I have been looking forward to this conversation since I started recording the Taking Action series. Iain Smith has done a massive amount to try to ensure that the justice system in Scotland recognises, and takes account of, the impact of trauma on people's lives. It is challenging work as Iain is so aware of the need to support the victims of crime as well as taking account of the circumstances of the perpetrators

Iain feels that his greatest achievement since he began campaigning was the introduction of the Young Persons Sentencing Guidelines which have been operational from January 2022 onwards.

Many Law Schools now teach trauma aware law and the Law Society of Scotland run a specialist accredited course for lawyers on Trauma.

As Iain says "The raising awareness of trauma is really the start for change. Real change is created by how individuals and systems “respond” to this knowledge. That’s trickier.

The justice system rightly focus’ on victims but fails to understand the vast majority of those who perpetrate crime start off as victims. Their victimhood is too soon forgotten in our desire for retribution and punishment."

That courage to take on what is often an unpopular view - remember the response to the other David Cameron's comments when he moved away from John Major's dictum that "we need to condemn a little more, and understand a little less - is admirable. In Iain's case it is balanced with sensitivity and an awareness of the complexity of the all that the Justice System tries too achieve

It was a privilege to record this conversation with Sarah Lathan. Her book, Creating a Trauma Informed Classroom is outstanding. It offers excellent support and advice for educators in any context. It is based on Sarah's experience, deep knowledge and understanding and it also offers a superb summary of the research, and the other texts, which inform the book. By my reckoning, it distils almost all of the books that you would otherwise have to read to become better informed abut the impact of adverse experience and how we should deal with that in our schools, If you have the time and energy, it will whet your appetite to learn more.

Despite all that the book brings, it is admirably concise and clear

As well as being a great author, Sarah is a lovely guest, patient through a series of hassles and glitches, which were all my fault, thoughtful, responsive and open.

Routledge have provided a discount code - 25EFLY3 n- for 20% off the price of the book on their website (Creating a Trauma-informed Classroom) but the book is also available from Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org and from most book retailers.

Listeners can follow Sarah on X at @lathan_miss (https://x.com/lathan_miss) or find her on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-lathan-107558336) and I highly recommend that you do and also take advantage of the discount offer. You willl not regret either action

This episode explores the impact of boarding schools on those who attend them. It is an important issue not only because to the damaging effect that it can have on individuals, but also because a significant number of ex-boarders attain significant power and influence. It could be argued that the trauma that they have suffered has a far wider impact
Morag Edwards is an ideal person to discuss all of this. She was a pupil at a co-educational boarding school in Scotland from 1965 to 1971. She also worked as an educational psychologist for over thirty years, with a career focus on children who had experienced early relationship trauma and neglect. She has written about her experience of boarding school under the author name Isobel Ross. The book is titled 'Almost Boys – The Psychology of Co-Ed Boarding in the 1960s' handsets her experience within a framework of developmental psychology, attachment theory and ACEs: ‘The publication of ‘Almost Boys’ introduced Morag to other ex-boarders questioning the existence of boarding education within our current knowledge of developmental psychology and attachment theory. Morag now aims to use her professional background to help others understand the psychological implications of early boarding on young children. She also writes historical fiction under the name Morag Edwards. The latest novel in her Jacobite Trilogy, The Jacobite’s Heir, will be published by Bloodhound Books in September 2025. She also writes contemporary fiction as Isobel Ross. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Almost-Boys-Psychology-Co-ed-Boarding- ebook/dp/B0CRLF8M6L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ULU0GK14SN8Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Its WHUAcbwLlFfk-
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Morag has been closely involved with Seen & Heard https://seenheard.org.uk/ who work to support those affected by their boarding school experience and the influence boarding schools to address the issues raised by Morag in this podcast

This episode celebrates two remarkable people. Jordan and Sean prove that we can overcome trauma and addiction. They are testimony to the possibility of recovery and much more. Their film "Junkie" premieres on August 4th and 5th, details below. `It has been described as providing "a raw look at the world of drug addiction, taking us on a deep dive into the politics that frame the debate about responding to Scotland's shocking statistics of pain and loss. This is a gripping film of courage and activism"

I have only seen the trailer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXolpdHHOQo and I am convinced that it is an essential contribution to a vital debate about Scotland's drug crisis. Jordan and Sean are just as impressive in person - open, honest, insightful, prepared to face their own pasts and think about all of our futures.

You can get information about the film premiere here - https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Glasgow/Cumbernauld-Lantern-House-Theatre/Junkie-Documentary-Premier/41208415/ There are very few tickets left, but please think about how to get the film seen more widely and make sure that more people hear from Jordan and Sean

This is another remarkable episode. Emily Laranja is part of the staff at Lynburn Primary School in Dunfermline. She leads on their nurture provision and it is a model of good practice. She talks about that and also about the school's involvement in Daring Ventures which Emily says is the most effective, long-lasting, and transformative, professional development that she has ever been involved in. High praise indeed!

The training was led by Suzanne Zeedyk and it continues to be built on in Fife.

You can contact Suzanne via her website -suzannezeedyk.com- to discuss the latest development of the course and explore how it can be accessed. Emily is a great advocate for it, but she is also a great role model with exceptional warmth, understanding and experience - definitely worth a listen

Christo Hird is remarkable. A founder of Dartmouth Films, Christo continues to release and support films which make a difference. In a world where cinema is dominated by sequels, prequels and remakes desperately pandering to what filmmakers and distributors think the public want, Dartmouth believe in better. Christo and his colleagues are committed to films that can lead change and galvanise audiences into action. They take risks, but sometimes the risks really pay off and they get the audiences that they hope for and the sorts of actions that they seek. Dartmouth were the distributors for "Resilience : The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope", the film which, in many ways, kicked off Scotland's ACEs movement. They are currently distributing a wonderful new film called "Love and Trouble" - think "Richard Curtis meets gritty reality". It is a love story where hope and commitment, honesty and openness save a marriage. It carries powerful messages about the power of therapy and what happens when we are prepared to confront our trauma and deal with it. All the dates for upcoming screenings are shown below. Please check out the Dartmouth Films website for full details.

We all know the impact of "Adolescence" and "Mr Bates vs the Post Office", but these are rare examples of mainstream television and major streaming platforms making films that might have an impact on policy, provision, legal decision-making and decisions about resources. Dartmouth distributes and supports these sorts of films all the time. We need films that can help make the world a better, fairer place, Dartmouth provide them. Please listen
THU 10 JULY HOME Manchester
SAT 12 JULY Glasgow Film Theatre

SAT 12 JULY Hebden Bridge Picture House

SUN 13 July Glasgow Film Theatre

SUN 13 JULY Eden Court, Inverness

MON 14 JULY Glasgow Film Theatre

MON 14 JULY Eden Court, Inverness

TUE 15 JULY Glasgow Film Theatre

WED 16 JULY Glasgow Film Theatre

THU 17 JULY Filmhouse, Edinburgh

FRI 18 JULY Filmhouse, Edinburgh

SAT 19 JULY Filmhouse, Edinburgh

WED 23 JULY MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling

THU 31 JULY Finsbury Park Picturehouse, London

Jackie Galbraith is the Principal of West Lothian College and much more. She describes herself as having "a lifetime commitment to social justice and providing opportunities for all - regardless of age, gender, race, ability, background or any other characteristic", and that comes across throughout this episode. There is so much going at West Lothian College that translates this ambition into reality that we should all learn from it.

As well as discussing West Lothian specifically, we also talk about the often under-recognised contribution of Further Education more generally and the key role that it plays in giving people of all ages the opportunities that they need to achieve their ambitions.

This is a wonderful case study of leadership, team-building and what can happen when you have clarity of ambition. relentless focus and a practical understanding of the actions that will benefit all students and their communities

Suzanne Scott is an inspiration. She is a wonderful example of someone who heard about and learned about the impact of trauma and the science of connection and asked the question "What can I do now that I know this?" In a sense, she is at the heart of the whole idea of these podcasts. It is not enough to know, we need to think about what we do and what she has done is hugely impressive. She has set up Trauma-Informed Parents and offers information, support and training to other parents. She speaks wonderfully about her experience and leaves you with a sense that you too can make a difference