After the events in Keyham in August 2021, it was requested that some trauma-informed training and work take place in the area to support the community in recovery. In March 2022, the Trauma Informed Plymouth Network, Tree Project CIC and Plymouth Together started a 12-month program to explore trauma-informed practice and collaborative community working in Keyham. The intention has been to provide a supportive, reflective space for the key individuals who have been at the forefront of the community response in Keyham, Ford and North Prospect to ensure they feel sufficiently resourced to support their communities. The mission was to change the narrative from a traumatised community to one that celebrates and amplifies the many strengths already in this community of practitioners.

The journey began with 2 whole day’s training offered to key members:

– Introduction to Trauma Informed Practice delivered by the Trauma Informed Network Plymouth 

– Creative Community Collaborations delivered by Rachel Dobbs (Community Arts Practitioner) & The Tree Project CIC

From here monthly workshops were provided. We’ve learnt about trauma-informed practice theory and explored how it applies to their everyday interactions, we’ve learned mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques for ourselves and to share with community members and most importantly built a strong network of people supporting the local community. As a group we obtained funding to attend the UK Trauma Recovery Conference Traumatised Communities to Trauma Informed & Relationship Centred Communities at the Trauma Recovery Centre in Bath in February 2023.

We hoped to create a sustainable local network of trauma-informed practitioners enabling greater community cohesion and collective recovery. Regular participants are from the local policing team, Keyham Neighbourhood Watch, Wolseley Trust, Victim Support and other local community groups. The collective has been formed to support the group in its endeavours to continue the Trauma Informed journey in Keyham.

It is testament to this incredible community of practitioners that the group are motivated to continue meeting to share experience and skills and to welcome new members. Funding is currently being sought to continue the collective trauma-informed journey.