The central role of Training and Development: From day one the Founder understood that the provision of therapeutic services must go hand in hand with staff training and development and that the training must be founded on, and indeed take place in the context of, community-based experience – a concept which was most unfashionable at the time but which is now commonplace. From the beginnings of the organisation staff benefitted from in-house and day-release training , an initiative which culminated in the foundation of the Richmond Fellowship College. The College became a centre for specialist psychotherapeutic and group work education, not only for the organisation’s own staff and for social workers employed elsewhere, but also for many in associated pastoral and educational roles such as clergy and teachers.

This training facility was also of great benefit to those preparing to develop community mental health services abroad, many of whom had been recruited from the countries which were to establish the new services. International conferences, where renowned leaders in the field led the debates on topics relating to the provision, conduct and outcome of therapeutic services, became a focus  for professional in the field and led to long-term interest and progress in this work, as well as creating a bond between the staff from different countries.

The key aspect of gaining understanding of people and of the therapeutic processes which can assist in rehabilitation remains an essential dimension of the development plans of RPFI. It is very gratifying that the Richmond Fellowship Society (India) has established a Post-graduate College for Psychosocial Rehabilitation  in Bangalore which prepares students from a wide geographical area for an MSc degree, whilst providing practical experience in its therapeutic communities. In addition it has provided training courses in rehabilitation in nearby countries such as Nepal and Thailand, and it assisted the Richmond Fellowship in Sri Lanka in training counsellors to relieve the distress of those caught up in the Tsunami trauma.