Marya Hemmings

We are the TC Elders, a group of experienced individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds, who have all worked in Therapeutic Communities (TC) and share a strong belief in the value of the Therapeutic Community experience. We want to provide an online community meeting space for those affected, in whatever way, by the situation in Ukraine, … Read more

This is an article was first published in the TCJ in 2010, and is part of our ‘Through back to the TCJ’ series The principles of institutional discrimination apply to all inequalities covered by present legislation, whether based on sex / gender, ethnicity / ‘race’ / culture / language, religion / belief, age, sexual orientation … Read more

This is an extract from Jane Keenan’s book: Kids in Care…How can I Help? To achieve what I’ve described so far, is to provide a facilitating environment, an environment which facilitates that move towards emotional health. And for us, health means more than just an absence of illness – check out Donald Winnicott for more … Read more

This month at the Planned Environment Therapy Archives and Special Collections we are recognising Black History Month through a series of social media posts on our Twitter and Facebook feeds (watch this space!). We are also looking at how we can work across the Mulberry Bush to support inclusion work with both staff and children … Read more

In the first paper of this series ‘Residential Care and Education for Children and Young People under the age of 18’ all sectors of such care were identified and illustrated in a model. The model indicates the significant diversity of provision for those being educated away from their home. For those readers who may not … Read more

Marcel Proust rated the ability to see with the eyes of another person as the greatest of voyages that a human being could undertake – far more challenging than sailing the seven seas or climbing the highest mountains on each continent.  I am convinced that he is on the right lines but would want to … Read more

On a trip to nearby Epping Forest four of the children with us were delighted to discover Pulpit Oak, probably over four hundred years old, and a boundary marker between the districts of Buckhurst Hill and Loughton.  They clambered over what remained of its gnarled broad trunk and imagined it as a sailing boat, sitting … Read more

It is well known that care leavers experience disproportionately more disadvantage than the general population. And we know in what areas this is likely to manifest itself: education, housing, finance, criminal justice, self-esteem, health etc More often than not there is some acknowledgement of the effects of this disadvantage but very little being done to … Read more

1.the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring, The way they all keep my sadness from incurring How all the team work as one, But as well as work they still have time for fun. When I feel sad and the mood turns low, These individuals radiate a caring glow. A glorious light that … Read more

The importance of access to one’s own records is increasingly being recognised as significant, and data protection legislation in many jurisdictions has aimed to enshrine this as a right in law. Care experienced people have repeatedly stated that their childhood memories are often fragmented or unclear, and that access to their records can be a … Read more

When I was studying at Oxford University there were occasional invitations to make up a college rowing eight.  No previous experience was required: sometimes it was simply a case of getting someone to sit on an empty seat.  There were practice sessions fitted in around other educational or sporting commitments just to ensure that we … Read more

Art work by Ian Cool. The fourth paper considers the role of both formal and informal education within the residential setting. To this end Model 4 is proposed Education: Informal and Formal. This theoretical model was initiated by the York Group, which comprised representatives with experience in all the main sectors of residential care for … Read more