A Bridge to Reality: Simulations in Communication Skills Training

The development of communication skills is increasingly a key element in the training of staff who have a regular contact with the public. The Glasgow Garden Festival took place over the summer of 1988. For the purposes of staffing the information centre, the Inverclyde Initiative chose to recruit 12 people who were registered unemployed. Training was provided for these individuals in order to prepare them for the job by improving their skills and thus their ability to perform a successful role in the Festival. Details of the design of the communication skills programme using simulations and role plays as general features are considered in the article.