Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Melanie Stuart ACEs activist, lecturer at Dundee & Angus College

Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Kenny and Kerry Watson talking about their film "Love and Trouble"

It is wonderful to come back to the film "Love and Trouble" which we first discussed  in episode 4 of series 1 of this podcast when we spoke to Christo Hird from Dartmouth Films. I now get the chance to talk about not with Kenny and Kerry who are the subjects of the film. I really admire both of them for the way that they have addressed the challenges and issues that they have faced and for the courage and openness that they have shown in allowing the film maker, Amy Hardie into their lives. Amy is a talented and sensitive person and her qualities, combined with the willingness of Kenny and Kerry to share their lives, have created a remarkable film. Showings of the film can be organised through the Scottish ACEs Action Community. If you would like to host a screening for your community or organisation, get in touch with Suzanne Zeedyk -suzanne@suzannezeedyk.com.  She will tell you how Scotland’s ACEs Action Community can help you. There are screenings scheduled for for the School of Health and Wellbeing at Glasgow University on the 11th May -https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/14695 [https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/14695] Glasgow Clyde College on 19th May - jroden@glasgowclyde.ac.uk  Dundee College on 20th May https://dvva.scot/news/love-and-trouble-screening-and-qa-with-da-college-20th-may/ [https://dvva.scot/news/love-and-trouble-screening-and-qa-with-da-college-20th-may/] Keep an eye on the Scotland's ACEs Action Community Facebook page for details of all screenings.

Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Laurie Ellis, Head of Academy Coaching at Heart of Midlothian FC

I am absolutely delighted to be able to release this podcast with Laurie Ellis. It is our first episode dealing with all of the issues, which we have dealt with in other episodes, in the world off sport, Laurie makes clear how important it is that everyone dealing with young people, whatever the context, needs to understand them and respond to their characteristics, experiences and needs. He talks brilliantly about how football academies have to develop players who are ready to move into the first team at their club, but to do more than that, They need to make sure that there are no barriers to their progress from developmental issues or trauma that are not addressed through understanding and the building of relationships. He also recognises the need for coaches to help in the overall development of the young people in the academies. I love his comment about producing "warriors" ready to give their all for their team, but also to be "warriors with compassion". He makes the case that, while coaches have a clear responsibility to their clubs, they have an essential responsibility to the young people who are ion their care. It is an encouraging account of how the culture of, at least some, of football academies has changed and how aware Laurie and other coaches are of the complex world that young people are being prepared for. In Laurie's case, this awareness has led him to seek more learning and information and to engage with the Scottish ACEs Action Community. This is a programme which should engage sports fans, parents and anyone interested in the development of Scotland young people.

Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Melanie Stuart ACEs activist, lecturer at Dundee & Angus College

We are back with a bang! Season 2 of Taking Action kicks off with the indefatigable Melanie Stuart, FE lecturer, activist and more. The list of links and references set out below will give you a flavour of the range of this conversation. Mel is open, honest and brave and shares her own personal development in these notes and on the show, but, above all she gets stuff done which is what taking Action is all about. It's one for anyone interested in FE, culture change and courage   Relax Kids This is where the journey began for me, learning about ACEs and how the brain works. As part of Relax Kids training in Scotland, we met Jane Evans, whose work had a significant impact. Link to Jane Evans work which I use in lessons with students https://youtu.be/qKlzd-H2X9w?si=CBbVRsbjXhw8-dbz Website: https://relaxkids.com/ Hand in Hand Parenting Wanting to know more I then discovered Hand in Hand Parenting. The connection-based approach resonated deeply, and The Secret Garden in Fife became my youngest daughter’s nursery because they embedded this relational, connection-first philosophy. Website: https://www.handinhandparenting.org/ An anecdote of mine https://www.handinhandparenting.org/2018/10/how-to-talk-to-teenager  The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery: Training in the Hand in Hand Approach - Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery  Mel's business Facebook page, a combination of mindfulness and connection based parenting work: https://www.facebook.com/MindfulConnectionsWithMelanie Listening Partnerships (Hand in Hand Parenting) Listening Partnerships have been central to my own growth and embodiment of trauma‑informed practice. Overview: https://www.handinhandparenting.org/2016/08/listen-launch-post-what-is-a-listening-partnership/ Dundee and Angus ACEs Hub (Now Aces Action Community) The hub began in 2018 after an Upstart launch event at Dundee University, watching the Resilience documentary at the DCA, and meeting others committed to change. Website: https://dundeeangusacehub.wixsite.com/dundeeangusaceshub Facebook: Dundee & Angus ACEs Action Community | Facebook ACE-Aware Nation Conference – 2018 Conference Mindfulness Action Research (CAIRN Article) Enhancing Student Wellbeing: The Impact of Mindfulness Exercises on Subject Based Anxiety in Further Education https://www.cdn.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Enhancing-Student-Wellbeing.pdf EIS FELA (Further Education Lecturers’ Association) The union representing FE lecturers across Scotland, including the Dundee branch. Main site: https://www.eis.org.uk/FELA/FELA-Home FE Matters Campaign / Dundee Branch Context For updates on FE campaigning activity, industrial action, and ongoing sector concerns, see Fighting for the Future of Further Education on Facebook. Fighting for the future of Further Education | Facebook Hear2Connect (Community Connection Work) Hear2Connect supports connection-based community work. Private Facebook: hear2connect community | Facebook Private LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16096108/ Scotland ACEs Action Community A national community sharing learning and supporting trauma‑informed action across Scotland. ACEs & Trauma Scotland Forum | Facebook ACESAction Community Scotland Forum | Groups | LinkedIn Carnoustie High - Crew What Crew is EL Education - Building the Culture and Structure of Crew  And here is the link to join our screening for those who wish to sign up for the Dundee & Angus College screening of- Love and Trouble - a documentary exploring how trauma lives inside relationships –https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=mQQF_bgn1EKWzZGmwHUsn3ZbWeBjwIRDtBGMEzy1gf1URUtPVlZBODZCWkxOUjRBQl [https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=mQQF_bgn1EKWzZGmwHUsn3ZbWeBjwIRDtBGMEzy1gf1URUtPVlZBODZCWkxOUjRBQlhVVkxQQkwzTy4u&route=shorturl]

Taking Action with the real David Cameron : A Retrospective with Suzanne Zeedyk

Welcome to the final podcast of series 1 of Taking Action. I will now be 'taking stock" and "taking a break" instead. the podcast will definitely be back, maybe with a renewed focus, format and frequency. Please look out for a return in mid-February. In the meantime, please check out previous episodes on Buzzsprout, Apple and Spotify. I had no doubt about how I wanted to finish off this first season and that was with a look back at this year, both through the podcast and the wider set of actions to mark the 20 year anniversary of Scotland's ACEs Journey. I also wanted this too be a forward looking episode and I think we have achieved both goals. This is a relaxed and wide ranging conversation which rounds off the series as I would want it to. It is filled with hope. If you wan t know more about what has been happening in Scotland over the last 20 years, here are some useful links For the graphic film telling the story of Scotland’s ACES Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hik0_sfbF6I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hik0_sfbF6I] For the booklet telling the story of Scotland’s ACEs Journey:  https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ACEs-Journey-book-screen-190625.pdf [https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ACEs-Journey-book-screen-190625.pdf] For an even deeper dive into Scotland’s ACEs Journey: https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ACEs-Journey-info-June-25-2025.pdf [https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ACEs-Journey-info-June-25-2025.pdf] For the 2023 paper by Zeedyk & Partridge tracing the ACEs history: https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ACEs-Journey-Article-.pdf [https://connectedbaby.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ACEs-Journey-Article-.pdf] For a video of the Gala Day held in June 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbP5ZbyMCBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbP5ZbyMCBE] We will also be releasing a graphic image showing the range of people involved in the podcast. It is a powerful illustration of the diversity of sectors, organisations and individuals who are working to make Scotland a more just, compassionate and equitable country . Look out for that on Linkedin, Bluesky and X

Taking Action with the real David Cameron and John Carnochan and Karyn McCluskey, founding members of the Violence Reduction Unit of Strathclyde Police

This is an episode which I have been longing to record. John Carnochan and Karyn McCluskey are, for me, towering figures in Scotland's ACEs movement. They were founding members of the groundbreaking Violence Reduction Unit established  within the Strathclyde Police Force (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_Reduction_Unit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_Reduction_Unit]). They would both give credit to others for the building of that unit and they do that on the podcast, but they were instrumental in its success. Both are charismatic, clear-sighted, pragmatic and principled. They helped to change the culture of policing in, what was then, Strathclyde Region and influenced change far beyond that. They tackled what was then an appalling climate of violence in Scotland and had the courage to turn their backs on the standard remedy of more police, harsher punishments and a massive increase in the prison population. They recognised that "prevention" and "deterrence" were not synonyms and were prepared to tackle the causes of crime. They saw the importance of improving public services, memorably calling for more health visitors rather than more police officers. They listened to victims and to perpetrators and drew widely on data and research and they had an impact. They are both wonderful communicators with the ability to generate stunning phrases and aphorisms at the drop of a proverbial hat. They understood, and understand, the power of stories and used that relentlessly to engage, motivate and inspire others. Above all they brought, and bring, an intense humanity to all that they do. They are as far from the caricature of "bleeding-heart liberals" or "woke warriors" as it possible to be, but they are unafraid to argue with John Major's assertion that we need to"condemn a little more and understand a little less". They are clear that, regardless of how we deal with crime and criminals, we will change little without understanding, curiosity and a willingness to learn. Remarkably, they not only manage to illustrate all of these points in this episode, they also help us to reflect on the ACEs movement more generally  and the lessons that we need to learn. It is an episode worth learning from For anyone interested in finding out more about the VRU, here are a number of links https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/25/scottish-violence-reduction-unit-radical-change [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/25/scottish-violence-reduction-unit-radical-change] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhFDsONaA5Y [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhFDsONaA5Y] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjvqUWl4lkA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjvqUWl4lkA]