The Latest Bulletin

There’s the forever of discomfort. Sasha Dichter taught us about this. The feeling we get during a temporary situation that feels like it’s going to last forever. It’s one thing to tolerate a bumpy landing on an airplane, because you know it’ll be over in ten seconds.But, a car-sick toddler doesn’t have that perspective. He’s wailing and sad because he thinks that this is the new normal, a permanent situation. Too often, we quit in the dip. Not because we can’t tolerate discomfort for an hour, a week or a month, but because we mistakenly believe that it might last forever. Click here to read more

Please click on the relevant link below Facebook page Facebook Social Work Focus group LinkedIn Twitter YouTube channel Neil’s website The humansolutions website Information about Neil’s online learning community, the Avenue Professional Development Programme

Are you involved in student supervision or other ways of helping people learn? If so, Neil Thompson’s The Learning from Practice Manual is for you. Neil has been involved in supporting practice learning for over four decades. This hands-on manual of practice guidance encapsulates his experience and expertise in a way that readers will find very helpful. Available for purchase along with many other books by Neil here or from the Avenue Learning Centre here.

I have many years’ experience of working with people struggling with anxiety, depression, self-doubt and related emotional challenges. In general, most of them would be thinking that there was something wrong with them, that they were deficient in some way, or even ill. They would be surprised, and generally relieved, to learn that having demons – that is, emotional challenges – is quite a normal part of being human. We all have them, but what distinguishes those people who don’t appear to have any such demons from those who appear to be struggling with them is mainly how well we are managing them – not whether or not we have them. At root, life is fragile, vulnerable and insecure, but…

Inequality will remain entrenched "from birth to work" unless the government takes urgent action, the Social Mobility Commission has warned. Its State of the Nation report covering England, Scotland and Wales, said the situation had remained "virtually stagnant" since 2014. It is calling on ministers to provide additional funding for older teenagers in education and to extend free childcare to more low income families. The government said it would take the recommendations seriously. Click here to read more

Alzheimer’s Society’s research shows that many people are worried about ‘saying the wrong thing’ to people living with dementia. And despite almost all of us knowing someone affected, two-thirds of people living with dementia report feeling isolated and lonely. That’s why this Dementia Action Week, we’re encouraging everyone to take action by starting a conversation with someone living with dementia they know; whether it’s calling a relative with dementia or visiting a neighbour, it’s time to start talking. We understand that it can be difficult to know what to say. But we’ve teamed up with people affected by dementia to give you the best tips for getting a conversation started. Click here to read more

"I couldn't be representing my country and not turning my life around at the same time," said former heroin addict Dee Sansome. The 38-year-old, who has been in prison and ended up on the streets for four years, reckons being picked to play for Wales in the Homeless World Cup in 2017 transformed her life forever. "It helped me start achieving and believing in myself," she said. Cardiff hosts the competition in July with 500 players from 50 countries. Click here to read more

Please click on the relevant link below Facebook page Facebook Social Work Focus group LinkedIn Twitter YouTube channel Neil’s website The humansolutions website Information about Neil’s online learning community, the Avenue Professional Development Programme