Strengthening Connected Relationships
KCA is here to enable people to build and strengthen connected relationships, using evidence from research to improve everyday interactions, everywhere.
We draw on the expertise represented in our core approaches of ‘Five to Thrive’, ‘Mending Hurts’, ‘Holding Together’ and ‘Creating Connections’, whilst including the latest developments from neuroscience.
Find out more about Knowledge Change Action...
Five to Thrive is a way of understanding how connected relationships are fundamental to human wellbeing, helping to build resilient communities, and how we can promote these attachment bonds
Mending Hurts promotes recovery from trauma by enabling people to notice what they, or other people, do in their most effective interactions with people when they are more vulnerable or traumatized. When we notice ourselves doing something well, we become more conscious of our activity and more competent in it
Creating Connections between human beings lies at the heart of individual and community resilience, and, indeed, at the heart of KCA’s work. Our resilience mapping tools open up conversations about the network around people when they are feeling more vulnerable. This can offer insights that guide intervention and support.
Holding Together offers a systemic intervention to build resilience in the team around a child when they are more vulnerable or traumatised
I work in a pupil referral unit, the course gave me a better understanding of how to deal with students in crisis using five to thrive.
KCA Course Participant
16 March 2021
The training style was well paced, accessible, and felt safe.
KCA Course Participant
22 February 2022
The content of the training was empowering and reflective throughout the 3 hours of training. Kate was so knowledgeable and is an inspiring and powerful women who has given me avenues of ideas to continue to practice daily in the classroom and reflect upon.
Francesca Preedy , Finlay Community School
25 April 2022
I really enjoyed the delivery even though it was online, the breakout spaces and time limits kept the content focused throughout.
Kirsty Howarth
20 January 2021
I found the trauma response particularly interesting and how the brain creates negative pathways which often contribute to negative behaviour; however this is fixable by changing the way we response and communicate with the child
Ailish Templeman
4 January 2024
Developing a shorter version to give people a taster to come on the longer more involved course as to me it has become compulsory if we are to get through the next ten years with our partners despite the change in political where with all, and the the global changes a head and the tightening of Social Care budgets.
Michael Ince
24 October 2023
Brilliant!!
Sue Pattison
13 January 2021
Kate was a fantastic trainer - she delivered the content expertly and managed to keep everyone engaged and interested (even over Zoom!). She is clearly very experienced and knowledgeable in her field and it was a pleasure to have attended.
KCA Course Participant
8 February 2021
It gives me scientific evidence to support my efforts within school to maintain contact with my pupils.
Dawn Delmaine , Dursley Primary Academy
9 April 2020
I enjoy Kate's down to earth and very knowledgable approach.
KCA Course Participant
5 May 2020
Jo (McAndrews) is a wonderful presenter - so enthusiastic.
Jane Arundell
3 July 2019
Relationships being key to trauma informed practice and the beginnings of starting conversations with children apporpriately
KCA Course Participant
20 January 2024
Susan was extremely engaging and clearly an expert. She gave easy to understand and real life examples to bring to life the science.
KCA Course Participant
24 March 2022
I will use the Five to Thrive Model to support my self reflection and inform my day to day working practises. I will use the Mending Harm Model to inform how I drive my daily conversations with my customers of all ages.
KCA Course Participant
27 January 2021
I found this training really useful to help me reflect on how service users might be feeling and has given me food for thought
Sue Morris
7 July 2020
Brilliantly presented. Informative. Challenging. Practical applications along with fascinating neuroscience.
KCA Course Participant
27 January 2021
The speaker was always clear and informative, I felt involved throughout and the chance to discuss with others on the table who had more and different experience benefited my knowledge.
Amy Morgan , Alvaston Infant and Nursery School
27 September 2022
Informative and reflective - giving us opportunities to reflect amoungst ourselves and were welcomed to ask any questions directly to Susan.
KCA Course Participant
6 March 2021
A good summary of research and practice suggestions.
KCA Course Participant
21 December 2021
Informative Thought provoking Well-delivered Enjoyable Perfectly-pitched
KCA Course Participant
28 March 2022
I think this course managed to explored some really complex aspects of neurobiology - theory and research, in an accessible, informative way.
KCA Course Participant
27 January 2021
Kate was absolutely fantastic. Best training I have attended.
KCA Course Participant
28 June 2019
The sessions have opened my mind to think and approach situations differently with young adults within the prison setting. And has helped me assess how I carry out assessments and improve this when I encounter a young person.
KCA Course Participant
23 March 2021
Co regulation is crucial in the stabilisation phase. Five to Thrive model- respond, engage and relax are the core blocks for stabilisation Five to Thrive model can be used with children, parents and colleagues
KCA Course Participant
10 January 2024
This was an excellent day of training.Nicky was vibrant, and an excellent presenter. She gave a lot of information in a very accessible way. She made everything relevant to the children in our setting and gave us lots of ways in which we could include what we we were learning in the classroom.The day was fast paced and went too quickly ! Thank you.
KCA Course Participant
6 January 2020
People we've worked with
