News: Renowned trauma specialist to lead Children in Scotland webinar

Posted 21 October, 2021 by Catherine Bromley

In a rare UK appearance, leading American neuroscientist Dr Bruce Perry will lead the last session in the More Than My Trauma partnership series.

Children in Scotland is delighted to be hosting Dr Bruce Perry in a two-hour, live webinar, Understanding the Therapeutic Moment: The Power of Being There, on Thursday 28 October, that brings the 2021 online sessions in the More Than My Trauma partnership to a close. Ticket holders for this live event also have access to recordings of the five preceding sessions in the series.

Dr. Perry's presentation will focus on the power and regulating effects of healthy relational interactions on the developing child and the critical importance of therapeutic, educational and enrichment opportunities provided in the broader community, especially the home and school.

Formed in 2018 as a creative partnership between Aberlour, Children in Scotland, Clackmannanshire Council, Kibble, Seamab and Staf, More Than My Trauma draws together specialist expertise from across the length and breadth of Scotland to build consistent, trauma-responsive services that support young people in real, tangible and practical ways.

The partnership staged an online conference in September 2020 with Dr Bruce Perry, and it’s with great pride that we welcome him back to contribute his unique and inspiring perspective based on decades of research into adverse childhood experiences and childhood trauma.

Responding to the invitation and to his forthcoming Scottish appearance, Dr Perry said:

“I look forward to continuing the conversation with my colleagues in Scotland. We continue to learn from each other and share the progress we are all making in creating practice, programme and policy which understand that relationships are the agents of change.

"It will only be through respectful, reciprocal relationships that we can help transform our systems, and help improve the lives of children and young people who have experienced trauma.”

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences, holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programmes and policy across the world. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. His most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (2021), co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, has been on the New York Times 'Bestseller list' for the past 23 weeks.

Ticketholders joining the event on 28 October will have two hours with Dr Perry plus access to the recordings from the five previous sessions in the 2021 series:
Lessons learned from implementing a large-scale, trauma-informed 5-year project, led by Clackmannanshire Council (27 May)
Reflective practice in trauma-informed care, led by Jan Montgomery (24 June)
Play, love and relationships, led by Seamab (29 July)
How our trauma journey has influenced participation, policy and partnership, led by Staf (26 August)
Moving from trauma-informed to creating safe, healing, nurturing environments, led by Aberlour (30 September)

Click here for more information and to book

More Than My Trauma webinar series: Dr Bruce Perry
Thursday, 28 October 2021 | 2-4pm | Online (please note the webinar will not be recorded).

News: Postgraduate certificate on Children in Conflict with the Law launched

Posted 14 September, 2021 by Jennifer Drummond

The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) is introducing a new Postgraduate Cerificate on Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law, in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde.

The new course, which begins in January 2022, has been developed by CYCJ to provide a professional postgraduate qualification for those wishing to improve outcomes for young people who are in conflict with the law.

Whilst gaining a professional qualification from the University of Strathclyde, learners will gain a critical understanding of the issues surrounding children and young people in conflict with the law and will be better placed to implement changes in practice to respect children and young people’s rights and enable social justice.

CYCJ’S Interim Director, Fiona Dyer, said:

“We are delighted to introduce this course at CYCJ. Youth practitioners and managers ave told us they would welcome further training and support linked to their work with children and young people in conflict with the law. Scotland is at a crucial stage in its children’s rights journey with the upcoming implementation of the UNCRC. Through providing further education for professionals working with children and young people, we believe a positive difference will be made for the upholding of children’s rights and improved outcomes in the future.

“We hope those who complete this course will find it enhances their expertise, ability and confidence to support often vulnerable children, young people and families in moving away from offending behaviour and achieving positive outcomes for all.”

The course was designed following consultation with youth justice stakeholders from across the UK.

Delivered as a 12-month, part-time distance learning course it has been designed to offer the flexibility to grow knowledge, skills and continued professional development whilst maintaining existing professional commitments.

Click here to find out more about the Postgraduate Certificate

Booking opens for unique online Learning Week

19 February 2021

Booking is now open for our first ever Children in Scotland Learning Week. Our unique five-day online event will bring together a range of experts and organisations to share ideas, perspectives and possible solutions to some of the biggest challenges currently facing the children’s sector.

The week-long series of events will take place from Monday 22 March to Friday 26 March offering five days of sharing, learning and connecting.

Karin McKenny, Learning and Events Manager at Children in Scotland said:

“We know how much our Annual Conference is valued across the sector and we were deeply disappointed to not be in a position to deliver this key event in the calendar during 2020.

“With the restrictions around public gatherings still in place, and likely to remain so for some time yet, we have had to be innovative in how we continue to provide top-class learning, training and CPD.

"The result is our Learning Week which we hope strikes the balance of providing the quality event we would usually be delivering in person, but with added flexibility to engage around other commitments and time pressures.”

The programme has been designed around five key themes:

Mental Health Monday
Together Tuesday
Wellbeing Wednesday
Transforming Thursday
Family Friday

One ticket gives access to all content produced as part of Learning Week, including live sessions and pre-recorded content. Delegates are encouraged to attend events live, but all sessions will be recorded allowing access at a later, more convenient time if preferred.

Tickets are from £55 per person.

Click here to find out more and book your place

Spring training and events

View all our forthcoming webinars and training events on our Eventbrite hub

Click to browse the programme

Children in Scotland magazine - Issue 200

Our anniversary edition is available now to read, download and share for free

Click to read the magazine

Recognition for learning and events programme as team scoops three major awards

Children in Scotland’s Learning and Events team won an unprecedented three awards at last night’s prestigious EventIt E Awards held at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms.

The team won Best In-House Events Team 2019 and Best Association Event for our 2018 Annual Conference, while Learning & Events Officer Svenja Schulz won Rising Scottish Event Star.

The accolade follows a record-breaking year of activity for Children in Scotland learning and events.

Over 2018-19 the team delivered 250 events, attended by 5,300 delegates and with 200 contributors from 974 organisations.

Children in Scotland's Learning & Events Manager Karin McKenny said: “I’m very proud of my team and the contribution they make to achieving Children in Scotland’s aims – these awards feel like proper recognition of that work, three times over! I’d also like to thank our wonderful contributors who bring expertise, specialist knowledge and commitment to all of our events.”

Svenja Schulz said: “This is a great honour and a moment I will never forget. I’m very grateful to all of my colleagues who have been so supportive and encouraging since the first day I’ve started at Children in Scotland. Looking at the talent and dedication in our team, I’m sure I won’t be the last one to win this incredible award!”

Children in Scotland CEO Jackie Brock said: “These awards are so well deserved and reflect the fantastic effort the team puts into creating a CPD programme that’s relevant and engaging for professionals and practitioners across Scotland.

“Most importantly it’s testament to the team’s values-driven work to strengthen the knowledge and skills of everyone who works with or for children, with the overall aim of improving children’s lives. Thanks to EventIt for recognising this.”

Click here to browse upcoming events