Not Robbie Williams but Martin Williams from the University of Dundee is hoping to improve life for children this weekend at a conference dedicated to their well being and long term happiness.
Senior lecturer in education at the University of Dundee, Martin's mission statement for the conference in Dundee is "We will communicate with children and young people with new respect and ensure their dignity and place in the world as human beings in the process of becoming effective adults".
To this end, the Education department at the University of Dundeeis hosting a conference this weekend exploring ways to give children a voice, dignity and a valued place in society as they grow up.
Centred around five themes: drama and movement; art, story and music; focus on children and young people; focus on families; cognitive, learning and school, the conference has been welcomed as the first of its kind and a vital development by Baron Peter Slade, a well known English pioneer in of theatre for children.
Baron Slade was the very first person to speak on dramatherapy at the BMA and in 1964 was chosen to chair the creative drama section of the first international Children's Theatre Conference in London. He has written to Martin Williams to thank him for the University of Dundee's initiative in bringing these five themes together in the interests of children.
A series of experts in education, social work, counselling, play and communication will offer interactive workshops on working with children therapeutically to make them confident, happy and self-aware.
As well as sessions on the role of storytelling and drama in children's lives, Foxtrot theatre company will present an interactive performance of 'Only Joking' a play designed to help children cope with bullying allowing them to interact with and redirect the story.
Difficult situations in children's lives will also be addressed by Paul Okroj who will explore the effects of separation and divorce on young people and how counselling can help.
Genevieve Smyth, School Project Manager for The Place to Be a professional mental health service in primary education in Edinburgh will explain how her project helps children to face difficulties such as separation and loss, domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse and long term family illness or death. The lecture will demonstrate how The Place to Be's specialist intervention might help seven year old John though his direct work over a school year with a state registered arts therapist. Here, a solution focussed model of brief therapy is applied to child centred play in order to establish and develop a meaningful, supportive and helpful therapeutic relationship.
Over 150 delegates will attend this weekend's conference at the University of Dundee's West Park Conference Centre running from 5th - 7th September.
Co-organiser Elinor Vettraino, Lecturer in Expressive Arts, hopes that this conference will stimulate enough interest so that the University, together with appropriate partners in the field can develop a diploma in working therapeutically with children.
Contact Martin Williams 01382 464482
By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910 j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk