The Talking Hope project published an intermittent blog over its three short phases:

Who Cares for the Carers? Holding Hope Behind the Scenes

September 2018

Talking Hope researcher Katherine Baxter published a blog with Robert Clark from the Good Shepherd Centre on the need to care for residential staff to be able to effectively support young people

Hope, Agency and Creativity: Building Blocks in Young People’s Pursuit of a Better Life in Secure Care

October 2018

Katherine Baxter and Emma Miller reflect on learning from phase 1 of Talking Hope, with a focus on secure care and the role of education in finding a voice and sense of agency and hope for a better life

What happens when we don’t have hope?

March 2019

Now Director of CYCJ, Fiona Dyer reflects on her previous role as a social worker, and current roles as a mother and at CYCJ – and the essential need for hope

Grief, loss and Talking Hope

April 2022

Norrie Clark, service manager for Stepdown, discusses the findings of his MSc dissertation about how staff can experience grief and loss in their work with young people, and how to support that better

Hope for transformation in secure care

May 2022

Beth-Anne Logan from the STARR group for secure care experienced young people reflects on using lived experience to try to improve the care system for now and the future. Beth is also a Promise development worker with North Lanarkshire Council

Talking Hope…and Talking Mats

August 2022

Margo Mackay from Talking Mats tells us about the new youth justice version of this visual communication support tool. She explains how Talking Mats can help to counter stigma and help the young person take control

Heart and Hope in East Ayrshire

September 2022

Paula Raymond from East Ayrshire work shared with Talking Hope about an approach to community involvement in planning and commissioning services, which is well underway, known as the Heart Model

Leading to Change (and hope)

November 2022

With increasing pressure on health, social care and social work sectors, the Scottish Government’s new Leading to Change programme is driving more compassionate and collaborative leadership, to improve wellbeing and bring hope to staff

Youth work and young people’s activism in times of austerity

January 2024

Liz Ackerley from the University of Manchester looks at hopeful, everyday, transformative practice in this short blog, reflecting on the relationships of care and solidarity that exist between staff and young people to create social change.