December 2025
Guest Speakers:
Jacqui Couch and Kate Hammond
Velindre Design Team
Bryony Parry
Violence Prevention Team
Working Group Spotlight:
Children and Young People
Siobhan Parry and Thomas Hoare
The Trauma-informed Wales Implementation Steering Group (ISG) met today with a focus on how we develop physical environments in our workplaces and where we access services. The group visited the recently opened New Pathways support centre for victims of sexual violence a in Newport.
New Pathways are the largest sexual violence support provider in Wales, with 30 years’ experience of delivering specialist therapeutic support to adults and children. The new centre, transforming a formerly derelict building into a trauma-informed physical space, gave the group the opportunity to put into practice the TrACE-informed Practice Principles for Physical Environments Review and understand what impact implementing that approach can have. Huge thanks to colleagues at New Pathways for facilitating our visit and welcoming us.
For more information on New Pathways and the services they offer, visit: https://www.newpathways.org.uk/
The Trauma-informed Wales Implementation Steering Group held its December meeting today at Riverside, Newport. The key theme of the discussion was an understanding of trauma-informed physical environment. ACE Hub Wales deputy Lead, Natalie Blakeborough, launched the Physical Spaces Animation, which supports the Creating Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experience (TrACE)- Informed Physical Environments guide. This guide supports organisations implementing the TrACE Toolkit, ensuring that they consider all aspects of their physical and social environment and the impact that it can have on staff, service users and anyone else who accesses the organisation.
The meeting welcomed guest speakers, Jacqui Couch and Kate Hammond from the Velindre Cancer Centre Design Team. The group heard about how the collaborative, person-centred approach to designing the new Velindre Cancer Centre will result in a building that puts the experiences of staff and patients at the forefront of the design. It also emphasised the importance of physical spaces for patients using the centre and the dedicated staff that work there, from its surrounding area to facilities and services. Construction of the new centre is underway and due to be open in 2027.
Bryony Parry, from the Violence Prevention Team in Public Health Wales provided an update on the Development of a Public Narrative for Trauma-Informed Wales. Work is currently underway to engage people in service and communities across Wales to support the development of a narrative that will strengthen collective action and inspire collaboration across communities, sectors and services.
The ISG is committed to offering a spotlight session to our working group co-chairs at our meetings. Siobhan Parry and Tom Hoare, co-chairs of the Children and Young People working group presented on progress and current project plans.
To find out more about the working groups and how you could get involved, visit: https://traumaframeworkcymru.com/our-approach/