Our Work

Training & Events

We run a variety of Trainings and events throughout the year for members and wider audiences. This provides opportunities to strengthen knowledge and skills, and to network within and outside the sector. 

Knowledge Shares

These are regular, short and informal online events where members come together to hear from an IDEA member about a specific aspect of their work. Each knowledge share is facilitated via IDEA staff on Zoom and led by the IDEA member in question. If you would like to share your DE practice via a Knowledge Share or would like to propose a topic you would like to see covered, please contact us

Working Groups

IDEA's Working Groups are open to all members, providing a space to collaborate on tasks and issues that are important to them and their work. They contribute to IDEA's work, ensuring that it reflects the needs and energy of its members. Current working groups include Formal Education, Adult & Community Education, and Quality & Impact. If you would like to join a working group or propose a new one 

Task Groups

Task Groups are formed around a particular time-bound task and may disband once their task has been completed. We currently have task groups for the Formal Education, Adult and Community Education, and Youth sectors.

National Council

This is elected every year by members at our Annual General Meeting. Every full organisational or individual member is entitled to vote and to be on the National Council. 

Code of Good Practice

Code Membership is open to all members of IDEA, both organisations and individual practitioners. You can find more information about joining the Code here. The Code members form a Community of Practice which share learning about their educational and organisational practices with each other via Code network meetings and on an ongoing via our Slack channel. 

Slack Community

The Slack workspace for the IDEA network is open to all current members of IDEA, providing a platform to communicate with each other. Users can propose different conversation 'channels' on Slack and connect with a wide range of practitioners to collaborate, get feedback from each other and share their work.

Communications and Knowledge Sharing

Members receive regular emails from IDEA about our work and opportunities relevant to the sector. We also share information about our members' work, resources, and other relevant news via our Newsletter, and social media.

Support to Members

Any IDEA member can contact us by email or by phone for support. Common questions we receive relate to organisational governance, funding applications, advice on working with external consultants.