Members of The Mulberry Bush’s Outreach team received a Princess Royal Training Award at a ceremony held at Mansion House in London earlier this month.
The award, presented to the team by HRH Princess Anne, recognises the team’s commitment to training and development in 2021 for the Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People, which is run by The Mulberry Bush and validated by The University of the West of England.
Dr Dave Roberts, Head of Outreach at The Mulberry Bush, collected the award on behalf of the charity and was joined at the ceremony by Dawn Davidson (Charity Learning and Development Lead), and Sharon Turner, a graduate of the course.
Dr Dave Roberts says:
“Receiving this award is not just about validation of the teaching team, but more so of the staff who undertook this demanding training programme, whilst still working, and the impact on practice the learning has had. Hearing from our students how their practice with children and families has developed and how this leads to improved outcomes for the children is really what the course is all about.”
Designed specifically for practitioners in the childcare sector, the foundation degree explores issues around understanding children’s behaviour as a communication of need, considers how the wider context impacts professionals and children alike, introduces students to a range of theories including trauma informed practice and much more.
The Mulberry Bush is a national charity, based in Standlake, Oxfordshire, working to transform the lives of all those affected by childhood trauma, through specialist therapeutic services.
Since 1948 the charity has been helping traumatised children and those around them through the creation of therapeutic environments within which children can build healthy relationships, discover the benefits of education and start to rebuild their lives. Sadly, the need for these services grows every year and The Mulberry Bush are constantly looking for new ways to reach more children all over the country.
All of the charity’s work is underpinned by research and a belief in working closely, not only with the children themselves, but also with their families and wider communities, resulting in a shared commitment to improve the lives and life skills for all those made vulnerable by childhood trauma.
The Mulberry Bush Outreach service takes the principles of the Mulberry Bush out to other organisations within the childcare sector by providing training, consultation and support to schools, care services and organisations working with challenging or vulnerable children, their families and communities.
