Mental wellbeing in action

'This programme is groundbreaking.'

The Training Exchange worked with a steering group (Nilaari, Bristol Black Carers and Bristol Somali Resource Centre) to co-produce and deliver an 18-month development programme delivering:

• Multiple accessible culturally specific training sessions
• Reflective practice & peer support

As the learning partner, The Training Exchange held the project, kept the momentum going, engaged individuals and organisations, co-ordinated all delivery, 

'There is huge value in culturally appropriate reflection and training.'

'Safety and trust has been created.'

What we learnt – Key findings:

• The majority of Black and other ethnic led organisations in Inner City and East Bristol have grown out of crisis in their communities from mental health, past trauma, poverty and discrimination.
• Staff and leaders in these organisations are committed to providing the best possible service to people with trauma and complex needs. This can come at a cost to them emotionally and mentally with little access to resources, support and training.
• Through leadership training and reflective practice/peer support offered; psychologically safe learning and reflection practices are now more recognised and being embedded within more organisations.
• The mental health and wellbeing of all staff is as important as the mental health and wellbeing of people using the services provided.
• The programme gave participants the opportunity to pause from high stress day to day work and to find out about and connect with local Black and other ethnic led organisations.
• Providing learning where participants are all Black and other ethnic workers and leaders, creates a more empowering interactive learning experience.
• This training programme started slowly with low engagement but with a flexible, adaptable and proactive engagement approach it snowballed and attendance grew to a point of being over subscribed.
• Collective workforce development requires considerable co-ordination which small organisations do not have the capacity to deliver currently.

Project aims:

• To develop skills and confidence to provide care and support for individuals experiencing mental health difficulties.
• To embed learning from training through reflective practice processes to improve responses.
• To build community capacity by encouraging the workforce to share their learning with others in their community.

Our associate trainers and consultants delivered:

19 reflective practice/peer support groups with 22 individual practitioners.

'Creating spaces like this is so important – meet others, reflect, improve and inspire.'

5 training courses on Resilience and self care for supporters, Anxiety & depression and Responding to people in distress for 24 unique learners.

'We have new systems in place to support our service users better.'

2 CPD accredited Management & leadership training programmes for 24 team leaders, senior practitioners and CEO’s

'The training has empowered me to think like a leader.'

The programme created involvement and connections between 50 individuals and 20 organisations.

'A community of people working in very different circumstances, who came together and grew together.'

We had so many positive quotes from the participants. Here are just a few:

'I am kinder to myself' 'I felt valued' 'I feel more included'

'Every day I apply new skills I have learnt'

'This programme should be offered on a larger scale for more smaller organisations'

'Being in a room with other black managers and colleagues was so valuable'

'We have new systems put in place to support service users better'

'We are able to work more effectively as a team'

'Investing in training staff improves the quality of services delivered'

Download full project report

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