UWTSD’s Centre for Children and Young People Conference 2022

'A child in Our Times: Supporting children’s and Young People’s needs and well-being: research, practice, and policy.'

The one-day conference, ‘A child in Our Times: Supporting children’s and Young People’s needs and well-being: research, practice and policy,’ will take place at the University’s IQ building in SA1 on Friday, October 21 and will feature talks from two keynote speakers who will share their experiences of supporting vulnerable children and young people.

It is being organised by the University’s Centre for Children and Young People’s Emotional and Mental Wellbeing. The centre was created to build a strong network with key stakeholders and partners across South and west Wales to enable the University to provide specialist support and education around emotional and mental health and wellbeing for children and young people and those who work with and care for young people.

Dr Abigail Wright, author of @psychedmum and Specialist Senior Early Years Educational Psychologist will deliver a talk entitled: ‘Supporting babies, children and young people’s wellbeing: recovery or discovery?’

Dr Helen Jones: Clinical Psychologist and DBT therapist, Specialist CAMHS will discuss, ‘Working within the Holy Grail – is it really what we need?’

There will also be a diverse range of workshops led by UWTSD lecturers Catherine Slade, Charlotte Greenway, and Paul Darby.

A workshop on ‘Supporting mental health and building resilience in young asylum seekers and refugees in Wales: breaking down barriers,’ will be led by the African Community Centre. This workshop will explore the ways in which the African Community Centre supports children and young people from BAME backgrounds in Wales, sharing their experience of co-production, creative engagement, and counselling children and young people from diverse cultures.

There will also be a workshop on prioritising good mental health for primary pupils post-covid by Adele Thomas from Nottage Primary School and one on substance misuse in young persons: support, guidance, and harm reduction by Barod Choices.

Dr Ceri Phelps, Health Psychologist & Assistant Academic Director: Psychology and Counselling said: “As UWTSD continues to celebrate its Bicentenary and its history of supporting and educating both young people and those who support them, this free conference will bring together key stakeholders and partner organisations across South and West Wales for a day of discussion, debate, and networking.

“With two fantastic keynote speakers who will share their experiences of supporting vulnerable children and young people, and a diverse range of interactive workshops, we can be sure of a stimulating and thought-provoking day.”

Dr Abigail Wright said: “This will be a great opportunity to bring together key collaborators who are passionate about shaping ideas and support for our future wellbeing. There are growing concerns about how we can best support the wellbeing of our children and young people. In addition, to an increasing consensus that the world we are living in, is becoming more complex and challenging for many individuals. Therefore, now, more than ever, it is important that we come together to discover and support change that most helpfully shapes the wellbeing of the future. We desperately need to move away from the idea that individuals need to be ‘fixed,’ and more towards the idea that we are communities that need to be connected, to facilitate positive change for all. I am incredibly proud to be sharing and learning together at this event, which will be hopefully both start some new connections and build on some existing ones, for doing exactly that.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk