Our Learning Strategy

A strong learning strategy is the foundation of meaningful LGBTQ+ education. Rather than treating training as a one‑off event, we approach learning as an ongoing, intentional process that builds capability over time. Our strategy aligns learning with organisational goals, sector‑specific needs, and the real behaviours required to create safer, more inclusive environments across workplaces, healthcare, community organisations, and sport.

Essentially, effective learning doesn’t happen by accident, it happens through planning, structure, and repetition. We design learning pathways that support long‑term retention, deepen understanding, and build confidence through a combination of formal training, real‑world practice, and ongoing reinforcement. This ensures that learners not only understand LGBTQ+ inclusion, but can apply it consistently in their everyday roles.

Spaced Practice as a Core Strategy

Spaced practice is central to our learning strategy. Research shows that people retain information more effectively when learning is revisited over time, rather than delivered all at once. For LGBTQ+ education, this approach is essential: inclusion requires reflection, repetition, and opportunities to practise new skills in real contexts.

We weave spaced practice throughout our learning pathways — from eLearns and microlearns to facilitated sessions and follow‑up activities. Learners encounter key concepts multiple times, in different formats and scenarios, allowing them to strengthen their understanding and build confidence gradually. This supports the COM‑B model by reinforcing capability, creating opportunities for practice, and sustaining motivation.

Learning Pathways

Learning pathways help structure how learners build LGBTQ+ inclusion capability over time. Instead of relying on one‑off training, pathways map out a sequence of learning experiences — from foundational awareness to more advanced, role‑specific skills. Each step builds on the last, ensuring learners develop confidence gradually and in ways that align with organisational goals.

Pathways also make learning more strategic. They allow workplaces, healthcare services, community organisations, and sporting environments to plan ahead, identify priority skills, and ensure teams receive the right training at the right time. By integrating eLearns, microlearns, facilitated sessions, and follow‑up activities, pathways support long‑term retention and help embed inclusive behaviours into everyday practice.

Skills‑Based Learning

Skills‑based learning focuses on helping learners move beyond understanding concepts to confidently applying inclusive behaviours in real situations. LGBTQ+ education isn’t just about knowing terminology or principles — it’s about developing the practical skills needed to communicate respectfully, respond to discrimination, create culturally safe environments, and adapt behaviour across different contexts.

We design learning that includes demonstrations, scenarios, and guided practice so learners can rehearse and refine these skills over time. This approach aligns with the COM‑B model, which emphasises capability as a core driver of behaviour change, and supports long‑term skill development through repetition, reflection, and real‑world application. By focusing on “how,” not just “what,” learners build the confidence and competence needed to act inclusively in their everyday roles.

Cognitive Load Theory

Cognitive Load Theory guides us to design learning that is clear, focused, and easy to absorb. LGBTQ+ inclusion can involve new language, nuanced concepts, and emotionally charged content — all of which can increase cognitive load. If learners are overwhelmed, they retain less and may disengage.

To manage this, we break content into smaller components, use microlearns to reinforce single ideas, and sequence learning so foundational knowledge is established before introducing more complex topics. We also use scenarios, visuals, and real‑world examples to support understanding. By reducing unnecessary cognitive strain, learners stay engaged and are better able to reflect, practise, and apply inclusive behaviours.

Why is this important?

Capacity building and skill acquisition is a journey. LGBTQ+ inclusion requires more than awareness; it requires ongoing development of communication skills, cultural understanding, confidence, and reflective practice. These elements of our learning strategy supports this by:

• Introducing foundational concepts early

• Reinforcing them through spaced practice

• Providing opportunities for real‑world application

• Offering advanced learning for deeper capability

• Focusing on 'learning how' rather than just 'learning what'

• Supporting teams to embed inclusive behaviours into everyday practice

This approach ensures that learning is cumulative, sustainable, and aligned with how people actually grow and change, and adapts effectively across workplaces, healthcare, community, and sport. We believe in supporting your organisation to take learning seriously and approach it strategically.