June Ralton – Voluntary Services Manager at Sobell House Hospice, Oxfordshire.

Managing the development and coordination of impactful volunteering that strengthens community support and enhances service delivery. Experienced in partnership working, safeguarding, and strategic volunteer engagement to ensure inclusive, high-quality opportunities. Also responsible for recruiting and coordinating community volunteers at Katharine House Hospice, supporting families with compassionate, person-centred care.

 

June attended the pilot course in November 2025

Before attending the course, I honestly didn’t have any expectations. I knew a little about it after speaking to a colleague beforehand, and her enthusiasm made it sound worthwhile.

Walking into the course, I immediately noticed how diverse the group was. We had people from clinical roles, administrative roles, ward-based roles, all bringing their own experiences and styles of teaching. That diversity genuinely enriched the learning. Each of us approached our teaching task differently, which made it fascinating to see how many ways there are to deliver the same objective. It broadened my thinking about my own teaching practice and how others interpret and present information.

The facilitators played a huge part in my positive experience. Their knowledge, warmth and enthusiasm created a safe and supportive atmosphere from the onset. When you know you’re going to be presenting your own session to a group of people you’ve never met before, having facilitators who make you feel “held” throughout the process is incredibly important. They were encouraging, reassuring and clearly very skilled, which helped me feel confident to fully participate without fear of judgement.

One of my biggest “aha” moments came from learning about accessible design—particularly around fonts, backgrounds and the use of capital letters. I hadn’t realised how often I used capital letters in my headings, thinking it helped certain words stand out. In reality, it makes reading more difficult for many people, including those with dyslexia or visual needs. That simple learning point has completely changed how I create presentations and documents. I now think much more carefully about clarity, readability and accessibility. This shift even influenced the redesign of our volunteer application form, which my manager and colleague commented now flows far better and is easier to understand. Even though that isn’t directly “teaching”, it demonstrates how the course has impacted wider areas of my work.

The course also deepened my understanding of working with adults as learners. Teaching adults is very different from teaching children; adults bring their own experiences, anxieties and expectations. It made me more mindful of how to keep those with more knowledge engaged while still making content accessible for complete beginners. That balance is particularly important in my role, where volunteers come from such varied backgrounds.

 

Since completing the course, I’ve started recording my own virtual training sessions—something that used to make me incredibly anxious. I always felt self‑conscious delivering content on camera. However, the way the course was delivered, and the feedback we received, helped build my confidence. I’ve already filmed some pre‑recorded lessons, and although I had to do a few takes, I no longer find the process as overwhelming.

The two full days of training felt genuinely worthwhile. They were well structured, engaging and full of practical learning. While it would have been helpful to know in advance exactly how many people we would be teaching during our assessed session- mainly to prepare resources -the unpredictability became a valuable learning moment in itself. Real teaching rarely goes perfectly to plan, and the need to adapt quickly is part of the skill. That experience reminded me that flexibility is just as important as preparation.

What I took away from the course wasn’t just teaching techniques. I learned a lot about myself; my confidence, my strengths, the areas where I’d become a bit rusty, and how much I still enjoy learning. I left feeling energised rather than drained, which isn’t always the case with training sessions. It reignited my motivation and made me want to keep developing. I truly felt inspired.

I would absolutely recommend the Teaching the Teachers course. It was enjoyable, thought‑provoking and extremely useful. I think it’s important for people to know that the benefits go far beyond teaching alone. The transferable skills like understanding learning styles, improving accessibility, communicating clearly, and adapting your approach are valuable in every part of your role. I would encourage anyone considering it to look not only at the teaching element, but at how the skills can enhance their wider practice.

For me, the course didn’t just improve my teaching; it improved how I design documents, how I communicate, how I approach online learning, and how I support the volunteers I work with every day. I’m genuinely grateful I had the chance to attend. It has made a lasting impact on both my work and my confidence, and I’m glad to have taken so much from it.

Due to the success of our pilot course, we are excited to bring it back again for 2026! Book now with us: https://www.sobelleducation.org.uk/product/teaching-the-teachers-november-2026/

We would love to hear your story! Why not email us? [email protected]