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A new partnership between Blue Cabin, Children and Families Across Borders, and Therapeutic Life Story Work International has been formed, to develop life story work resources specifically for refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people who have recently arrived in the UK.
The work is being funded by a £15,000 grant from The Segelman Trust.
As Blue Cabin director, Jenny Young, explains, the funding will lead to the expansion of the charity’s Creative Life Story Work, which aims to transform the provision of life story work for care-experienced children and young people.
Creative Life Story Work is based on the Rose model of Therapeutic Life Story Work, created by Richard Rose, director of Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWI).
“Creative Life Story Work is a trauma-informed approach to helping care-experienced children and young people understand their own life stories,” said Jenny Young. “Through the project, we provide local authorities and individual practitioners with training and resources which help them develop and strengthen life story work.
“Now, we will be working with Children and Families Across Borders and with Therapeutic Life Story Work International to develop these much needed life story work resources specifically for newly-arrived children and young people – all thanks to this support from The Segelman Trust. We can’t wait to get started.”
The new resources will be published on the Creative Life Story Work website. We have also commissioned an animation from Kazzum Arts, a trauma-informed arts charity for children and young people. Kazzum will communicate the benefits of our shared approach through an accessible animation, translated into multiple languages, which highlights the impact of Creative Life Story Work.
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) protects children and reunites families across borders. The charity works with partners in more than 130 countries and uses its expertise to ensure children who have become separated from their families across international borders are given care and protection, no matter where they come from.
The support CFAB provides includes life story work for children and young people to help them process their feelings, and come to terms with their journey and current circumstances. This tailored support helps children and young people understand their lives in a way that makes sense to them. These new resources will offer more children and young people a safe space to explore their past, present and future with a caring and dedicated support worker.
Nathalie Scott, deputy CEO of Children and Families Across Borders, said: “Newly arrived refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people often experience unimaginable trauma and loss at very young ages. We give young refugees the space and tools to create tangible and age-appropriate records of their lives so far, helping them to process and understand their journeys.
“Arriving in a new community with so many unknowns can be daunting and overwhelming. By equipping more professionals with the unique expertise to deliver this service, we will help even more children and young people develop a better sense of personal identity, have improved self-esteem, and feel positive about the future. We are proud to deliver this essential work in partnership with Blue Cabin and Therapeutic Life Story Work International thanks to the generosity of The Segelman Trust.”
The Rose model of Therapeutic Life Story Work was created by Richard Rose, director of Therapeutic Life Story Work International (TLSWI).
TLSWi provides training and consultancy on Therapeutic Life Story Work, including developing training and resources for the Creative Life Story Work programme. TLSWi trains and supports an international professional community to deliver Therapeutic Life Story Work to a high standard with the aim of delivering transformative support to children, young people, adults, and families who have experienced trauma.
The Rose Model of Therapeutic Life Story work is an effective, evidence based, child-centred approach that enables children to explore and make sense of their story. This process helps them navigate difficult emotions and experiences, such as trauma, loss, or separation, make connections between their past and present, and manage these challenges with a greater sense of control.
Refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people often have gaps in their history, and information about their lives can be hard to find, which can be distressing and present further challenges for them. Therapeutic Life Story Work helps children to work through the complex emotions that can result from these unanswered questions, to help them to have a greater capacity to manage these gaps, and move toward a strong sense of identity and self-worth.
Paula Price, Chair of TLSWuk said: “We are pleased to be working with Children and Families Across Borders and Blue Cabin to develop resources for refugee and asylum seeking children and young people, thanks to this support from The Segelman Trust. These children and young people often face a unique set of challenges, and by working together to create resources and develop practice specially tailored to meeting their needs, we can have a positive impact on their lives.”
Visit the Therapeutic Life Story Work International website>>
Kazzum Arts is a London based arts charity working with children and young people impacted by trauma and adversity. Through multidisciplinary creative projects across the arts, health and education sectors with young people aged three to 30, Kazzum’s work supports young people to feel seen, heard and valued. Kazzum’s distinctive, trauma-informed approach supports young people to build relationships, develop creative skills, and experience positive mental health.
This commission builds upon Kazzum’s extensive experience in developing resources, animations and training programmes which support professionals delivering creative and relational activities with young people. Kazzum’s Artistic Director Alex Evans said: “It’s so exciting to support this unique, important collaboration and enable more young people and families to hold their stories with care. I look forward to sharing the CLSW process widely, in support of young people and those who work alongside them.”
To view further resources by Kazzum Arts, visit their website>>
The Segelman Trust is an independent grant-making charity which provides grants to organisations working with children in care, care leavers and families facing multiple and complex challenges, with children at risk of entering care.
The trust believes that strong relationships and connection are at the heart of change, and that everyone needs love, care, community and positive relationships in their life.
Nicky Lappin, Senior Executive at The Segelman Trust, said: “As a current funder of Blue Cabin’s wider work, we are fully convinced of the difference that creative life story work can make to care-experienced children and young people. We are delighted to be supporting these three expert organisations – Blue Cabin, Children and Families Across Borders and Therapeutic Life Story Work International – to develop focused resources for newly arrived young people who will have experienced trauma and loss at multiple levels.”
