Ripples.... The Power of You

On World Teacher Day, head teacher Billy Burke led a session that explored how wellbeing and positive relationships should be at the heart of all we do in work and in life along with the connections we make and how positive communication is key to our happiness and development.

Gerry Diamond provided attendees with an insight into how prolonged patterns of trauma can impact the developing brain and body. The event demonstrated an approach that brings certain core concepts on how the brain works within educational settings. And the impact this can have on the young person.

Kevin Neary is a co-founder of the charity Aid&Abet, who support people leaving prison. Kevin’s passion is preventing young people having to suffer what he did when he was their age; he supports young people on to more positive destinations now, rather than treating the problem later in life after the criminal justice system, prisons, addiction, and poor mental health that stems from childhood trauma have all left their mark.

The changes family support brings ripple out, improving relationships with friends and family, whose own wellbeing is enhanced in turn. And it doesn’t stop there. The knock-on effect of learning new coping mechanisms can transfer to other areas of a person’s life, like their career. This event discussed the help SFAD can offer as well as the impact of evidence-based approaches to family support.

As mediation continues to grow as an alternative way to address, repair and settle conflict, more attention is being paid to how we can ensure mediation is as effective as possible. Cyrenians' Senior Mediator Alan Jeffrey led this interactive session to explore what makes mediation successful. The event focused on the situations that are most suited to mediation, the qualities of the mediator themselves, and the concept of procedural fairness, where the mediation process heavily impacts partie perspective on success.

The SCCR Team and Aidan, Young Person Volunteer, explored the different ways in which adults shape and influence young people. This workshop looked at a range of situations where adults can make a significant difference to a young person’s life and how their small actions can lead to big changes.

Scott McEwen discussed his Relationship-Based Practice, which he has developed since retiring from patrolling the beat as part of the Police service and taking up his role of Training and Development Officer role at the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU). This learning has been used to break down barriers and make, maintain and mend relationships with those most ‘difficult to reach’ or ‘easy to ignore’ in society.

Professor Judith Pratt outlined what we know about the neurobiology of the teenage brain in relation to behaviour and how this can have a ripple effect on relationships with others. From a neuroscience perspective, her talk highlighted the power of the teenage brain; from increased learning capacity to emotional experiences and creativity.