The TISUK YEF Project 
TISUK are currently undertaking a randomised controlled trial in 80 secondary schools across England which is co-funded by the Home Office and the Youth Endowment Fund. An independent evaluation team will be considering the impact of TISUK’s training on outcomes relating to behaviour, wellbeing, exclusions and attendance.
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) funds promising projects in England and Wales that aim to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence – especially those aged between 10 and 14-years old. To find what works, the YEF evaluates every project it funds. They use this knowledge to scale up effective programmes, spread good practice and guide decision makers on which services or approaches are most likely to keep children and young people safe.
For this project, schools have been randomly allocated to either a control group, or an intervention group; this will allow the evaluation to compare the impact of the training against what would have happened if nothing had been changed. The 40 intervention schools will be receiving funded training from TISUK between January 2024 and March 2025 including: whole school training, senior lead training, diploma training, network consultancy support, reflective supervision workshops and access to key webinars. The impact of this training on both staff and pupils will be understood through a combination of pupil and staff surveys, interviews and focus groups.
Trauma Informed Practice in the Early Years (TIPEY) Project 
TISUK are working in partnership with the South West Stronger Practice Hub on this independently evaluated study. The Early Years sector has reported an increase in trauma and attachment difficulties in our youngest children after the pandemic and this project seeks to respond to the elevated need by training staff to better support these children.
Research shows that adults who work with young children can have a powerful, positive and long-lasting impact on their emotional and social wellbeing as well as their cognitive outcomes. To maximise the power of these caring relationships, practitioners need to understand how young children’s brains are shaped by early experiences and how to respond to those who have experienced trauma.
Through whole staff, senior lead and trauma champion training, TISUK are equipping staff in 12 Early Years settings across Plymouth with the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to the emotional needs of children and families.
Youth Justice Project in partnership with Novus
TISUK are currently working with Novus who provide a range of education and training services to help young offenders gain the skills they need for further education or employment after release from custody.
Children who end up in custody have often experienced trauma and are three times more likely to have mental health problems than those who do not. These young people are capable of extraordinary change if provided with appropriate and empathic support.
As part of this project, senior leaders, SENCOs, education teams and prison regime staff are being trained in HMYOI Cookham Wood and HMYOI Wetherby. TISUK is working to equip practitioners with trauma informed and trauma responsive knowledge and skills which will help them to foster positive relationships and support the vulnerable young people they work with to heal.
