PROFESSIONALS from across Merseyside will come together at a special conference this week to better understand the impact trauma has on our work and daily life and explore how we can create a truly trauma responsive Region.

Funded and hosted by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), the conference is designed to help those in attendance take the next steps in their journey to becoming:- 'Trauma Informed Curiosity Champions' and support the work to ensure organisations across the Region are sensitive to trauma and can support their employees and the communities they serve.

The event will bring together more than 70 professionals from across the public and third sector who have already completed the MVRP's free four-part trauma training focused on recognising the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) to help them to better understand and respond to the needs of the communities and the people they support.

Delivered by industry experts, the training focuses on supporting organisations and their employees to appreciate how psychological trauma and ACES can impact on individuals and highlights the implications it can have for their services.

At:- Friday's conference at the Women's Organisation in Liverpool, attendees will build on the knowledge they've already gained, helping them to develop an understanding of how to embed change on an organisational level, supporting emotional health and wellbeing for staff as well as for clients and service users.

Jane Pepa, MVRP Trauma Informed Lead Practitioner said:- "What I really want to do is create curiosity champions that work together and have a greater understanding of the origins and impacts of trauma, for the betterment of the children and adults that we have across Merseyside. We are seeing people's perception of trauma changing completely and this conference is another step on that journey. By understanding our own individual experiences we create a ripple effect which helps us change outcomes for the people that we work with."

MVRP Director, Superintendent Georgie Garvey said:- "It's hugely inspiring and encouraging to see the overwhelmingly positive response we've had to our trauma informed training so far, and it continues to go from strength to strength. More than 2,000 people have already undertaken our training and this conference will let us build on this success by taking things a step further. We are determined to keep this movement going, to shape our culture and services to become more sensitive to trauma, and to help organisations to better support their staff and improve outcomes for the people who rely on us, so we can create a fully trauma-informed county."

Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "It's fantastic to see so many people coming together, committed to helping to build a truly trauma informed Region. A Region which is aware of and understands the devastating impact trauma can bring. Nobody is immune to trauma. It impacts us all, each day, in many different ways, so it's vital we do all we can to be more responsive and compassionate, to recognise that everyone's perception is different and that adverse childhood experiences can impact us for our whole lives. That is how we can offer greater protection to our young people and help people to live healthier, safer lives."

Professor Zara Quigg, School of Public and Allied Health, at Liverpool John Moores University is due to open:- Friday's conference, she said:- "Adverse childhood experiences and trauma place huge impacts on children and our communities. We need to think and work differently if we are to effectively prevent harm to children and address the consequences of trauma across people's lives. This training is a major step in transforming Merseyside into an ACE and trauma responsive Region, that addresses the root causes of trauma and supports children, families and communities to thrive. Through our research, knowledge exchange and education delivery, Liverpool John Moores University is committed to this movement to improve outcomes for our local communities and beyond."

The MVRP's Trauma Informed Training is free and available to all Merseyside public services.

Since the course was launched in October 2023, more than 2,000 professionals from a wide range of organisations, including:- social care, education, Police, probation, fire service and youth and community services have already signed up to take part.

To find out more about Trauma Informed Practice Training and book your place on an upcoming course please visit:- MerseysideVRO.Com.

1 in 4 people in the North West unaware of the main signs of disease set to be the worlds 5th biggest killer

NEW data released by the UK's leading kidney patient support charity, highlights an alarming lack of knowledge of the main signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with 24% unable to identify the 7 main signs of a loss of kidney function; compared to the UK average of 27%.

In response, charity Kidney Care UK is urging people to take their 5 minute online Kidney Health Checker to understand their level of risk and take action to prolong their kidney health as part of their #BloodyAmazingKidneys campaign. James, a transplant recipient from:- Bredbury, Greater Manchester, who received a donated kidney earlier this year, is backing the campaign.

Sufferer James said:- "I want people to know the symptoms and get themselves checked out if they are at risk. I was having cramps after playing football, but I just put it down to dehydration and running around for 90 minutes in the cold, everyone thinking they're the Erling Haaland of the 5 a side league. But I let it carry on for 3 months before I did anything about it, and I was getting these awful headaches, too. I went from being a normal, healthy and active 24 year old lad playing 5 a side football with my mates to needing a kidney transplant; in less than 3 years. The signs were there, but I didn't think it was anything major. Because I didn't know any better. Everyone says hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I just wish I'd acted sooner. So if you've got any of the symptoms or you could be at risk because of diabetes or high blood pressure, please get yourself checked out. It's not worth waiting to see if it's something serious because by then it might be too late."

The most common signs of CKD are: cramps, itchy skin, dietary changes (food tasting different to how it does normally), nausea. and / or vomiting, exhaustion, changes to your wee and swelling of your ankles / legs or face.

Kidney Care UK research also showed that:-

• 37% of people do not recognise that changes to your wee can be linked to kidney disease.
  

• 73% do not realise that itchy skin is a sign of kidney disease.
  

• 78% do not realise that muscle cramps are a sign that your kidneys may not be working properly.
  

• 63% of people in Wales do not know that puffy face, or swollen ankles/legs is a sign.
  

• 49% of people do not recognise that exhaustion is a sign.

CKD currently affects 1 in 10 people; equivalent to more than 7 million people in the UK; but 1 million of those are not even aware they have CKD. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the 2 leading causes, but more than 70% of people with high blood pressure do not have an annual urine test for CKD2; furthermore 45% of people with Type 1 diabetes and 32% of people with Type 2 diabetes do not have their annual urine test for CKD3. Unless urgent preventative action is taken to improve diagnosis and treatment rates, CKD is predicted to be the fifth leading cause of death globally by 20404.

Fiona Loud, Director of Policy at Kidney Care UK, said:- "We want to see at risk groups in the North West of the UK screened for CKD as early as possible. Delay in the diagnosis of moderate to advanced CKD by just 1 year results in a 63% higher likelihood of kidney failure requiring costly and burdensome treatment to stay alive, such as dialysis or a transplant6. This also has a significant effect on people's mental health and on their ability to work7. Whether people are identified early or late, there will always be a cost to the NHS; but by identifying people sooner more can be done to prolong their kidney health, improve their quality of life and reduce the impact on health and other services."

Whilst age based screening is offered for people aged 40 to 75 via the NHS Health Check, only ˝ of all people invited for the NHS Health Check take up the offer8. Innovations such as the new digital health check programme may make it easier for people to engage with their health. However, it's important to note that people with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes aren't included:- in the health check programme.

Laurie Cuthbert, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at Kidney Care UK, added:- "We are concerned that a lack of symptom awareness amongst the general public in the North West, combined with a fear of not wanting to burden their GP9, means that some are at risk of losing as much as 90% of their kidney function without realising10 or taking simple steps to look after their kidney health. We hope that our #BloodyAmazingKidneys campaign will help raise awareness of the Bloody Amazing role they play. By empowering individuals to take control of their kidney health, we want to ensure that more people are diagnosed sooner and ultimately never reach kidney failure."

Take 5 minutes to protect your kidneys today::- KidneyCareUK.Org.