Toucan’s first annual conference brings people together to shape a trauma-responsive future
Toucan brought together professionals from health, social care, education and other sectors, alongside experts by experience, to explore how we can work together to provide more compassionate, trauma-responsive care for children and young people across the West Midlands.
The first annual conference, Shaping a Trauma-Responsive Future Together, took place at St Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham, on Friday 9th October 2026. It provided an opportunity to share expertise, learn from lived experience and strengthen collaboration across services.
Keynote speakers from Epione Trauma Training and Consultancy, the UK Trauma Council, Liverpool John Moores University, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Toucan shared insights into improving trauma-responsive care. Discussions explored how relationships, services and evidence-based approaches can help children and young people feel safe, understood and supported.
Elaine Kirwan, Clinical Director at Toucan, the West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative, said:
"This was a truly fantastic day, and one that we are all incredibly proud of. It was inspiring to see such a strong shared commitment to trauma-responsive care across the system. By learning from one another, working collaboratively, and listening carefully to the experiences of young people, we can continue to strengthen our understanding of trauma, improve the support we provide, and help more young people on their journey towards recovery."
A central theme throughout the conference was the importance of listening to people with lived experience and ensuring their voices help shape the services designed to support them.
Molly Dowling, Expert by Experience at Toucan, reflected on the significance of sharing her own experiences at the event:
“If you told the younger version of me that I would be speaking at a conference, offering hope and sharing ideas to those who can make a difference, I would never have believed you. However, I suppose that’s the power of engaging those with lived experience: inspiring hope and creating space for post-traumatic growth that helps rewrite the young person’s narrative.”
The conference marks the beginning of an annual opportunity for professionals, partners and experts by experience to come together, share learning and build stronger connections across sectors.
Through this continued collaboration, Toucan and its partners aim to help shape services that are more compassionate, connected and responsive to the needs of children and young people across the West Midlands.