Supporting Women in Prison and Beyond – Through Trauma Recovery, Self-Advocacy, and Systems Change.
BeyondTrauma Academy CIC delivers survivor-led, trauma-informed support for women in custody, at risk of custody, and transitioning back into the community, while working alongside services to improve how systems respond.
If you are in custody, at risk of custody, or transitioning into the community, you can access safe, trauma-informed spaces to connect, be heard, and take part in change.
Share your experience to help shape trauma-informed support for sentenced women.
We partner with organisations across criminal justice, healthcare, social care, and education to deliver trauma-informed programmes, co-design services, and strengthen responses to trauma through lived experience.
BeyondTrauma Academy CIC is a survivor-led social enterprise specialising in trauma recovery and systems change. Our work with women impacted by the criminal justice system recognises the complex realities many face, including trauma, abuse, exploitation, and unmet mental health needs.
We deliver support that is safe, structured, and empowering, alongside working with organisations to create more effective, trauma-informed responses across custody and community settings.
We provide trauma-informed, psychoeducational programmes designed to support women to stabilise, understand their experiences, and begin moving forward — without needing to revisit traumatic events.
Our approach focuses on:
We also deliver free Survivor Information Sessions (SIS), helping survivors to:
We work with organisations across criminal justice, healthcare, social care, and community services to deliver trauma-informed support and improve outcomes for women.
Our work includes:
We support services to move beyond awareness into practical, effective, trauma-informed responses.
Why This Approach Works
Creating Meaningful Change
Real-world programmes and partnerships delivering trauma-informed change across custody and community settings.
Trauma-Informed Co-Design for Sentenced Women (HMPPS)
BeyondTrauma Academy CIC is currently delivering work in partnership with HMPPS as part of a funded project focused on improving support for sentenced women.
This work centres on co-designing trauma-informed approaches by directly engaging women with lived experience of custody and the criminal justice system.
Through structured focus groups and facilitated sessions, we are:
These insights are being translated into:
This work contributes to wider efforts to improve outcomes for women in custody by ensuring their voices directly inform how services are designed and delivered.
Trauma Recovery & Self-Advocacy Support for Women
Alongside systems work, we deliver trauma-informed programmes directly to women impacted by the criminal justice system, both in custody and in the community.
Our programmes are designed to:
Through the BeyondTrauma Voice, Rights & Self-Advocacy Model, we also support women to:
This approach supports long-term empowerment and independence, not just short-term support.
Our work supports women to stabilise, rebuild confidence, and engage more effectively with services, while also strengthening how systems respond to trauma.
Whether you are seeking support or looking to partner with us, this work is about creating safer, more effective systems and stronger pathways for women to heal and move forward.
This work forms part of our wider mission to improve responses to trauma across systems — including healthcare, social care, education, and criminal justice.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
ACCPH Accredited • 6 CPD Points
A practical and engaging exploration of trauma, its impact on the brain, body and behaviour, and how professionals can create safer, more effective and compassionate environments for people affected by adversity and trauma.
Delivered by Mayameen Meftahi BEM, Founder and Lead Trauma Specialist at BeyondTrauma Academy CIC and creator of the award-winning BeyondTrauma™ Recovery Programme, this training brings together professional knowledge, lived experience and survivor-informed insight to provide a deeper understanding of trauma and recovery.
Combining lived experience with professional practice, Mayameen offers insight into the realities of trauma, the responses that can sit beneath behaviour and the practical approaches that can support people more effectively.
This training moves beyond theory, helping professionals understand the real-life impact of trauma and how to embed trauma-informed principles into everyday practice.
Understanding Trauma
Develop a clearer understanding of trauma, adversity and the ways traumatic experiences can continue to influence thoughts, emotions, behaviour, relationships and everyday functioning.
The Brain, Body & Survival Response
Explore what happens when the brain and body perceive threat, including the role of adrenaline and survival responses, and why these responses can continue even when immediate danger has passed.
Triggers & Trauma Responses
Understand how obvious and less obvious triggers can activate trauma responses and how these may present through anxiety, avoidance, anger, withdrawal, emotional numbing or other behaviours.
Looking Beneath Behaviour
Explore how behaviours that can appear challenging, disengaged or difficult may make greater sense when viewed through a trauma-informed lens — helping professionals move away from judgement and towards understanding.
Trauma-Informed Communication
Consider the impact of language, professional interactions, trust, choice, boundaries and communication on someone who has experienced trauma.
Creating Safer Professional Practice
Explore practical ways professionals and organisations can reduce the risk of further distress, promote emotional and psychological safety and embed trauma-informed principles into everyday interactions and environments.
From Understanding To Application
Apply the learning to real-world professional practice and consider what can be done differently within your own role, team or organisation.
This training is suitable for professionals and teams working with children, young people or adults who may have experienced trauma, adversity, abuse or violence.
It can support work across:
Education • Health & Social Care • Criminal Justice • VAWG & Survivor Services • Community & Voluntary Organisations • Frontline & Support Services
No previous specialist trauma training is required.
3 Hours • Half Day • Full Day
Training can be commissioned for organisations and professional teams through live online or face-to-face delivery.
Longer formats provide additional space for discussion, reflection, practical application and exploration of trauma-informed practice within the organisation’s own setting.
ACCPH Accredited • 6 CPD Points
Participants completing the accredited training receive certification recognising their continuing professional development.
Give your team the knowledge and practical understanding to look beyond behaviour, recognise trauma responses and respond with greater awareness, compassion and confidence.
