Life story work with children in kinship care workshop: Leeds
Join our free workshop about life story work. Learn what it is, when to consider it, techniques to carry it out (and get support), as well as how it can help kinship children build a positive self-image. Our workshops are a place where you’ll meet other kinship carers just like you and where you can connect and learn together.
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About the event
This workshop for kinship carers who want to learn more about life story work (LSW).
You’ll explore what LSW is, when to consider it, techniques to carry it out (and get support), as well as how it can help kinship children build a positive self-image.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
- understand what LSW is, and the positive impact it can have on mental health, emotional intelligence/resilience, self-esteem and identity
- help children navigate LSW that focuses on what’s relevant to their needs, understanding and situation – including wider family context and impact
- recognise what effective LSW looks like specifically for children in kinship care
- use existing useful LSW and research, to develop practical, relevant LSW strategies specific to kinship care, as well as each child’s life stage/understanding level
- acknowledge the potential impact of difficult LSW discussions on children and carers, and how to approach this sensitively, with self-care in mind
- find and explore further information and support
You are invited to stay after the workshop to have a free lunch and connect with the other kinship carers. Please make a note of any dietary requirements in the booking form below.
After the workshop you will receive information and the presentation slides by email, along with a feedback survey.
About the venue
Our Kinship workshop takes places at Statement Suite, Aspire Leeds, 2 Infirmary Street, Leeds, LS1 2JP. The venue is in a central location and easily accessible by public transport. For details on how to get to the venue, visit the Aspire Leeds website.
Any of the following buses stop on Infirmary Street which is right outside the Aspire main entrance : 35, 45, 71,1, 95, 96, x98, 99, 444, 74, 85, 770.
To plan your journey, visit First Bus.
The nearest train station is Leeds City Station. Exit Leeds train Station through the left hand exit, cross the road from Wellington Street into City Square straight ahead, Walk past the Restaurant Bar and Grill and the Banyan on your left, turn left onto Infirmary Street, Aspire is approximately 100 yards on your left look for the Aspire banner flags hanging down the building with steps leading up to the glass entrance to the venue, alternatively the office reception is located in the courtyard opposite the Toronto Square building.
To plan your journey and buy train tickets, visit National Rail or Trainline.
For more details about Leeds City Station, visit Leeds City Station on National Rail.
There are a limited number of parking spaces available for visitors at Aspire. Car parking at Aspire can be pre-booked by calling their office reception on: 01132 368 368, at a rate of just £3 per hour, obtain a permit from reception to display in your car. Vans are charged at £6 per hour.
From the South
M621, M1 and M62 motorways follow the signs to Leeds city centre and the train station, go along Neville Street towards City Square, pass under the railway bridge, keep in the right hand lane go through the traffic lights pass City Square on your right, enter onto Quebec Street, turn right through the black iron gates leading into Croft Court.
From the North
Take any main A road into Leeds and then follow signs for the train station which leads you round the city centre loop road. Go along Neville Street towards City Square, pass under the railway bridge, keep in the right hand lane go through the traffic lights pass City Square on your right, enter onto Quebec Street, turn right through the black iron gates leading into Croft Court.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible with step-free access. If you have any additional accessibility needs, you will be asked about this in our booking form. Please let us know so we can make this event as comfortable as possible for you.
Who will be there?
Our events are a warm, supportive space to learn about this topic, as well as meet and connect with other kinship carers.
This event is open to up to 25 kinship carers. Unfortunately, we ask that children do not attend this event. Local authorities will not be in attendance.
Who runs this workshop?
The workshop is run by Dr Paul Shuttleworth, who will be joined by Michelle Hall as co-facilitator.
About Dr Paul Shuttleworth:
Paul is a registered social worker, having worked in practice with children and families for 20+ years, as well as in a kinship care team in Brighton and Hove. Paul completed his PhD (“What Matters to Children Living in Kinship Care”) in 2021, and worked at Sussex University as a BA social work professional officer, associate tutor, postdoctoral fellow, lecturer and research associate, as well as a senior lecturer at Kingston University. His book ‘Navigating Relational Spaces’ came out in Aug 2024, but he’s previously published and edited work in a variety of publications. Paul’s interests include listening to and valuing children’s views, kinship care, permanence, dialogical participation, critical realism, value-led research and practice, and breaking down the theory-practice divide.
About Michelle Hall:
Michelle is a kinship carer for her 13-year-old grandson, having also been his special guardian for 10 years. She is a university lecturer, teaching students interested in working with children, young people, and families – as well as social work apprentices training for leadership roles. Her previous roles include leading services for young adults with learning disabilities and autism, family support and childcare.
Book your space
When you book your free place, we’ll ask you about your experience as a carer, your gender, age, ethnicity and other demographic information. This helps us make sure that the services and experiences we offer are as inclusive as possible and that our advice is relevant to your locality.
We will also ask about your accessibility needs. This is to ensure that you have a comfortable experience on the day.
Get in touch
Our Kinship team can answer any questions you might have about this workshop. Please email us on workshops@kinship.org.uk.
We have other workshops planned across England. To find out where and when they will be, keep an eye on our events page as we update it with more events or email us at workshops@kinship.org.uk.
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