Community Conversations: Setting out the Vision and Mission for Aberystwyth to become a Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (TrACE) informed University

Everyone has a role to play in Wales becoming an ACE and trauma-informed nation. ‘Trauma-informed’ is about understanding that lots of people have adversity and trauma that affects them in all kinds of ways. The TrACE toolkit has been developed by the ACE Hub Wales in co-production with partners. It is a resource to support people, organisations, sectors and systems to develop their own ACE and trauma-informed approach. It focuses on building into, not onto, existing good practice and identifying where improvements and changes can be made to polices, practice, culture and environment. It is a key part of the Wales Trauma-informed Practice Framework  which sets out how people, communities, organisations, sectors and systems all working together, can create a society where far fewer people will need additional support because  people will be able to get help earlier and in the right way.

 

When we undertake any big journey, we have a place where we start, and in most cases an idea of where we want to go and how we get there. The TrACE journey is no different. It is a series of steps that take us through understanding where we currently are, where we are heading and what we need to do to get to that place. We are currently working to understand where we are – what we currently have in place here that surrounds us at our starting point. But before we embark any further, we need to think about that journey and develop it together so that we are all part of it.

The ACE Hub Wales will be joining us to facilitate conversations about that road map – think of it like following a trail; there are things to stop and consider along the way, people to meet, things to do, but unless you have an understanding of why you are embarking on the route, where you are heading and what you expect to get at the finish point, it’s possible that you will lose your way. We are keen that we are clear on our path and need your help to do that.

The conversations will take place over a couple of hours in Tŷ Trafod, a relaxed and informal space designed to foster human-scale conversations and link them together to influence change, so numbers will be kept small. We will be looking at our path but considering some very basic but key questions:

Before you attend you will receive a pack with some resources so you familiarise yourself with the sorts of things we will discuss and how that supports the vision for a TrACE University. The sessions will be informal, relaxed, and inclusive. There is no wrong answer, and all questions are welcome. We will share ideas, support and challenge our colleagues and the aim of the conversation is to come away with a sense of being part of the co-creation of the future; a future where trauma and adversity are prevented, and guided by compassionate leadership, Aberystwyth University is a community that understands that anyone may experience adversity and trauma in their lives and how to access the right support based on what they need, when they need it.

To reserve one of the limited places, please click here.

If you have any questions, please email us at trace@aber.ac.uk