I have been asked to advise some young volunteers on how to facilitate meetings?

I am going to be coaching the volunteers on public speaking skills, however they will also be facilitating sessions with 14-17 year old school pupils and will also be in a Young Offenders Institution facilitating sessions where the young men are 16-21.





They have concerns about how to keep control and how to make the informational sessions interesting.





Can anyone make any constructive suggestions?





Thanks in anticipation.





JohnI have been asked to advise some young volunteers on how to facilitate meetings?
Depending on the nature of the group and discussion material decide on a comfortable group size (10 - 12max) for a first go - groups can always be combined for other activities.


Start with an activity that allows everyone to speak - and allows facilitator to learn names at the same time.


Stand in a circle


1. Starting with the facilitator each say their first name in turn.


2. Think of a word that starts with the same letter as your name that describes your personality. Go round again with each saying 'new word' followed by their name.


3. Ask each to think of an action that goes with their word and name - each say their word and name while doing their action.





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Establish rules for speaking - this could be holding an object, which is passed to each person who wishes to speak.


Establish a key word for the proceedings - 'respect' or 'appreciation' - brief question and answer to establish 3 - 5 agreed points that will help the group have a meaningful discussion. These should be written large and displayed prominently as a reminder.





Try to include a practical activity - this could be role-play - or making a collage (much will depend on the nature of the group)





Try to include a strict timed smaller group discussion in pairs/threes/fours to work out their top 3 most important ????? or 3 favourite ?????





Try to keep the groups focus on positive things.





Keep instructions clear and simple.


Keep questions simple and straightforward.





Hope this is helpfulI have been asked to advise some young volunteers on how to facilitate meetings?
Show them how to draw-up an agenda for the meeting before it occurs,


Show them how to come up with commonly agreed upon rules of conduct during meeting. Would give them chance at self-disciplining, and latter you could instruct them on Roberts rules of order.