T&A Platform Accreditation Scheme (PAS)

The SNU Platform Accreditation Scheme aims to give training, practical experience, and assessment to speakers and demonstrators of spirit communication within the Spiritualist movement. The Scheme is open to 'Class B' members of the SNU or to members of Spiritualist Churches affiliated to the SNU.

The Platform Accreditation Scheme is free to join however there is a small fee to attend the training days to cover the costs of venue hire and teacher expenses.

The T&A Committee would like to encourage both existing and trainee Spiritualist 'platform workers, to become trained. T&A hopes that by proper training and assessment then platform workers will be a credit to themselves, give good service to our churches and act as excellent ambassadors for Spiritualism and the SNU.

Upon successful completion of the Course and Final Assessment the Trainee’s name will be placed on the SNU PAS database.

The Platform Accreditation Scheme helps to train and improve skills of both existing and trainee Spiritualist speakers and demonstrators.

The scheme aims to train and assess people, to improve the quality of speakers and demonstrators, and to give recognition to successful candidates.

Spiritualist Churches who engage an accredited platform worker can be confident that they will be someone properly trained and able to show a good standard of knowledge, ability and public presentation.

SPIRITUALISTS’ NATIONAL UNION
TRAINING AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

PLATFORM ACCREDITATION SCHEME

The main objective of the Platform Accreditation Scheme is to raise the standards of mediumship and speaking upon SNU platforms. It is also designed to help current and new speakers and demonstrators who do not as yet hold a Certificate (CSNU). The following criteria has been developed in order to accommodate changes to the scheme and to encourage personal development.

All trainees must be Class B members or Full members of an Affiliated, Associated or Kindred Body of the SNU. Whilst it is compulsory for all students to complete the SNU Education Course B1 (Basic Spiritualism) or SD1 (Basic Speaking & Demonstrating) they can study at a pace suitable for them. It is advisable for those students wishing to gain certification (CSNU) and to improve platform presentation that the SD1 course will prove beneficial. This particular course covers the basic disciplines of public speaking and platform presentation. Both course applications can be obtained from the Education Committee of the SNU. Information can be found in the SNU Diary or this website.

Trainees will receive a starter pack which includes a log book and a unique registration number. A student will also be allocated a telephone Mentor and this person is an experienced award holder who can give impartial advice and resides outside of the students own district. Please note that Telephone Mentors only give advice in relation to training and are not specialised counsellors.

Training will take place in SNU churches within your District and these are usually arranged on a Saturday and will cover two sessions on the day. For each discipline there are eight sessions and the final session incorporates an assessment by the tutor. On the final session it is important that students are properly prepared and suitably attired.

There is an option for students who wish to complete either the Demonstrator or Speaker course during weekends spent at the Arthur Findlay College. This weekend is intensive and students will be required to do some research on one of the Pioneers of Spiritualism. On the Speakers course students must select a reading their choice and be able to speak on the chosen reading for five minutes. This course is organised at the College during the months of December and February. For further information you can contact the Arthur Findlay College for a prospectus. Places on this course are restricted and it is essential that any student wishing to attend the course they must alert the chairman of the Training & Awards Committee who coordinates the course for permission to attend and his address can be found in the SNU diary.

The log book is important as it must be signed by tutors for all training sessions and students have the responsibility to ensure that their log books are with them. Trainees must take part in a minimum of 25 services and take responsibility for making sure that log books are signed by an officer of the church, as the log book acts as an attendance record. The process of award holders signing the log book has now been withdrawn.

During training sessions all students will be given the opportunity to work with other students on the platform. However, this does depend upon the assessment given by the tutor who will keep a record of your suitability to do so. It is essential that trainees have some experience on the platform and in standing up in public. For those students working within a closed or open circle they must have some understanding of the mechanics of mediumship and not rely solely on psychic links.

SPIRITUALISTS’ NATIONAL UNION
TRAINING AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

PLATFORM ACCREDITATION SCHEME

The training period will be a maximum of five years and this depends upon the experience and circumstances of the trainee. As from January 2008 there will be no Fast Track available and for those students already on Fast Track their paperwork will be valid until completion of final assessments. Final assessments are carried out by the Training & Awards Committee and this will comprise of two anonymous assessments and students must pass both in order to be considered for accreditation in a particular discipline. The student must send twelve months bookings in churches to the Platform Accreditation Officer who will arrange for the assessments to take place. If a student falls ill or circumstances dictate that they are unable to attend a service it is imperative that they notify the P.A.S officer. The officer will then notify the assessor of the student’s situation and this will prevent a wasted journey and cost to the Training & Awards Committee. Anonymous assessments are necessary as the student is working within the environment of the church and it is essential that are deemed competent and worthy ambassadors of the Spiritualists’ National Union. If a student should fail one assessment then another anonymous assessment will be carried out.

All students must also complete either SD1 or B1 course and pass at Grade A or B. The log book must be returned to the Platform Accreditation Officer of the Training & Awards and this will be kept with the student’s records and all students must attend 8 training sessions for each discipline. However, for those students’ who are working towards speakers accreditation they need only to attend the speakers training sessions and this also applies to demonstrators’.

Upon successful completion of the course and final assessments the Trainees name will be placed upon the SNU website. Students will also receive an Accreditation Card and this must be carried with them when they serve churches. It is hoped that students will study further and work towards higher qualifications and this will help to maintain higher standards of presentation and mediumship within SNU churches.

For further advice students can contact the Platform Accreditation Enrolment Officer of the Training & Awards Committee:

                            Mrs Marjorie Marsh, DSNU
                            96 Windsor Walk
                            South Anston
                            Sheffield
                            S25 5EL            Tel: 01909 518376    Email: marjorie@snu.org.uk

Platform Accreditation National Co-ordinator:

                            Minister Myrrha Hibbert
                            1 Abbots Walk
                            Hucknall
                            Nottingham
                            NG15 6QX        Tel: 0115 964 2171    Email: myrrhahibbert@hotmail.co.uk