by Victoria Jamieson; Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett; Faith by Jody Houser. For Graphic Novels, Katie is currently only considering Author-Illustrators (or Author/Illustrator pairings). In children’s, Katie specialises in Middle Grade, YA and Crossover Fiction, She is looking for fast, funny and action-packed Middle Grade. In YA, she is drawn to grounded or contemporary SFF, queer stories and fairytale or folktale inspired works. Examples of books in this area Katie loves are All That's Left in the World by Erik J Brown; The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness; Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas; Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi; The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave; Holes by Louis Sachar; Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo; Gone by Michael Grant; His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman; Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell; The Dark Lady by Akala; Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan; The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper; Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Katie is an advocate for centring traditionally underrepresented voices, and actively works to discover and develop authors and author-illustrators from diverse backgrounds. Katie’s previous experience includes marketing, bookselling and advertising. She also appeared as a contributor on the Graham Norton Book Club for Audible for all six seasons. When she’s not reading, you can find Katie playing Dungeons & Dragons, trying a new crafty hobby (before abandoning it for something new), or spoiling her dog Poe. Katie would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first three chapters (Max 5000 words) of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Katie is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 3rd September 2025

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Emily MacDonald joined 42 management and production company in 2019, working with Eugenie Furniss across her clients. She is now an agent in the Books Department, and is building her own list. Send Emily a story with characters that just won't leave her and a narrative that pulls her in, keeping her immersed in the world well after she has finished reading. She reads across a wide-range and has a particular interest in: book club, high-concept crime/thriller, upmarket and literary fiction. In fiction, Emily would love to find a crime/thriller set within a subcult: a modern retelling of British folklore (think Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire); an unconventional love story; and a character led journey of self-discovery (especially one set within a diasporic community). Emily is also looking for narrative non-fiction which immerses the reader into an untold true story (personal or historical), exploring a new point of view, and providing a compelling social commentary, with an investigative twist. Think the obsessive vein of Kirk W. Johnson or personal/political dispatches of Aidan Hartley. Emily wants her horizons to expand while she reads. In both fiction and non-fiction, Emily loves stories woven into their surroundings, where the setting is as central a character as those who drive the narrative. In both spheres, she is keen to hear from Scottish and regional voices with stories to tell. Please note, Emily is not currently accepting submissions for Children's lit/YA and SFF. Emily would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Emily is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 5th September 2025 at 11:00am UK BST

The two-day Adult MHFAider® courses are tailored around supporting adults, and can be attended by anyone from age 16 upwards. A lot of the education settings we work with have now trained a number of Adult MHFAider®’s to support their colleagues as part of their whole-school/college approach to mental health and wellbeing.

The professional working world has changed more rapidly than could have been envisaged at the time of the introduction of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. With more people working from home post-Covid and the ever increasing risk of cyber-attacks, this short course is aimed at taking stock of current practice and risk, as well as considering ICO enforcement action and the implications of hybrid working. It is also a great recap on the rules as they stand and what you need to know to comply. The course will cover: UK GDPR - A timely reminder of the rules ICO enforcement action and what we can learn Data Protection Impact Assessments - when and how to do them Hybrid working and UK GDPR Managing cyber attacks from a UK GDPR perspective Target Audience The online course is suitable for staff of all levels, from support staff to senior partners. Resources Course notes will be provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training. Please note a recording of the course will not be made available. Speaker Matthew Howgate, Consultant, DG Legal Matt is a non-practising solicitor who has considerable experience in regulatory issues and advising on complex issues of compliance and ethics. He is also an expert in data protection, UK GDPR and on the civil legal aid scheme. Matthew is a lead trainer on and co-developed the LAPG Certificate in Practice Management (a training programme for legal managers and law firm owners) as well as regularly providing training on legal aid Supervision, costs maximisation, data protection and security and on general SRA compliance.

This one day online course will assist candidates in preparing for the forthcoming initial Senior Caseworker exam.

The Mechanics of Mediumship. A beginners guide to everything you need to know. How to become a professional psychic medium. Able to give short, accurate, evidential messages. This course runs over 5 weeks and during our time together we will explore five easy to follow parts. 1: What mediumship is and the different types, including your role as a professional medium and the differences between working in the psychic modality and when you are connected to spirit. 2: Activating and building your power within, and the difference between meditation, and attunement both to the spirit world and using your psychic modality. 3: The six different senses available to you, which are your strongest and whether you are perceiving them objectively or subjectively. 4: What is and what is not evidence in mediumship, understanding the different types of evidence available and defining practical and emotional evidence. 5: Surrendering to spirit, building confidence to receive specific unique information, and understanding the reasons why you receive a no response. Guidance on making positive, strong, statements filling your sitter with confidence, building a truly extraordinary professional reading.

Improving Communications UK offers an Advanced Presentation Skills course designed to enhance public speaking abilities and improve the use of presentation software. This course provides delegates with the opportunity to refine their skills in a supportive environment. As delegates deliver their presentations, they are coached on key areas such as body language, posture, word choice, confidence, eye contact, volume, and reducing verbal tics and filler words. This comprehensive approach ensures that delegates can effectively engage their audience and convey their message with clarity and confidence. The course also focuses on enhancing content and visual aids, typically using software like PowerPoint. Delegates learn how to: Clearly state their purpose Reduce text on slides Create user-friendly messages Select impactful graphics to support their message By the end of the course, delegates will be able to deliver organised and engaging presentations that motivate audiences, craft streamlined messages, enhance their stage presence, and convince listeners with compelling evidence in speech and visuals. This course is ideal for those seeking to improve their presentation skills and make a lasting impact. The Advanced Presentation Skills course is a 4-hour interactive virtual class for up to six delegates. Upon registration, delegates will receive online login instructions prior to the class date. This format allows for a personal and interactive learning experience from the comfort of one's own home.

Sharing & Networking - community fundraising & ‘in aid of’ events Session aimed at those working in community fundraising roles THIS SESSION WILL NOT BE RECORDED

This training is for lawyers who may come into contact with vulnerable people through their work. In particular, it is aimed at those who hold legal aid contracts and must meet the requirements of the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) standard in respect of safeguarding. Everyone has the right to be kept safe from harm, abuse or neglect. We all have obligations to ensure that vulnerable people are protected and that we have appropriate procedures in place to ensure that abuse is identified and reported.  We will help you to understand the following; What is safeguarding? The different types of abuse Example signs of abuse, harm and neglect What action should be taken if abuse is suspected The SQM requirements What a Safeguarding Policy should include Target Audience The online course is suitable for staff of all levels, from support staff to senior partners and is aimed at firms maintaining or wishing to obtain the Specialist Quality Mark. Resources Comprehensive and up to date course notes will be provided to all delegates which may be useful for ongoing reference or cascade training. Please note a recording of the course will not be made available. Speaker Amie Higgins, Consultant, DG Legal Amie is a Senior Solicitor, qualified under the Law Society’s Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) as an Advanced Caseworker and Supervisor. Amie specialises in all aspects of Immigration, Asylum and Human Rights work, with a specialism in human trafficking/modern slavery cases and working with vulnerable clients. Amie is an experienced trainer, delivering a range of training on both legal and practice management topics.