London training programme goes global as thousands aspire to be trauma-informed
Wellbeing 
Thousands of frontline staff across the capital and around the world are joining a free programme to better understand psychological trauma.
The ‘Gift of Reconnection’ training series is supported by the Mayor of London and hosted by Thrive LDN. It helps professionals support people who have experienced traumatic events.
Data shows that the digital resource has expanded beyond London, reaching practitioners across several continents.
Wide reach across the capital and beyond
The training is structured into bronze, silver and gold modules. Participants range from headteachers and police officers to community volunteers.
Participation is high across all London boroughs. Hounslow, Greenwich and Newham have recorded the highest numbers of completions. Staff in Southwark, Lambeth and Camden are also highly active.
The programme has seen significant engagement through digital platforms. The core training videos have now surpassed 48,000 views. This represents thousands of hours of learning.
Participation records show that the resource is now being used internationally. Professionals from the Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance in the USA and the South Australia Police have completed the series. Engagement is also high in Ireland and the Philippines.
Flexible learning for busy staff
A key factor in the high participation numbers is the flexible delivery of the course. Many professionals in the capital are often stretched in their roles or find accessing free training challenging on top of the core day-to-day work. To support this, a bite-size approach allows staff to receive the training chapter by chapter via email.
This eight-week programme means workers can spend 20 to 30 minutes a week engaging with the material. This makes the five-hour course more manageable and less overwhelming for those in high-pressure roles.
One support worker described the training as an invaluable tool for their daily work. They noted that it provides a necessary grounding in evidence.
The SENSE model for organisational change
While early levels build awareness, the gold level introduces the SENSE model. This framework provides five key interventions for trauma-informed care: stabilisation, education, normalisation, social support and engagement.
Participants report that the model helps them move away from asking “what is wrong with you” to understanding “what has happened to you.” It also focuses on personal resilience and self-care for staff to manage vicarious trauma.
Dr Nicola Lester developed the training as a specialist in psychological trauma. Speaking about the philosophy of the programme, she said: “What we’re looking for when we talk about trauma informed practice is the capacity and willingness to be human.”
She explained that the approach is designed to be accessible rather than complex. “That doesn’t necessarily mean lots of changes to services and processes,” she said. “It’s just about giving some consideration to how they’re delivered and actually implemented.”
Dr Lester also emphasised that the journey is ongoing, stating: “Being trauma-informed isn’t a place you get to; it’s a place that you aspire to get to.”
Impact on the frontline
Learners have called the resource an excellent grounding in the true meaning of trauma. One user noted that the training will make a difference and they are already sharing the connection principles with colleagues.
Dan Barrett, director of Thrive LDN, said they want to ensure every Londoner in a supportive role has the tools to help others. He noted that the partnership provides essential resources at no cost to the public. He added that the feedback from those on the frontline shows the real difference this training is making.
Take the training today
The training materials and videos remain freely available. All professionals and volunteers in supportive roles are encouraged to sign up. Individuals can choose to complete the full course or join the eight-week bite-size email programme.
Full details and all training modules are available on the Thrive LDN website.
Training series links: