This webinar series brings the powerful calls to action from “Setting the Blueprint for a More Equal and Prosperous Wales for People Who Use Substances” to life — one session at a time.
Each webinar focuses on a specific “ask” from the Blueprint, offering space to explore what it means in practice, why it matters, and how we can all play a part in making it real. From amplifying lived experience to embedding harm reduction, this is an opportunity for frontline workers, policymakers, advocates, and community members to come together, learn, and collaborate.
Let’s move beyond words and into action — together.
Our webinars will be free to attend and you can sign up to the respective session via the dedicated tab below. You will also be able to view previous webinars on our YouTube channel, or listen to them on the go via our podcast ‘Drugs Unwrapped’, available where ever you get your podcasts from.
CLICK here to register for our next webinar on Monday 20th October
click here to register
#5 Trauma-Informed Practice
Monday 20th October 2025 – 10.00am
Our 5th webinar within our Manifesto Sessions webinar series will focus on trauma informed practice. As part of our ‘Setting the blueprint for a more equal and prosperous Wales for people who use substances’, we want all substance use services in Wales to be underpinned by a trauma-informed approach. Research from Public Health Wales (PHW) in 2015 found that 47% of adults in Wales have suffered at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). And there are many other adversities that people can experience during their lives including racism, discrimination, and structural inequalities. Therefore, we all need to understand and talk about ACEs and trauma.
Subsequently, given the widespread occurrences of trauma and the respective impacts it can have on individuals, it is vital that an approach underpins the delivery of services allowing for opportunities and paths for healing and overcoming such experiences, while not retraumatising via behaviours and interactions, and consequently promoting positive life chances for people.
Our speaker are:
Sarah Walsh
Alliance Manager, CAVDAS
Sarah Walsh is the Alliance Manager for the Cardiff and Vale Drug and Alcohol Service (CAVDAS). With a background in leading services for children, young people, and families including Gwent N-gage and the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Family Service (GDAFS), Sarah brings extensive frontline and strategic experience to their current role.
Sarah is passionate about ensuring that people within Wales have access to high-quality, trauma-informed drug and alcohol support. As the co-chair of Barod’s Trauma and ACE (TrACE) Informed Practice Steering Group, Sarah plays a key role in driving forward the organisation’s commitment to embedding trauma-informed principles across all levels of service delivery.
As a qualified coach, Sarah also integrates coaching techniques into her leadership style, supporting teams to grow, reflect, and respond with compassion in their work with individuals and families affected by substance use and trauma.
Rachel Wilson
Resilient Families Manager, Barod
I am Rachel Wilson the Resilient Families Manager for Barod, leading on the Choices West Young Persons service in Dyfed, the Floating Support service in Ceredigion and am currently co – managing DDAS. I have worked in the substance use field for over 23 years and am passionate about ensuring that everyone who accesses our services have good quality information regarding substances and are able to achieve their identified goal with feelings of confidence and empowerment. I co-facilitate Barod’s Trauma and Ace (TrACE) agenda with my colleagues Sarah Walsh and am also one of Barod’s safeguarding leads.
Emma Howells
Choices West, Team Leader, Barod
You can watch all previous webinars via our YouTube channel, or listen to them via our Drugs Unwrapped podcast, where ever you get your podcasts from. Below is an overview of each previous webinar
Webinar 1 – Why language is important
Webinar 2 – Family and concerned others
Webinar 3 – Drug Overdose Good Samaritan Act
Webinar 4 – Safer Inhalation Devices
