Impact Review 2024-25: Adversity and Trauma HIT

The Adversity and Trauma Health Integration Team (HIT) works to apply what has been learned from research and best practice around trauma and difficult life experiences to improve how services are designed and delivered. The goal is to help people live better lives and reduce health and social inequalities. Here are some key updates from 2024–25.

  • 19th July 2025

New leadership

Two new co-directors have joined the team: Dr Natalia Lewis from the Centre for Academic Primary Care and Dr Michelle Farr from NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West. Both are based at the University of Bristol.

Training on trauma-informed practice

The HIT is supporting the charity Second Step to run training sessions on trauma-informed practice. These sessions are for researchers, VCSE organisations and public contributors to better support research in a trauma informed way, by understanding the impact trauma has on those affected in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). The training was originally made possible by a grant from NHS Charities Together and is now supported by the BNSSG Integrated Care Board.

The first session of the new series took place in April 2025, with 15 participants who gave very positive feedback. More sessions are planned for later in 2025 and into 2026. Two people with personal experience of trauma helped deliver the training.

Working together across the system

Starting in April 2025, the Trauma-Informed Systems Programme will be officially included in the local health system’s Joint Forward Plan. This shows a growing commitment to making trauma-informed approaches a key part of how services are run as part of system working  across the region.

Funding enabled in 2024-25

The Adversity and Trauma HIT helped secure £39,925 in 2024-25 for projects to generate research evidence, improve outcomes and address health inequalities.