Creating Trauma Aware Environments

Creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and supported begins with recognising that everyone brings different life experiences into the room. This half-day course introduces the concept of trauma awareness and explores how it can inform inclusive, emotionally intelligent practice across creative, cultural, and heritage settings.

The session supports participants to consider how trauma-aware practice can influence everyday work; from how we design activities and spaces, to how we communicate and build trust. Through discussion and reflection, we’ll consider national guidance and explore how we can contribute to environments that feel safe and supportive.

This approach aligns with wider wellbeing principles and invites practitioners to reflect on how everyday decisions from language and layout to tone and timing can help people feel grounded, valued, and able to participate on their own terms.

In this training, you will learn:

• An introduction to how different life experiences can affect wellbeing and participation.
• A gentle overview of how the brain responds to stress and adversity, and how this can influence behaviour.
• Key values such as safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity, and how they can guide inclusive practice.
• Practical ways to apply these principles in workshops, performances, and cultural spaces, with a focus on emotional safety and accessibility.
• Everyday strategies to reduce harm, support wellbeing, and offer participants choice and control without requiring disclosure or personal detail.
• How reflective practice can help us to consider how our current approaches can become more sensitive, inclusive, and responsive to diverse lived experiences.

Why Attend:

This training offers a foundation for understanding what trauma awareness means in creative cultural and heritage settings, and how it can support emotionally intelligent, inclusive practice. It introduces frameworks to help ensure participants feel safe, respected, and able to engage on their own terms enhancing the wellbeing impact of your projects and programmes.

About the Trainer:

Lesley Wood brings over two decades of experience in youth arts, training development, and project management. Specialising in creating supportive environments, Lesley combines practical expertise with a deep understanding of wellbeing and trauma awareness frameworks.

Ideal For:

• Creative Practitioners
• Project Managers
• Educators
• Anyone delivering creative or participatory programmes

When:

• Part I: Monday, 2 February 2026, 9:30 - 12:30

Cost: £89 per person

Career Development Support:

We understand that funding training opportunities can be challenging, especially during defining moments in your life or career.

At Artswork, we believe in investing in the future of our sector, and we want to support those who are passionate about safeguarding and cultural development. That’s why we offer our Career Development Support pricing.

We have reserved three places on each course at a 25% discount for individuals who could use a little extra financial support. If you feel this applies to you, please contact us at training@artswork.org.uk to explain your situation and receive the next steps.

All of our training courses are delivered using Zoom.

If you require further information or would like to discuss your needs in advance of the session, please contact us at training@artswork.org.uk

Can this training be delivered specifically for our organisation?

Yes! All of our training courses can be delivered either online or in person at a time and date that works best for your team. We’re happy to adapt the content to ensure it aligns with your organisation’s needs and priorities.

If you’d like to learn more or discuss your requirements, please get in touch with us at training@artswork.org.uk

*Read our course terms and conditions here.

Important Notice:

Please note that any discounts must be applied at the checkout. They cannot be redeemed retrospectively once the transaction is complete.