Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Network (ACE)

Welcome

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Network was established in 2017 by Sarah Martin-Denham, Associate Professor of Care and Education, Faculty of Education and Society. Find out more about Sarah's research.

#SeeMe Increasing the visibility of children excluded from school

#SeeMeNorthEast 'Pull up a chair and listen' funded by Research England's Policy Support Fund

Children and young people (CYP) excluded from school are often invisible, with negative representation in the media. #SeeMe is a pilot creative arts ‘voice’ project with over 200 CYP, 5-16 years, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) excluded from school in NE England. The purpose of the project is to recognise and champion the abilities of those excluded from school.  

The project is in two parts. The first part of the project involved 10 CYP coming to the University of Sunderland to work with Cap a Pie, a performing arts company, and Sarah to express through the arts how they see the world and how the world sees them. Many of their works can be seen at #SeeMeNorthEast on Twitter and Instagram.  

The second part of the project involved over 200 CYP across eight alternative provision and pupil referral units across the North East of England. Four artists – Frank Styles, Jo Howell, Hannah Gawne, and Angela Sandwith provided inspiring video workshops to show their art medium and what brings them joy. Sarah, delivered packs of resources to the schools to support the CYP in creating their own artworks with the theme of ‘joy’. The works are being collected w/b 24 March and will be professionally photographed at the University of Sunderland.  

The collection of works was exhibited at the National Glass Centre from 25 April to 2 May 2022 as part of the Vinca Peterson exhibition.  

Please support #SeeMeNorthEast in placing these CYP on centre stage. They deserve nothing less.