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The purpose of this audit was to explore the experiences of 42 professionals trained over a three‐year period as trainers in behavioural family therapy. Trainers completed a questionnaire designed to explore their motivations, frustrations, sources of support and benefits they experienced through involvement with the Meriden Family Programme. Quasi‐qualitative, thematic analyses were performed on the data. The audit found numerous intrinsic motivations for being a trainer, as well as a wide range of benefits, including belief in the approach, wanting to help families, enjoyment of teaching and professional development. Frustrations encountered were disinterest of staff, lack of support and restrictions on the trainers' role. Trainers were resourceful and used various solutions to overcome these. Recommendations are made on how to manage and maintain enthusiasm and support of trainers, or other family work champions.

With more than 160,000 carers in Ireland, there is a considerable need to provide support and coping strategies to reduce the burden of care on both the individual and the economy. Government policies are increasingly involving carers within health services, as they provide real‐life insights into the needs of service users and carers. Further, healthcare professionals and carers can benefit from training delivered by the carers themselves.The current report was a highly successful initiative where carers and professionals from both sides of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland worked together effectively to deliver an 11‐week programme of support to carers of those with mental health problems. This innovative initiative aimed to achieve health gain and social well‐being in the border areas, as well as to build constructive partnerships. The participants were relatively inexperienced in delivering training prior to the training course, but acquired the skills and knowledge needed with the help of a detailed training manual and three follow‐up supervision days.The training trainers' course and subsequent caring for carers programme elivered by carers from both sides of the border were successful initiatives in bringing together people from both sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland, and in linking them with people from the Republic of Ireland.