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Dr. Claire Agius

@claireagius.bsky.social
771 followers 331 following 127 posts

Research Associate @manmetuni. Adoption. Developmental Psychology. Complex trauma. Child & Parent Mental Health #co-production #co-design #ebcd Trustee @TheBelayFoundation.org.uk @IRCTrauma.bsky.social

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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute of Recovery from Childhood Trauma @irctrauma.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Pleasure to hear Baroness, Longfield, Baroness Lister, @jessasatomp.bsky.social and @tomhayesmp.bsky.social talking about the right to play at the launch of the @alliance4children.bsky.social report, Power to Play in the House of Lords today. Play is a crucial part of recovery from Childhood Trauma.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
The Belay Foundation @thebelayfoundation.org.uk · 07/05/2025
The lovely Olly is running his first ever run - a massive 10k - this Sunday. And he's doing it on behalf of @TheBelayFoundation! How amazing is Olly?! More about Olly, his very personal reasons for supporting Belay, his run this Sunday, and about Belay all here: www.justgiving.com/page/olly-cr...
justgiving.com
Olly's first ever run - for The Belay Foundation
Help Alison Crowther raise money to support The Belay Foundation
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
The Belay Foundation @thebelayfoundation.org.uk · 07/05/2025
Interested in whether your child may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance? There’s still time to join our free zoom session on #DLA this evening at 7.30 if you would like! (Future sessions also bookable at the same link) More info here: calendly.com/training-the...
calendly.com
DLA Overview - Focus on Non-Physical Health Conditions - Belay Training
A free hour-long session on DLA, what it is, how to apply, and why it might just be relevant to your family:Are you parenting children with care experience, or perhaps with care needs related to neuro...
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Alliance 4 Children @alliance4children.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Do you want to make a change for Children, Young People & Families across the UK? If so, then please do look to join the ALLIANCE 4 CHILDREN - info@alliance4children.org
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute for Children’s Futures @icf-mcr.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Great to see the contribution of our member @anne-marieday.bsky.social alongside colleagues from MCYS and Metropolis at @manmetuni.bsky.social to report that argues for a whole-child approach to childhood vulnerability: vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/new-rep... #ChildrensFutures
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk
New report warns thousands of vulnerable children at risk of criminal exploitation - Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre
A report by the Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre warns thousands of vulnerable children are at risk of criminal exploitation.
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Re-entering uni in my late 40s, driven by education that ignores the real complexities of trauma, neurodiversity & care experience. Now in workplace, I’m seeing the disconnect remains: lofty promises with little on-the-ground support. Another push needed for care-ex to be a protected characteristic!
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Today, DfE announced 40% cut to Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF). A devastating blow to some of the most vulnerable children & the families who care for them. These cuts risk undoing years of progress in care & stability for children who’ve already experienced too much disruption
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
The language of ‘trauma-informed’ and ‘neurodiversity-aware’ is everywhere in care-related systems. But awareness isn’t action. These structures often reproduce the harms they name. Critical questions remain: who gets to define ‘support’? And who gets silenced under the guise of being ‘understood’?
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Discrimination can be seen differently based on backgrounds & biases. What one views as targeted behaviour may be miscommunication (neurodiversity, language hurdles, or early trauma). How can organisations build frameworks to honour these nuanced perspectives w/out oversimplifying complex realities?
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute for Children’s Futures @icf-mcr.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
The UK Government recently launched a national listening exercise to let #YoungPeople have their say on support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates. They are invited to share their views via an online survey by 16 April: www.iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-...
iwill.org.uk
NYS - Deliver You - iwill
We’re taking orders—your future is on the menu! Help shape the National Youth Strategy now. #WhatsYourOrder under 16? Don’t forget to check your order with a guardian. The Government is creating a new...
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute for Children’s Futures @icf-mcr.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Earlier this year, our Institute was featured on the UN Academic Impact website, introducing our mission and highlights from our launch event to the world. Discover what guides us in making a positive impact on #ChildrensFutures: www.un.org/en/academic-...
un.org
Manchester Metropolitan University launches new Institute for Children’s Futures | United Nations
To mark World Children’s Day, Manchester Metropolitan University welcomed over 100 delegates to celebrate the launch of its new Institute for Children’s Futures (ICF). The ICF brings together the Univ...
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute for Children’s Futures @icf-mcr.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
We are a cross-university institute at @manmetuni.bsky.social. Through interdisciplinary research and engagement, we advance conceptualisation and implementation of children and young people’s rights, opportunities and wellbeing. Learn more: www.mmu.ac.uk/institute-fo... #ChildrensFutures
mmu.ac.uk
Institute for Children's Futures
Discover how we are leading the way in children’s research and shaping policy and practice for better outcomes for children.
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
I devoured this in 72 hrs. The book is a raw, unflinching look at child abuse & neglect. Despite the heavy subject matter, Fagan’s prose is breathtakingly beautiful & captivating, drawing you in with its unvarnished honesty & emotional depth. It’s a stunning and shocking read that lingers.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Centre for Young Lives @cfyounglives.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Our report with Child of the North published today calls for creativity to be embedded into an inclusive school curriculum to develop a new generation of creatives to boost economic growth. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...
centreforyounglives.org.uk
Child of the North/Centre for Young Lives report urges ‘Britain’s kids have got talent’ drive in schools to boost opportunity and stop the pipeline of pop stars, actors and creatives becoming the pres...
Report urges ‘Britain’s kids have got talent’ drive in schools to boost opportunity and stop the pipeline of pop stars, actors and creatives becoming the preserve of the well-off
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Excited to refine plans for our new podcast on recovery from trauma, merging clinical insights with lived experiences, and exploring questions such as how do we define “recovery”, how can diverse therapies, personal narratives, and community support overcome systemic barriers…and much more.
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
📣Calling current psychology and education students to participate in an online interview about your studies and how prepared they make you feel for the workplace. #callforparticipants #researchstudy #studyrecruitment See poster for more details. Contact our Principal Researcher k.bodfield@mmu.ac.uk
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Bravo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Such an interesting piece, Faith. Thanks for sharing.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Sass Boucher MSc @sassboucher.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
💡 Vicarious trauma isn’t a personal failing. It’s a natural response to exposure to others’ trauma. Understanding it is key to protecting ourselves & sustaining this work. #VicariousTrauma #HelpingProfessionals #SelfCarePsychology
Vicarious trauma definitions
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Please sign this petition. Adoptive parents are on the verge of losing a crucial lifeline. The system is at tipping point, and without the ASGSF, many families will be left without the help they desperately need. This fund is vital glimmer of relief in an already stretched system. chng.it/69cxVWVkcr
chng.it
We Can Make an Impact.
The government must provide clarity on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support fund
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Word of the Day is ‘ingordigiousness’ (18th century): extreme greed at the expense of principles.
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Attended great event today on promoting research to parliament w @mcrmetropolis.bsky.social, Huw Edwards & Jasmine Hearn. A powerful reminder that research shouldn’t stay on a shelf, it needs to drive real change. My goal: bridge gap between insight & action, ensuring lived experiences shape policy.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Suzanne Zeedyk @suzannezeedyk.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
This Saturday 1st March sees the London launch of the new documentary film on the impacts of boarding school #BoardingOnInsanity. I'm contributing to the online evening discssn on 5th Mar. Find out more by signing up here: www.boardingoninsanity.com
boardingoninsanity.com
Circle of Change Productions Ltd presents
Circle of Change Productions presents a feature documentary 'Boarding on Insanity'. The documentary explores the trauma that is in children who attend boarding school. How does that trauma affect the ...
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Really looking forward to attending this workshop today.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Sass Boucher MSc @sassboucher.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
The ‘cost of caring’ doesn’t have to drain you. Compassion fatigue is real, but it’s not inevitable. 💛🌿 #CompassionFatigue #CharlesFigley
Compassion fatigue is the cost of caring
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Promote increased awareness and understanding of the impact of complex childhood trauma and the implications for children's services. We think our aims are really important! See here for more information www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/childho...
parallelparliament.co.uk
Childhood Trauma APPG (Defunct)
To promote increased awareness and understanding of the impact of complex childhood trauma and the implications for children's services.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal, cross-party groups formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords who share a common interest in a particular policy area, region or country. The Childhood Trauma APPG aims to...
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Please help with this @irctrauma.bsky.social appeal to find a Conservative MP for the Childhood Trauma APPG.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Gareth K. Thomas ❤️‍🩹 @garethkthomas.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Many children in prison were once children in crisis. Wherever possible, we must address trauma early—with stability, care, and support—to change the narrative, change outcomes, and change lives.
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Trauma-related behaviours aren’t deliberate decisions, they’re survival responses. Yet, some schools still operate on the belief that behaviour is a choice. Reframing behaviour management as relationship management shifts the focus from control to connection. Safety, trust, and regulation come first
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
#CompassionEdRevolution
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
If you are interested in learning more about our work, are keen to collaborate or would like to volunteer to support our work please visit our website to get in contact: irct.org.uk
irct.org.uk
Welcome to the IRCT
Ensuring that recovery from childhood trauma becomes available for all children & young people
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
We are keen to promote postgraduate research opportunities. We are currently looking for a new Patron - A member of the House of Lords.
irct.org.uk
Welcome to the IRCT
Ensuring that recovery from childhood trauma becomes available for all children & young people
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Our new Media and Knowledge Exchange sub-group provided our first update. We met a future Trustee (very exciting). We discussed our new Centre for Recovery from Childhood Trauma. We explored current and potential research collaborations.
irct.org.uk
Welcome to the IRCT
Ensuring that recovery from childhood trauma becomes available for all children & young people
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Dr Jon Reid Ⓥ @drjonreid.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Another engaging and productive Board meeting @irctrauma.bsky.social Trustee's shared updates on membership, lobbying, APPG and DfE work, our responses to various calls for evidence, recent collaborations and alliances, future events and conferences including our Best Practice Forums.
irct.org.uk
Welcome to the IRCT
Ensuring that recovery from childhood trauma becomes available for all children & young people
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
🧵1/7 Following on from yesterday’s post, adoptive parents often carry an invisible weight, managing trauma, advocating for support, and constantly adjusting to meet their child’s needs. But I wanted to add that when the system fails, that weight doesn’t just disappear.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Institute of Recovery from Childhood Trauma @irctrauma.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Trauma shapes the brain, but so does recovery. With the right support, safety & connection, the nervous system can heal, regulation can be learned, triggers can lose intensity& connection can create new patterns of safety. Healing happens in relationships, in self-compassion & in small steps forward
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
🧵 1/4 Caring for a child who has experienced trauma is more than love and patience, it’s absorbing their pain in ways that can be hard to recognise. The exhaustion, anxiety, and overwhelm many caregivers feel isn’t just stress. It’s possibly secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, blocked care.
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Sass Boucher MSc @sassboucher.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Compassion fatigue can hit suddenly, leaving us drained, cynical, and questioning our ability to care. It’s not burnout, but it is real—and protecting ourselves matters. Our Five Pillars of Protection help buffer the impact. Let’s talk about it. #CompassionFatigue #HelpingProfessionals
Compassion fatigue definition
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Gerry Diamond. @gerrydiamond1971.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Relational approaches are not about being a pupils best friend but the small everyday moments. Connection. Sincere compliments.Acts of kindness. Genuine check-in. Showing up in ways that matter. Remembering the little details.These moments are powerful & therapeutic. 🧠🌱
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
2 thought-provoking talks today! Prof. Rebecca Pearson shared key findings from MHINT project, reshaping how we understand intergenerational mental health, Prof. Marc Bornstein spoke on the Specificity Principle, a concept I apply in my research,emphasising no one-size-fits-all in development/policy
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Gerry Diamond. @gerrydiamond1971.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
The human brain develops within the interaction of its environment, it's a process. So schools should be in the development of nurturing healthy brains as they develop until adulthood.Schools should be places of emotional nurturing,not just a transmission of facts and ability.🧠🌱
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Matthew B @matthewbroome.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Teenage psychiatric patients told they are 'pathetic and disgusting'
A BBC investigation finds some nurses were verbally abusive and cruel towards unwell teenagers.
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Laura Williams @mrswilliams21c.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
You can’t go wrong …
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Many care experienced young people including those in kinship care have experienced trauma. Isolation from family & friends while in care can adversely impact mental health further. We're supporting the #FutureMindsCampaign calling for immediate, scalable action to address the mental health crisis
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Sass Boucher MSc @sassboucher.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Great to dust off the Five Pillars of Protection for today's 'Secondary Trauma: Supporting Managers to Support Staff' with Staffs CC. A helpful model for spotting where support is needed to buffer professional trauma & fatigue. Thanks for having us! #SecondaryTrauma #WorkplaceWellbeing
Professional trauma and fatigue model 5 pillars of protection
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Dr. Claire Agius @claireagius.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Excellent point. Thanks Steve.
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Reposted by Dr. Claire Agius
Reece Dinsdale @reecedinsdale.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I’ve decided I’m going to take over Lancashire, own it, level it, get all its inhabitants to relocate to Wales, Cumbria or wherever (not Yorkshire!), re-name it God’s Own Country, plant millions of acres of rhubarb and build a Betty’s Tea Room on every street corner. That’ll sort the buggers!! 👍 👀
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