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Ps also think one of the best things we can do is check in on survivor speakers and or anyone else in obvious pain a few days after a conference cos there is often a huge backlash then mental health wise. It always slightly irks me that survivor speakers get paid less for what are not only normally much better talks but also the weeks if often takes to recalibrate. These small kindnesses matter. Also important to ask people a few days in advance what would make it easier for them as a speaker. So perhaps with all attendees you could say, ‘please let us know anything we can do to make this event as inclusive and accepting as possible and we will try to do what we can’ . Not only will you maybe get ideas you can then share with us all, but will be modelling the ethos of the conference. Hope this makes sense - knackered! Also If someone asks a question and it obviously has a resonance to them, perhaps get someone to go up afterwards and say something validating. Can’t tell you the number of survivor mates I have who ask something perhaps crying at a conference and everyone just avoids them at coffee X
From: Jay Watts <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 08 May 2018 21:12:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Caring conferences and events
 

Excellent you are doing this Sarah

Thoughts from arranging things with lots of abuse survivors in the audience, none rocket science

-trigger warnings of areas to be covered in talks
- permission for people to come and go as they need to
- a safe space with someone on hand in case people it. With biscuits! And tea! And chairs arranged so not all facing each other.
- recognition that people who are anxious/autistic etc may not wish to speak to other people. So not to be too claustrophobically caring with people who might just need some space. But check in.
- no compulsory exercises eg talk to the person sitting next to you/meditation etc
- some way to allow people who might get triggered to sit at end of row/at back so don’t feel trapped
- ways of people who have paid to attend to catch up later eg watch videos of talk if gets too much and need to leave
- talk to speakers about level of stuff to be presented (eg at recent asylum conference there was a live demo that was triggering for many people)
- normalisation of the fact conferences can be difficult for people and that many in the audience will be survivors from start. Acknowledge these voices are the most important in the room
- tell people where they can smoke
- acknowledgement that people there who have been in care may have had really shit/abusive experiences and that then it can be quite difficult to have lots of caring professionals around now too late, and that has to be a truth in the room.
- obviously normal things like make sure people who speak are not all white middle class folk (er like me) that shut down inclusivity from the off.
- find a way for people to ask questions/comment without having to put their hand up cos that’s super intimidating so maybe something like a hat to put questions in or, for people who can’t write, someone to tell them too in a break or something

Jay x

From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Sarah W <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 08 May 2018 14:19:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Caring conferences and events
 
Yes, care experienced as in fostered, adopted or time spent in residential care.

Sarah

On Tue, May 8, 2018, 08:41 DEXTER, Gemma (DERBY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

​Hi Sarah, 


do you mean 'care' as in 'in the care of the local authority' (i.e. being a looked after child) or as in receiving other types of services? 


Dr Gemma Dexter
Specialist Clinical Psychologist
 
The Keep
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service
42 Leopold Street
 
01332 717575
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Sarah W <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 07 May 2018 17:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Caring conferences and events
 
Hi Folks

Hope everyone is well.

I'm contributing to a core group set up to organise a conference for the care experienced community. We're mindful that, whilst the conference has been initiated and is being organised by wonderfully sensitive and attuned care experienced people, it is perhaps inevitable that attendees might find themselves triggered by the conversations and content of the day.

My role is to help with the pastoral aspect of the conference set up and we'd like to do what we can to foster a trauma-sensitive and containing environment. Please could you share any experiences or ideas of how to go about this? 

I was thinking that perhaps previous community psychology festivals or other such events might have come up with some creative and effective ways of creating inclusive and safe spaces...

Thanks in advance
Sarah
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___________________________________ The list is jointly managed by David Fryer [log in to unmask] and Grant Jeffrey [log in to unmask], either of whom are able to deal with queries. To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
___________________________________ The list is jointly managed by David Fryer [log in to unmask] and Grant Jeffrey [log in to unmask], either of whom are able to deal with queries. To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
___________________________________ The list is jointly managed by David Fryer [log in to unmask] and Grant Jeffrey [log in to unmask], either of whom are able to deal with queries. To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK