Family Week at Edge Hill University

Edge Hill University is marking National Family Week with the announcement of three special events taking place during June.

Marking Edge Hill's 125^th anniversary this year, the University's own family-themed week kicks off at 5pm on Monday 14 June a with free public lecture from Camila Batmanghelidjh, the inspirational founder of the Kids Company, a London-based charity which supports children who suffer from emotional and social difficulties.

Camila's lecture, entitled Betrayals or Solutions: What's on offer for the vulnerable children of Britain? will identify the need for an overhaul of the British social work system, which, according to her, is not fit for purpose.

A trained psychotherapist and social entrepreneur, Camila Batmanghelidjhwrote the unique model for The Kids Company when she was just 14, using her mortgage repayments to set it up. The charity aims to help ‘lone' children - minors who experience psychosocial difficulties because their parent cannot function as a caring adult.  It acts a surrogate family, using a combination of psychotherapy, counselling, education, arts, sports, and other practical interventions to enable children to begin the healing process from the trauma caused by abuse and/or neglect they have suffered.

Camila has helped 11,000 children to date. Her other achievements include awards such as Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and Woman of the Year in 2005. She has advised the Government, past and present, on children-related welfare reforms and is credited as the inspiration behind David Cameron's ‘Hug a Hoodie' campaign. To book a place at Camila's lecture, email corporateevents@edgehill.ac.uk.

The second event of the week is Getting it Right From the Start, the University's first Childhood and Adolescent Emotional and Psychological Wellbeing Conference. Edge Hill Chancellor and TV psychologist Professor Tanya Byron will deliver a keynote speech on the 21^st Century Child as the highlight of the day, which will address the sensitive subject of child and teenage emotional growth. The conference aims to help those who work with children - such as nurses, youth and health care workers - to incorporate this into the services they deliver. The conference takes place on at 9:00am at Tuesday 15 June and places can be booked by emailing cahmsconference@edgehill.ac.uk.

Closing the week is Let Me Be Me: Conversations about the Unique Child, the University's annual Early Years Education conference on Wednesday 16 June. The theme of the day is the ‘Unique Child' and how children need have the freedom to explore their environment and the time to make sense of their individual responses to the world. Keynote speakers include Professor Pat Broadhead from Leeds Metropolitan University and Sarah Argent, a freelance children's theatre director who will host practical, hands-on workshops for anyone interested in early years education. For information and bookings, email eyps@edgehill.ac.uk.