Here in Wakefield, we know that trauma impacts on many people’s lives. It is estimated that 50% of the UK has experienced a traumatic event. Each year, the impacts of adverse childhood experiences cost the UK economy over £40 billion. Support is too often not responsive to people’s needs.
It is time that changed.
That is why Wakefield Council is determined to lead a trauma informed movement across the district, working across its services and partner organisations to achieve this.
This is part of a vision to make West Yorkshire a trauma informed region by 2030.
Trauma is where people experience a stressful or distressing event or set of circumstances that is difficult to cope with. It is a feeling of lacking control and can affect how a person functions and responds to certain situation. This can impact on someone’s physical and mental well-being, making people feel under threat, invalidated, unsupported and powerless. Anyone can experience trauma in their life and it is personal.
Trauma informed practice is about recognising the widespread impact of trauma on people’s lives. It is an approach that creates safe, resilient and supportive environments built on understanding how behaviours and relationships can be affected by trauma.
There are six principles that define trauma informed practice: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment and cultural awareness.
Wakefield Council is wanting to be a leader in this space and build a trauma informed region.
All council staff and managers from every service can benefit from taking a trauma informed approach. Moreover, all businesses, organisations and services in Wakefield should be part of this movement too to build a truly responsive system.
