Trauma Foundation South West

15/06/2026

It's Refugee Week! 🎉 As the celebrations begin, Katherine is once again putting the soul of our work into the soles of her shoes. Now halfway through her 1,280-mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats, she sets off on Stage 4, a challenging stretch through the Pennines and up to Scotland.

This Refugee Week, we mark 75 years since the Refugee Convention, the landmark agreement affirming that people forced to flee deserve protection, dignity and hope.
The funds raised through Soul to Sole help us continue supporting people as they rebuild their lives in the South West. In the words of someone we are supporting through the asylum process:

"Counselling is like a door opening for me. I'm able to empty out my distress. I trust my counsellor more than my family."

If you'd like to support Katherine's journey, please like, share, and visit the link below to find out more. 💙
https://www.tfsw.co.uk/news/soul-to-sole

11/06/2026

You don't have to experience trauma directly for it to leave a mark.

Vicarious trauma can show up in the mind and body in ways that closely mirror PTSD: shame, fear, overwhelm, anger, difficulty focusing. For those working in the refugee sector, this is a lived reality.

Yesterday's session created space for honest conversation about the real physical and mental toll of this work: the brain fog, the disrupted sleep, the tension and pain the body carries. Together we explored what genuine self-care looks like in practice, how to hold boundaries with confidence, and how to build the kind of personal resilience that sustains you for the long haul.

We did it all alongside a beautifully prepared spread from Plymouth Jollof Kitchen. Nourishing work deserves nourishing food and they delivered. 🙏

These sessions are free, funded by NHS Devon, and spaces are still available:
📍 Exeter — 25th June
📍 Plymouth — 8th July

Food included. Book your place or tag a colleague who needs this 👇
https://www.tfsw.co.uk/devon-training-and-support

A heartfelt thank you to Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support for hosting us so generously. 💛

04/06/2026

This Volunteers' Week, we're celebrating Caroline Jaine, former British Diplomat, therapist, published author and muralist. 🌟

Caroline has witnessed firsthand the traumas of war and displacement, and has spent her career drawn to work that supports others. Now she's channelling a lifetime of experience into her role as a TFSW special advisor, helping curate an exciting collection of stories to mark our 25th Anniversary. Working alongside Askance Publishing, Caroline will help select the very best submissions for a book to be published in 2027, giving voices to the stories that matter most.

"It's the very least I can do to support TFSW, who do amazing work supporting those who have experienced trauma and who have come to the place I call home."
Read Caroline's full story via the link in our bio. 💙

https://www.tfsw.co.uk/news/gq5tw643kdj1qf9bw06v8qor5ny1tr-wjntt

We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication and creativity of our volunteers - each person brings something unique to the team.

01/06/2026

Happy Volunteers' Week! 🌟 We have some exciting opportunities to get involved right now. Click to find out more! 👉🔗 https://www.tfsw.co.uk/volunteer-with-us

This week we're taking a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who volunteers with TFSW. Your time, skills and compassion make an extraordinary difference to the people we support.

27/05/2026

What a privilege to connect with other organisations in the UK who share your mission. Katherine's feet have carried her all the way to Yorkshire, offering the opportunity to meet with Kathryn, CEO of Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution 2025

Since 2006, Solace have been providing free therapy, counselling and advocacy to refugees and people seeking asylum across Yorkshire and Humber.

🎥 Kathryn reflects on supporting people through the precarious reality of the asylum system.

Full interview dropping here soon: https://www.tfsw.co.uk/news/soul-to-sole

27/05/2026

🌙 Eid Mubarak! 🌙
From everyone at Trauma Foundation South West, we wish a joyful and peaceful Eid to all who are celebrating.
كل عام وانتم بالف خير ينعاد عليكم وعلينا بالصحه والعافيه ✨

19/05/2026

Katherine has reached Ironbridge! As she walks, she's been collecting simple acts of hope from the people she meets along the way. Fun fact: Ironbridge is home to the world's first cast iron bridge, dating all the way back to 1779.

16/05/2026

Did you know that Wales supports around 5% of people seeking asylum in the UK? According to the Welsh Refugee Council and City of Sanctuary's recent guide, the number of people supported annually in Wales would only fill 3% of the Principality Stadium.

Today, Katherine sets off from this nation of sanctuary on stage three of Soul to Sole!
Leaving Knighton on the Welsh border, she'll travel 182 miles up through the beautiful landscapes of Shropshire and the Peak District, before finishing in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire.

Katherine has already covered a whopping 400 miles through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and South Wales. She is now a third of the way through her 1,280-mile walk from Land's End to John O'Groats, raising funds for free, long-term trauma therapy for refugees and people seeking asylum in the South West.

You can find interviews with some of the brilliant people she has met along the way, and follow her journey here: https://www.tfsw.co.uk/news/soul-to-sole

15/05/2026

Thank you for hosting us this morning! 💙

We're so grateful to connect with some amazing grassroots community groups in Frome — and .good.heart.frome 🌱

In today's training session we talked about the complexity of safeguarding in small organisations and community contexts — boundaries, grey areas and listening to your gut.

It also happened to be Million Acts of Hope Week, so we took a moment to share our own small acts of hope 💙

13/05/2026

We see acts of hope every day in our work. In the courage it takes to speak, and the compassion it takes to listen. Hope lives here; in the small, steady, human moments that remind us why we do what we do.

This week, we're celebrating a . Everyday acts of kindness, care and connection across communities.

You can find out more about the campaign and sign the UK's largest thank you card