The Action Learning Programme (ALP) offered by withinreach is an intensive learning programme for officers responsible for developing accessibility strategies. The aim is to improve the quality of accessibility strategies and to save time and resources by providing ‘hands-on’ practical guidance.

The programme consists of three three-day training workshops, as well as personalised coaching between training. At the residential workshops, managers will be taught specific techniques that will help them prepare elements of their own accessibility strategies and will assess their own authority's situation in the context of issues faced by a wider peer group. The programme will also address the skills, knowledge and leadership styles that each participant will need to demonstrate outside of the training sessions in developing their accessibility strategies.

Session I: Identifying and quantifying accessibility problems

During the first of the three sessions, participants will develop a first draft of a problem statement describing the policy issues associated with accessibility in their area. They will have the opportunity to review, with peers from other authorities, the relevance of accessibility planning to their own local context. They will also prepare an analysis plan on how to procure appropriate GIS analysis based on their learning of key mapping key indicators, and the requirements for collecting and preparing data sources. Another key objective of this session is the development of skills in how to identify stakeholder groups and to form and work in partnerships. The objective is to prepare participants to be able to commission data analysis and to make strategic decisions on the basis of this analysis, without having to become GIS wizards themselves.

After this first training session, participants will be expected to apply the relevant tools and methods to their local area. A coach, working from the withinreach programme office, who will remain in regular contact with the participants, to provide further support. The coach will look to help overcome any difficulty in understanding about how to apply the tools, and suggest ways of overcoming any barriers to implementation that may be encountered. Where participants are having difficult in carrying out the activities within an appropriate timescale, the coach may be able to intervene and support the participant, possibly by triggering an agreed escalation process so that serious problems and issues can be raised with a senior sponsor.

Session II: Identifying and assessing options

The second of the three training sessions will focus on the generation of solutions that address the problems defined in the first session. Delegates on the programme will review the progress made by other participants in defining the accessibility problems for their area and support each other to help overcome any emerging barriers.

The session will also provide delegates with an opportunity to practice using a range of ‘creativity’ tools that can be used to foster innovative ideas and new thinking when working with stakeholders. The delegates will use these tools to generate an initial wide range of solutions that may be applicable to their defined problems. There will also be a presentation and review of an emerging ‘transport solution set’ describing emerging best practices that transport authorities and their partners are adopting to address accessibility issues. Finally, delegates will also gain experience is using a range of tools and techniques to narrow down a broad range of ideas to the vital few. Delegates will practice how to carry out an appraisal of different strategic options and develop a plan for the next phase of their project work.

Session III: Establishing a framework for action

At the third and final training session participants will prepare actions plans and design management control and reporting systems to monitor progress. Participants will also be asked to write up their experience of developing accessibility strategies and this information will feed a case study database hosted by the APTAP programme office.

Requirements of the Authority and Participant

Accessibility Planning will provide a major contribution to taking forward the national and local agenda. The Action Learning Programme (ALP) offers a practical approach to this evolving policy area and an opportunity to contribute to the design and roll-out of this major initiative.

Even though the ALP will help you carry out the work you would be doing anyway, we recognise that we are seeking a significant contribution from you and your authority. We seek, therefore a real commitment to the involvement of the member of staff in the action learning programme by the director/chief officer responsible.

The participant should be committed (even if alongside other duties) to the delivery, or procurement, of the accessibility plan. Therefore we ask that each participant should obtain a signature or statement of the director responsible in responding this invitation. Participants are also asked to commit at the outset to attend all the training sessions.

ALP Programme

	Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
	Problem definition	Solutions and option appraisal	Project monitoring and control
to be confirmed	dates to be confirmed	dates to be confirmed	dates to be confirmed

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