The need to belong is a fundamental and human motivation yet many children and young people’s experiences of belonging are ruptured across many domains. This essential book explores the different spaces in which children and young people belong and shows how we can cultivate a sense of belonging within our services, schools and communities and within children themselves. Chapters break down key research and introduce practices which will inspire change, develop a trauma-informed culture and show how a relational web of belonging can be built for life. Drawing from the lived experiences of those who have spent time in care, the book highlights everything you need to deepen your understanding of the impact of trauma, inequity and marginalisation in children’s services and education. Advocating for the power of language, leadership and collective care, a working conceptual model for cultivating belonging is shared, which considers the FACES, SPACES and PLACES that can make a lasting difference. Reflections and practical takeaways are woven throughout to offer an accessible, informative and thoughtful read, with the child at the centre. Bringing together professional practice, the ‘science’ behind it and powerful lived experiences, Weaving a Web of Belonging offers a true insight into cultivating belonging as an antidote to trauma. It is an essential read for all those who are supporting children and young people, especially those who are the most vulnerable, including education practitioners, leaders, social workers, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and families.

Table of Contents:
Foreword xi Collective Care xiv Acknowledgements xvii Introduction 1 References 6 PART ONE Weaving the Web of Belonging: The Historical Weaving of Unbelonging 7 1 It Starts With Us 9 Introduction 9 My Relationship with Belonging 10 School Exclusion and Belonging 11 Education and Belonging 12 Professional Experience and Belonging 13 Data or Wisdom 14 Summary 14 References 16 2 Carrying the Burden of the Past 17 Introduction 17 Historical Exploration 17 Legislation 18 Unbelonging 21 Education and Children’s Social Care 22 Recent Legislation 24 Summary 28 References and Bibliography 30 3 The Stigma Wound 32 Introduction 32 Research Themes 33 Stigma and Movement 33 Types of Movement 39 Types of Stigma 42 Trauma and Stigma 48 Memories 50 Stigma and Power 53 Aspects of Power 55 Summary 57 References and Bibliography 60 4 The Impact of Unbelonging 61 Introduction 61 Language 63 Language and Labelling 65 Children in Care 66 School Exclusion 69 Exclusion and Children in Care 69 Trauma 73 Belonging 75 Underpinning Theoretical Frameworks for Thinking about Belonging 76 Contemporary Comprehensions of Belonging 79 Developing a Trauma-informed Culture 81 Summary 87 References and Bibliography 89 PART TWO Reconceptualising Weaving the Web: Contemporary Opportunities to Weave 99 5 Language That Heals 101 Introduction 101 Historical Overview 101 Importance of Language 103 Where Does Language Sit in Practice? 108 Speaking in Acronyms 111 Interpretation and Internalisation 112 The Language of Trauma and Stigma 114 Self-forgiveness 117 Summary 117 References and Bibliography 119 6 Leadership is a Verb 122 Introduction 122 Being a Leader is more than a Job Title 123 Creating Meaningful Connections 125 Emotional Intelligence 128 Summary 130 References and Bibliography 132 7 Intersection and Intersectionality 133 Introduction 133 Care as a Defining Experience 134 Positionality 135 Additional Needs 136 Mental Health, SEND and Wellbeing 138 Naming Exclusion 139 Racism 141 Endurance 145 Summary 146 References and Bibliography 148 PART THREE Reconceptualising Weaving the Web: FACES, SPACES and PLACES 153 8 FACES That Make a Difference 155 Introduction 155 FACES 155 Finding FACES 158 Summary 161 9 SPACES That Make a Difference 163 Introduction 163 Movement 166 Finding Belonging 168 Summary 169 References and Bibliography 170 10 PLACES That Make a Difference 172 Introduction 172 Summary 176 Bibliography 177 11 Beyond Practice 178 Introduction 178 Doing Better in Policy 178 Doing Better in Practice 181 Doing Better in Research 182 Summary 182 12 Closing Words 184 Prologue 187 Index 188