Young survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing are using their experiences to assist teachers in supporting children affected by the recent knife attacks in Southport. This peer mentoring project is led by Dr Cath Hill from Lancaster University and the National Emergencies Trust, aiming to enhance trauma care for young victims across the UK.
The initiative, which is part of the Bee the Difference project, connects Manchester survivors directly with educators in Southport. The survivors share practical advice and insights drawn from their recovery journey following the Manchester terror attack.
To help reduce the repeated retelling of traumatic experiences, Southport schools are introducing a trauma ‘passport’. This passport follows students throughout their education, providing new teachers with important information without causing additional distress to the children.
Yasmine Lee, who was injured in the Manchester bombing at age 12 and is now a teacher herself, emphasized the unpredictable nature of trauma recovery. She explained how the trauma passport helps avoid difficult conversations that might trigger emotional distress for affected children.
Dr Hill praised the bravery of the young mentors, highlighting their role in validating children’s experiences. She also stressed that providing tailored care around anniversaries and milestones is a crucial part of the recovery process for survivors of terror attacks.
Originally published by UKNIP.
