SC Practical Info

1. GENERAL
This course consists of 9 or 10 weekends. First there are the 5 public weekend workshops, four of which must be attended before you can join the Certificating Group. You can attend the public weekends over any period of time that suits you. These public workshops are repeated at least twice a year in London and Glastonbury.

You can apply for and sign on to the Certificating five weekends after you have attended OR are about to attend the five public workshops. You must, however, attend these public weekends before coming on the SC Course.

The Certificating Group then meets for a further 5 weekends to deepen, assess and integrate the material.

2. DATES for the next 5 Weekends
22/23 September;  27/28 October; 17/18 November; 15/16 December and 19/20 January (2013). 

3. NUMBERS
The group is limited to 12 people.

4. COURSE PROCESS AND HOME GROUPS
These weekends are not like my public workshops. They are much more relaxed and communal. We work together and I enjoy being a member of group of equals. I step back from teaching and facilitate a process in which everyone looks at their daily spiritual practice and development. I do expect my companions to be engaged in daily practice, as described in the SC Guidelines, from the very start of the course.
Companions will also be formed into small mutually supporting home groups who will connect outside our weekends.

5. COURSE BOOK
There is a Course Book. We do not work page-by-page through it, but it is there to clarify and sits in the background as support. If you are seriously considering doing this course but are uncertain, you can contact us for a digital version of the course book. This course book formed the basis for  The Power of Modern Spirituality.

6. ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION
6.1 Introduction
You are not required to go through the assessment process, but if you want to be certificated and use the term 'Spiritual Companion' then you will need to do the course work. The Spiritual Companions certificate does not entitle you to set up a business as a Spiritual Companion but works in tandem with other certification and qualifications you may have, enhancing their value. If you are already qualified as a therapist or counsellor or coach, then you can use the SC certification to demonstrate your engagement in pastoral care and a holistic approach to spiritual development. We are currently exploring creating a follow-on course that enables people in their counselling and facilitation skills.

6.2 Biography
At the end of the Course, we ask you to write a short autobiographical essay (2k to 5k word), which describes how you are putting into practice the Spiritual Companions Guidelines. If you are not comfortable with writing, then we will find another way of delivering your material, such as audio or artwork. This biographical essay addresses each of the Guidelines one by one:

a. How and when you first became aware of the Guideline.
b. How you then worked with it and the difficulties and successes.
c. Examples of its practice in your daily life now.

6.3 Self-Assessment
You yourself need to be able confidently to state that, as best you can, you are consciously working with the guidelines.

6.4 Peer Group Assessment
Early on in the course you will join a home support group. By the end of the Course, you and your companions, following careful procedures, will mutually assess each other and need to agree that you are living and practicing the Guidelines.

6.5 Tutors Assessment
I as as your Tutor also affirm that you are up-to-speed. And then we have one External Tutor (a friendly Spiritual Companion who has also been through this whole process) to confirm that our assessment has integrity.

7. APPLICATION
If you would like to apply to be on this course, please send us the following information:
(It is completely confidential and only intended to help us support you better.)

Name:
Address:
Telephone number:
Email address:

Let us have a few paragraphs in answer to the following questions

• What set you on the path of spiritual development?

• What do you hope to get from this course?

• Please describe any significant events in your physical and mental healthcare history.

• Are your home circumstances supportive to your doing this course? If they are challenging, please tell us.

• Who and what are your significant influences – teachers, books, events and inner experiences?

• Please let us also have a cv or history of your education and work experience.

Either email this information, preferably as a Word document, to ana-at-williambloom-dot-com (we have written it like this to avoid spam. Use the usual '@'). Or send a printed copy to Ana Morgan, PO Box 2809, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8XQ.

APPLICATION DATE
 As the course numbers are limited to twelve people you are advised to apply as early as possible so as to ensure your place.

7. COURSE FEES
Public Workshops — The five public workshops – which can be taken in any sequence that suits you – are paid for on an individual basis. There are discounts for booking on more than one at the same time. (2 workshops = 10% discount. 3 = 15%. 4 = 20%. 5 = 25%.) There also the concessionary prices.

The original course fee including Course Book and tutorial support was £825, but because of the recession, we have devised what we hope is a fair way of charging. The administrative costs (room hire etc) create a basic cost of £350. (£70 per weekend.) All students must pay this £350 either in advance or staggered over the 5 months.
The rest of the fee is flexible, according to your ability to pay. (You can use the £825 for guidance.)
You can either pay a lump sum in advance — or pay at each weekend. You can also make donations to the bursary fund to support fellow students.
We will inform you shortly about payment procedures. Extreme hardship students, please communicate directly to us.
Once your application is in and accepted, we will inform you how to pay.
We hope this is clear. If you have any queries, please contact us.