Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership hits milestone in building a trauma informed region
21.02.24 - Merseyside
Merseyside’s Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) has reached a milestone in its work to increase awareness and understanding of trauma across our region.
More than 500 professionals who work across the public and third sector have now taken the MVRP’s free trauma informed training focused on recognising the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACES) with a focus on helping them to better understand and respond to the needs of our communities.
Delivered by industry experts, the training focuses on supporting organisations and their employees to appreciate how psychological trauma and ACES can impact on individuals and highlights the implications it can have for their services.
Professionals working in social care, education, policing, probation, and community safety have all undertaken the four-week course which covers subjects such as understanding vulnerability and the impact of trauma, recognising feelings, and building trust and how to respond to a crisis. Representatives from domestic abuse, child exploitation and road safety charities, as well as youth workers are also among those who benefited from the training.
The free training was first rolled out in October following a successful pilot last summer and feedback from the courses is already showing the difference it is making to the way professionals approach and engage with children, adults, and families they support through their safeguarding work.
Drew Griffiths, Support Worker at Venus Charity said: “My work is guiding young people around the dangers of organised crime groups and County Lines and by listening to other people’s stories I have been able to enhance my knowledge and experience.
“I would recommend the course 100%.”
Sgt Kate Roberts from Merseyside Police said: “It’s not just working with vulnerable people where I know this will help. It’s also with myself, my family, and my colleagues.
“By changing our understanding, we can improve outcomes and change the effects adverse childhood experiences have had.”
The training package is one of the MVRP’s flagship initiatives and following its success in its first four months, the goal is to now reach all professionals working in safeguarding across Merseyside with a vision of helping to create a truly trauma-responsive region.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “MVRP’s trauma informed training was only launched in October, so to reach and train 500 professionals in just four months is a fantastic achievement.
“Each and every professional who has that training is going back to their organisations and their communities with a greater understanding of trauma and its effects, equipping them with the skills to better respond to the people they are supporting.
“This is vital if we are to build a trauma aware and responsive region which can protect the vulnerable and build safer, stronger communities.
MVRP’s Director Superintendent Georgie Garvey said: “It’s vital we understand how trauma and adverse childhood experiences can impact us for our whole lives.
“By increasing our understanding of trauma and working in a trauma informed way, we can help to protect our young people and help people to live healthier, safer lives.
“It’s a brilliant achievement that today the 500th person is taking the training. This is just the start though – I’d encourage professionals across the region to find out about this training and sign up to one of our future courses.”
Find out more about this training and book your place on an upcoming course please visit: