Trauma Informed Conference

trauma aware, thriving spaces

Trauma affects how people think, feel, and connect with others, often in ways we can’t see. A trauma-informed approach shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What have you been through?”

By fostering safety, trust, and compassion, trauma-informed practices help reduce harm, strengthen relationships, and create spaces where people can heal and thrive.

We are running two separate sessions to help develop trauma understanding

Building a Trauma Sensitive Organisation

How to Avoid Burnout in Ministry

Building a Trauma Sensitive Organisation

Friday 26th September - 9am-4:30pm

How accessible is your organisation to those with a background of trauma?
Are you interested in providing a high quality experience for people you support in your organisation?
Is your organisation supportive to those who have experienced trauma?
Do you or your organisation want to know more about being sensitive to people living with trauma?

Spend a day with experts and those sharing their own lived experiences, to build on your knowledge of trauma and explore with others how you or your organisation can respond in compassionate ways to people you support. Everyone is welcome to attend whatever your role. It is useful to have a basic understanding of trauma before attendance.

Tickets

Tickets: £25 per person, includes lunch.

Funding: We want the day to be open to all so please contact us if you need support with funding your place

Speakers:

Ruth Stephens

CEO & Founder - Join the Dots

Ruth is a registered Occupational Therapist who has spent over a decade of her career specialising in working with adopted and fostered families. She has worked therapeutically in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, specialist trauma therapy clinic and in SEMH schools. Ruth is passionate about helping people understand the neuroscience behind trauma and to have the tools with which to understand and support those who have relational trauma.

Over four years ago, she formed Join the Dots CIO which emerged from a growing awareness that church needs to be more accessible to those who have had complicated backgrounds. It serves particularly to equip those whose ministry involves supporting people who have experienced adversity, by providing training, resources, and consultation. She has been involved in church leadership for many years, is an adoptive parent, holds an MSc in Attachment studies, and level three in counselling.

Dr Clare Pettinger

Associate Professor in Public Health Dietetics

Dr. Clare Pettinger is an award-winning Registered Dietitian, Public Health Nutritionist, and educator recognized for her research on food systems, poverty, and social justice. She focuses on tackling health inequalities through creative, inclusive approaches that also promote sustainability. Since 2021, she has led the Plymouth arm of a £6 million UKRI-funded project co-producing healthy, sustainable food systems for disadvantaged communities. Her role includes managing local research, training community food researchers, and contributing to national strategy, with initiatives such as FoodSEqual-Health and the Synergy Project exploring co-production in food system change.

She previously led the British Academy-funded Food as a Lifestyle Motivator project, which used creative methods to support marginalized communities. Clare has also contributed to public health efforts including Thrive Plymouth and the Grow, Share, Cook project. Her work, featured in the documentary Food on the Margins in Plymouth, underscores her commitment to equity and sustainability in food systems.

Tracy Bennett

Join the Dots - Associate Trainer

Tracy is a qualified, Independent Social Worker, with 25 years’ experience of supporting children and families impacted by adversity and trauma. She is passionate about empowering children, individuals, and families to thrive.

Over the last four years, Tracy has specialised in working with community organisations providing training in trauma informed practice and running empowerment courses and workshops for individuals and families aimed at breaking cycles of generational trauma and building individual and community resilience. Utilising the extensive research findings from the fields of Attachment and Neuroscience, Tracy’s practice is non-hierarchical, strength based, underpinned by sound theoretical models which have practical applications.

How to Avoid Burnout in Ministry

Saturday 27th September - 10am-1pm

In today’s fast-paced and often demanding environments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but with the right tools and understanding, you can foster a sense of balance and strength.

How do you support people who have experienced trauma?
Do you find it overwhelming at times and struggle to manage?

You're warmly invited to a special morning session with experienced professionals who will guide you through practical strategies for building personal resilience and managing stress. This session is open to everyone, regardless of your role or background. Whether you're supporting others or navigating your own challenges, you'll find valuable takeaways to help you thrive.

To make the most of the discussion, we recommend having a basic understanding of trauma and its effects. This foundational knowledge will help you engage more deeply with the content and apply the insights to your own context.