AVIGuk links and network
VIG has been highlighted for use by organisations and/or professionals from For Baby's Sake, CASCADE (Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre), Parent Infant Foundation (PIF), Association of Infant Mental Health (AiMH), Togetherness, The Royal Foundation, NSPCC, Maternal Mental Health Alliance, AIT Netherlands, Best Start in Life - Family Hubs, and many more.
VIG principles are also being used as part of projects like the Welsh B.E.A.R.s initiative (see their poster here), and our Joint CEO Hilary Kennedy, is part of the First 1001 Days Movement.
New VIG and VERP practitioners are being trained all the time - with national and international training projects alike. For example, nationally VIG training as part of the Government's Best Start in Life project. With international training including China, Iceland, Italy, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, and many more countries; and inspiring international projects such as the Tanzanian project where AVIGuk Accredited Supervisors and Trainers worked with the charity Railway Children Africa - training, supervising and building capacity, so that local family workers can use VIG to improve outcomes for vulnerable young people in Tanzania.
Notably, wherever VIG training occurs for professionals - the feedback is overwhelming positive regarding the impact on their clients, but also for themselves as practitioners.
AVIGuk Research and Engagement Lead, Oonagh, went to a free webinar from The Royal Foundation's Centre For Early Childhood. It was all about 'The Explainer Series' - A series of animated films explaining brain development in early childhood, and how interactions between babies, young children and caring adults can make a positive difference to their social and emotional development. These fabulous videos include strengths-based stories. These stories don't give 'advice' or 'instructions' so they really fit well with a VIG model of working, as does their ‘flexiblity’ – not specific to any specific adult or role.
They're based on the idea that "the science says when grown ups do these things, it really helps". The animations are great and really accessible to all. For Baby’s Sake - one of their partners and Flying Start use the vidoes in their parenting programmes and with individual support. Home start are using these films in their training of volunteers – helps everyone get shared understanding and shared language! Find out more here.