Sunday 22 June 2014

From a Survivor!

Your Thriver > Survivor comment made me laugh. I hadn't thought to put it into those words myself but I remember realising that the best possible revenge was to become totally awesome. It is a pretty amazing journey to be on, and I'm so grateful for my life now. I'm keen to spread that enthusiasm.

Thursday 19 June 2014

Domestic Violence Scars DNA: more evidence of the far reaching devastation DV can have upon Children who witness it

Scientists have discovered yet another far-reaching consequence can witnessing domestic violence can have upon children and yet another reason to keep fighting to stamp out domestic violence: A study has found that it can actually change and "scar" DNA 

"Telomeres are the caps at the end of chromosomes that keep them from shrinking when cells replicate and Shorter telomeres are linked to higher risks for heart disease, obesity, cognitive decline, diabetes and mental illness."

"Young people in homes affected by domestic violence or suicide have significantly shorter telomeres - or 'caps' on their genes - than those in stable households. 
Such genetic damage could also increase the child’s risk of heart disease, obesity and other problems as they grow up".

Family-level stressors, such as witnessing a family member get hurt, created an environment that affected the DNA within the cells of the children,’ said lead author Dr Stacy Drury, director of the Behavioural and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Laboratory at the university.
               ‘"The greater the number of exposures these kids had in life, the shorter their telomeres were - and this was after controlling for many other factors, including socioeconomic status, maternal education, parental age and the child’s age."

The study, which is published in the journal Pediatrics, found that traumatic family events had a more damaging effect on young girls – who were more likely to have shortened telomeres – than boys.
The research suggests that intervening in a child’s poor home life is important in reducing the biological impacts of adversity.

Yet another hurdle that child witnesses of DV must contend with and  another reason to protect them at all costs

Wednesday 18 June 2014

"The man whose fingerprints are all over civil society" - Michael Norton talks Achievement and backs Best Foot Forward projects


Michael Norton, OBE, Honorary Director and Trustee of CIVA has been selected by The Charity Awards judges to receive the Oustanding Achievement Award 2014 for his exemplary services to the Voluntary sector. Congratulations to an honour well-deserved; Michael has been blazing a lasting trail for generations to follow:

"If you’ve spent any time at all in the voluntary sector over the last 40-odd years, chances are you’ve come across Michael Norton – or at least his work.  
Even those that don’t know Michael, or are not familiar with his name, are likely to have trodden a path that he has helped to carve.  
His fingerprints are everywhere; in fundraising training, in youth empowerment, in women’s rights, in social franchising, in crowdfunding, in social enterprise – the list goes on.  The deeper you delve into his expansive career, the more you realise just how ubiquitous and influential Norton has been."

Michael took the time to mention which projects he will be backing in the future with our very own Best Foot Foward (BFF) being mentioned along with backers such as the House of Commons and Goldman Sachs. 
"...And if by some freak chance you’ve not yet happened upon any of Michael Norton’s projects, there remains every chance that you will.  He’s presently working on a host of new ideas... Best Foot Forward is a training programme where unemployed people shine shoes to raise money for charity – the House of Common and Goldman Sachs are already on board to host shoe-shine days."
Read More here about Michael's remarkable story and The Ideas Merchant himself:
For more about Best Foot Forward:

Saturday 7 June 2014

Resilience in the Criminal Justice System


What is it?
Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover from difficult situations. It's our inherent bounce back ability. It includes our capacity to make the best of things, cope with stress and rise to the occasion. This one-day workshop offers a practical training in skills, strategies and insights that help our resilience grow. This intensive workshop is designed for all those who come into contact with the criminal justice system, as practitioners in probation services, solicitors, advocates or barristers or front line counsellors. In an ever shifting commissioning landscape, which offers little job security, and as austerity bites essential services, it is easy to absorb secondary trauma from a complicated and vulnerable client group and also from colleagues, being in the hostile litigation environment of a court and negotiating our own places of safety and serenity.
With the emphasis on outcomes such as employment, housing and an ever shrinking pool of resources, we need to work smart and think hard.
The training explores Transforming Rehabilitation, Chris Grayling’s  the new emphasis on pathways out of offending and how it affects those delivering services, judges, barristers and front line workers. Here, we explore opportunities for the client to be at  the heart of  interventions which     provide  training,  vocational qualifications and employment opportunities but additionally and uniquely provide  resilience training to address core issues of safety, personal responsibility, confidence and aspiration.
We explore issues such as protected characteristics, ethnicity, class and social standing, from a  gender sensitive, trauma informed approach.
We look at why women who commit crimes  are often the same women who have suffered extreme violence and been perpetrators and victims of appalling crimes. Ours is a relational approach. This engages all the professionals and services working with an individual to address the behavioural patterns of a client’s experiences with the examination of interpersonal relationships. By facilitating a safe and positive relationship in the security of the environment, the client is armed with a stronger sense of self and confidence. The primary goal of this technique is to empower the client with the skills necessary to recognize and create productive and healthy relationships. We strive to address any and all past and present relationship traumas or impressions that have served to create discord in the present life circumstances of the client. It is only be working from a community based approach, that our clients and community can build, together, a safer community.
 Drawing on the architecture of  adventure stories, we explore key skills that make us more resilient:
• visioning skills that strengthen our sense of purpose by helping us see, and then head for, the outcomes that attract us
• creative problem-solving skills that help us find a path through the obstacles in the way
• positive relationship skills that enhance our ability to find allies and draw in the support we need
• emotional intelligence skills that raise our capacity to work with our emotions, so that we can benefit from the guiding signals and energy they offer.
The day will involve a mix of  presentation, story telling, guided exercises and group discussion. The goal is to increase each participant’s ability to draw upon the resilience they need in their lives.
Our intensive workshops provide an opportunity to work with leading members of our community and leaders in their respective field over the course of a structured day session.
Who are we?
Annell Smith –  Criminal Justice Specialist
Innovative and visionary leader with justice sector expertise. Extensive experience encompasses public sector, central government, consultancy, inter-governmental organisations and academia. Competent post-graduate researcher, with exceptional verbal and written communication skills and experience in operational, project and change management.
• Led operational delivery and implementation of women’s strategy at London Probation Trust’s Women Centre.
• Operational implementation of the UK’s first Senior Attendance Centre for women offenders, in support of LPT’s demand management strategy and budget adjustments.
• Promoting women-centred delivery of interventions in line with the 2006 Gender Equality duty and Equality act 2010.
• Discharged performance management, resource management responsibilities and addressed capacity needs to deliver against monthly and annual performance targets
Flo Krause – Human Right Barrister
Firstly a legal aid solicitor in high street practices between 1992-1998, then a barrister, still legal aid, still passionate about social justice. Flo is a leading human rights barrister , unhindered by any prospect and she relishes a challenge. Her compassionate, common sense attitude and her service to her clients who are amongst society’s outcasts, make her a valued advocate and much admired opponent in the High Court, where most of her appeal and human rights challenges are heard. She’s the champion of the abandoned and distressed and has represented unpopular causes because, for her ,  the principle of justice is inviolable and its access applicable to all. Flo also delivers training seminars on advocacy and other legal topics as well as seminars on trauma and attachment in the criminal justice system. Flo has a BTEC in Trauma and Attachment and a lot of her work with her clients is based around this model.
Founder Kazuri Properties CiC
Former offender, now a campaigner for women’s rights and social justice will deliver the compassion and mindfulness section of the training. This is accredited by ASDAN.  Farah founded Kazuri Properties CiC after being released in 2007 and finding existing services didn’t have boxes that suited the shape of her tick. So she created her own. Since 2010 over 120 women have been safely housed and only 4 have been convicted of new offences which lead to a custodial sentence.  Farah is now working with private developers to unlock social conscience and capital into the housing of disenfranchised communities thus disrupting the market. These private / social partnerships have the potential to join up fragmented circles of ultra-high net worth individuals and those living in multiple exclusion which make London a capital city but one of extremes.

Lunch and refreshments are included. Please notify us if you have specific dietary requirements.
For more information please contact Claire : info@kazuri.org.uk