Over the past two years, Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) and Sue’s Space have delivered Trauma Informed Best Practice training to frontline staff and volunteers across Manchester. The training has brought together colleagues from statutory and voluntary sector services, creating opportunities to develop a shared understanding of trauma and its impact on the people who access support.
Following this work, we revisited a number of organisations that had attended the training to explore what has changed in practice, what is working well, and what challenges remain. Through open, honest and reflective conversations, frontline workers shared their experiences of embedding trauma informed approaches within their services. These discussions highlighted both the progress that has been made and the barriers that continue to affect organisations striving to provide compassionate, effective and person-centred support.
This guide has been co-created from those conversations. It recognises that becoming trauma informed is an ongoing journey rather than a destination, and that meaningful change often happens through small, practical improvements alongside long-term organisational commitment. The experiences and insights shared by staff and volunteers demonstrate a strong desire across Manchester’s frontline services to create environments that promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment.
Two key challenges emerged consistently throughout the discussions and form the focus of this guide.
The first challenge relates to the delivery of services themselves. Often, the people with the greatest need for support are those who have experienced significant trauma. Yet aspects of service design, policy and practice can unintentionally recreate experiences of powerlessness, exclusion or distress. This guide explores how organisations can identify and reduce potentially re-traumatising practices and create services that are experienced as safe, respectful and supportive.
The second challenge concerns the wellbeing of those providing support. Working alongside people who have experienced trauma can have a profound impact on staff and volunteers. Exposure to traumatic stories and experiences can lead to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion if appropriate support is not in place. This guide therefore considers how organisations can better recognise, prevent and respond to the impact of trauma work on their workforce.
The aim of this guide is not to provide all the answers, but to share learning, encourage reflection and offer practical, achievable actions informed by the experiences of organisations across Manchester. By continuing to learn from one another and work collaboratively, we can strengthen trauma informed practice and create services that are safer, more compassionate and more effective for both the people who access support and the staff and volunteers who provide it.
Thank you to Manchester City Council, Trauma Responsive Manchester, Justlife, Shelter and Etrop Grange for your support and involvement in bringing this piece of work to life!
To learn more, please download the guide and workbook below ☺️