Two two-day pilot workshops for self-advocates with learning difficulties and for advisors were held. Under the title 'Helping your self-advocacy group to grow', the workshops aimed to help people increase their own skills and those of other members of their group. People attending already had a basic knowledge of self-advocacy and were involved in existing groups. This publication attempts to describe the main content of the four days; explain how various skills were taught; share the most important issues which arose; and discuss some of the practical issues involved in setting up the workshops.