We are delighted to announce BearFace Theatre as the first organisation to have achieved the Working with Trauma Quality Mark.

It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with the BearFace Theatre team on this journey and to award them the Silver – Trauma Informed Working with Trauma Quality Mark. Jennifer Walmsley, Director of Operations and Co-Artistic Director, BearFace Theatre: ‘What an honour to be the very first; we feel like history-makers! It’s been an extremely useful reflective process, it's definitely challenged and strengthened us personally and professionally’. 

One Small Thing’s Quality Mark team have assessed BearFace Theatre’s processes, policies and environment. The assessment looked at areas including: leadership and governance, workforce development, quality assurance, levels of cultural competency and gender responsiveness; gathering views from team members and participants about BearFace Theatre’s service and culture.

One participant commented, “I like the way Jen and Kate at BearFace Theatre work - it’s different but I like it, I feel safe. It’s the trust that they have in us, that’s massive for me, free from judgement, we are all leading each other. Making our own decisions and controlling our own environment.” (Creating Change probation project participant)

The Working with Trauma Quality Mark provides a practical and accessible tool to help organisations build trauma practice throughout their organisation, and funders with robust evidence of an organisation’s trauma-informed approach.