The Trauma Informed Network Cornwall (TINC) is a cross-sector collaboration of practitioners, leaders and people with lived experience working to embed trauma-informed approaches across systems in Cornwall.
TINC aims to improve the way that local systems and services work for people experiencing adversity and multiple disadvantage. Safer Stronger Communities is an original partner of TINC and our Chief Executive continues to chair the network.
What we are doing
Since launching in 2020, TINC has grown into a thriving network with 150 members from over 50 organisations and 12 council directorates.
The network is a community of people who share an interest in trauma informed practice and an aspiration for change, through sharing and learning together. Sub-groups have been created to focus on specific areas such as children and young people, substance misuse and women’s trauma.
The network has potential to stimulate change within organisations, systems and communities through the development of a collective vision and approach, along with the sharing of resources and learning.
Our aims
Membership of TINC is open to any person, professional, organisation or community group wishing to be involved in supporting Cornwall in becoming a Trauma Informed County. Together, we aim to:
- Promote the delivery of trauma informed services
- Facilitate and help co-ordinate trauma informed practices
- Assist organisations to upskill staff
- Encourage social groups and communities to act in a trauma informed way
- Aid continuous improvement and growth
TINC also acts as an advisory group for the Safer Cornwall Partnership and feeds into delivery plans through the Safer Cornwall Management Group.
What is trauma informed practice?
This diagram shows the components of a ‘trauma informed system’ based on values of compassion, understanding, empathy, curiosity and reflectiveness, to understand ‘what matters?’:
Experts by Experience Co-production Guide
SSC host the Experts by Experience Group within TINC, who launched the Experts by Experience Co-production Guide – created in partnership as part of the Safer Stronger Systems project, funded by the Serious Violence Prevention Programme.
This guide is the result of honest conversations, shared learning and collective vision. Over six months, a group of 15 experts by experience came together to co-design something personal, practical and purposeful. Together, they explored what true co-production means and how it can transform services when lived experience is valued.
Built on trust, purpose and real-life insight, the guide covers seven core principles:
- 1. Start from a place of inclusion
- 2. Grow organisational culture
- 3. Nurture people
- 4. Respect and dignity
- 5. Value our voice and contributions
- 6. Experts with experience
- 7. Continue our conversations…
Download the poster and the full guide.
Together, the group filmed and produced a video guide that shares our voices, values and hope for more inclusive, trauma-informed systems:
Compassionate Cornwall All-Age Framework
The Compassionate Cornwall All-Age Framework is a whole-system, trauma-informed approach designed to create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for individuals across Cornwall – regardless of age, background, or life experience. Grounded in the principles of compassion, collaboration, and empowerment, the framework seeks to:
- Embed trauma-informed practices across all services and systems.
- Promote emotional and psychological safety in communities and organisations.
- Prioritise relational approaches over procedural ones.
- Encourage inclusive language and co-production with people with lived experience.
- Shift the lens from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what has happened to you?”
The framework is the result of extensive consultation and partnership through the Trauma Informed Network Cornwall (TINC) and builds on existing strategies like the Complex Needs Strategy and the Compassionate Cornwall vision.
Ultimately, it aims to transform how services are delivered and experienced- placing compassion, trust, and shared responsibility at the heart of every interaction.
Click here to read the Compassionate Cornwall All Age Framework.
Trauma-informed resources
These documents have been co-produced by a dedicated partnership of individuals from voluntary and statutory organisations across Cornwall, working together through the Trauma Informed Network Cornwall. Together, we aim to cultivate a shared, compassionate understanding of trauma that is meaningful and accessible across diverse communities and professional settings.
Designed especially for managers and team leaders, these resources support the integration of trauma-informed frameworks within teams and whole organisations. They also promote peer learning and reflection – encouraging leaders to share experiences and champion sustainable, healing-centred change.
Governance & Leadership: Trauma-Informed Structures
This guide focuses on embedding trauma-informed values into governance and leadership. It highlights how leadership can model safety, trust, autonomy, collaboration, and empowerment in organisational culture and policies.
Practical strategies include:
- Developing trauma-sensitive policies.
- Incorporating lived experience in advisory roles.
- Training leaders in trauma-informed care.
- Supporting staff through reflective supervision.
- Building culturally aware and emotionally intelligent teams.
- Engaging the community in service design and evaluation.
Benefits of this approach include improved staff morale, stronger community trust, inclusive growth, and greater organisational resilience.
Click here to read the Governance & Leadership document.
Trauma-Informed Training and Skills Framework
This document presents a comprehensive training framework for building trauma-informed competencies across all organisational levels. The goal is to cultivate environments of healing, safety, and empowerment through tailored education and continuous support.
Framework Levels:
- Level 1: Awareness – For everyone. Focus on basic trauma knowledge and self-care.
- Level 2: Skilled – For frontline workers and managers. Includes mentorship and peer learning.
- Level 3: Enhanced – For senior practitioners. Focuses on policy implementation and culture change.
- Level 4: Specialist – For therapists and interventionists. Involves formal certification and research-led approaches.
Additional focus areas include:
- Modifying environments for psychological safety.
- Promoting staff wellbeing and reflective practice.
- Embedding feedback mechanisms for ongoing improvement.
Click here to read the full Training Framework document.
Co-Production and Co-Design: A Trauma-Informed Approach
This document outlines how co-production and co-design can be embedded within trauma-informed care, centring the voices of individuals with lived experience. It promotes principles such as safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment to shape inclusive, healing environments.
Key steps include:
- Understanding trauma-informed principles.
- Creating safe, emotionally supportive spaces.
- Valuing diverse lived experiences.
- Communicating compassionately.
- Offering flexible engagement formats.
- Providing support and training for facilitators.
- Ensuring informed consent and confidentiality.
- Iterating through participant feedback.
- Evaluating success through healing-focused outcomes.
This framework ensures people are not only heard but empowered throughout service design and delivery.
Click here to read the full Co-Production and Co-Design document.