In the summer of 2025, Talking Life Training proudly delivered its fourth, annual series of free training sessions as part of our ongoing commitment to social value. Designed to empower individuals, invest in and strengthen communities, and support our clients in fulfilling their own social impact goals, the programme offered 21 distinct topics ranging from Difficult Conversations and An Introduction to Autism to Suicide Awareness, Supervision, and Building Confidence.
Across the season, 12 expert trainers delivered 54 hours of free training, reaching 544 delegates from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds. Since we started this scheme in 2022 an ever increasing number of people have taken part in these sessions. The response has been overwhelmingly positive — not only from attendees, who gained fresh insights and practical skills, but also from our major clients, who welcomed the opportunity to extend this offering to their communities.
Accessible, relevant and impactful
“This is exactly what social value should look like — accessible, relevant, and impactful,” shared Julie Clark, Learning and Development Academy Manager at Birmingham Children’s Trust. “It’s a tangible way to support our teams and the wider community.”
Why It Matters
At Talking Life Training, we believe that social value isn’t just a box to tick — it’s a chance to make a real difference. By offering high-quality, no-cost training on topics that matter, we help our clients demonstrate meaningful community engagement while giving individuals the tools to grow, reflect, and lead. We couldn’t do this without the full support of our trainers, who give up their valuable time and the Talking Life & In-Trac (our sister company) leadership team.
Cost-Free Professional Development
These sessions also serve as a professional development opportunity for staff, allowing them to refresh existing skills and explore new areas of learning in a supportive environment. Whether it’s Understanding Neurodiversity, Navigating Sensitive Conversations, or Building Personal Confidence, the feedback has been clear: these sessions are making a difference.
Strengthening Partnerships Through Action
Our summer initiative is just one example of how Talking Life Training contributes to the long-term success of our client partnerships. By aligning our expertise with their social value goals, we help organisations deliver on their commitments — not just in theory, but in practice.
We’re proud to be part of a movement that puts people first, and we look forward to continuing this work in the months ahead.
For those interested in the broader context of social value within UK training and procurement, the Supply Chain Sustainability School offers a comprehensive overview. Their resources explore how organisations can embed social value into everyday practice, align with government models, and contribute meaningfully to community wellbeing.
Visit Birmingham Children’s Trust website here:
You can find out more about the training Talking Life offers here
