IAF England & Wales Facilitators & Friends Manchester Meetup November 2026

Welcome to the IAF Manchester Meet Up! Join us at Manchester Building Society for a day filled with networking, learning, and fun. Connect with fellow facilitators and share your experiences. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone passionate about facilitation. Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your skills and grow your network. See you there!

*PLEASE NOTE - spaces are limited so please register to reserve your place.

This will be a hands-on, highly interactive session focused on Unlocking Creative Thinking in Facilitation — co-designed with special guest Clare Gannaway (former Curator at Manchester Art Gallery exploring collective working in the arts sector)!

Agenda

☕ Arrival and Connections: Grab a coffee, meet fellow facilitators, and settle in!

📊 Creative Reflection: Reflect on how creative your sessions are and dive into new approaches.

💡 Flipchart Consensus Workshop: Co-create practical actions to help our participants think more creatively.

🥗 Lunch Break: Recharge, chat, and share food with the group.

🖼️ Street Exploration & Creative Activity: Head into the streets of Manchester to hunt for symbolic objects, then build 2D & 3D artworks, narratives, and stories using Lego, clay, and craft materials!

🎨 Exhibition & Reflection: Showcase our group creations and explore key takeaways together.

🤝 Closing
Information about the event:

- Networking: connect with fellow facilitators and friends over tea, coffee and snacks

- Workshops & Discussions: share experiences, best practices, and challenges in the world of facilitation.

-Lunch: We will break for lunch during the middle of the day. Please feel free to bring your own packed lunch or join some of us who will pop out for lunch.

- Community building: strengthen ties within the facilitation community and explore potential collaborations.

-Meeting place: We will meet at the Pennine Room at Manchester Building Society.

- Hosted by Alice Blackwell & Clare Gannaway

Who Should Attend?

- IAF facilitators & non-member friends

- Aspiring facilitators

- Professionals interested in facilitation techniques

- Anyone passionate about building stronger communities through facilitation

If you're interested in keeping up to date with what is happening with other events being organised for faciliators in Manchester, send Alice an email at [email protected].