About Me
Dawn Velody
I design and deliver training on vicarious trauma, safeguarding, domestic abuse and emotional resilience for organisations working in demanding and high-pressure environments.
Over the years, I’ve worked with law firms, barristers chambers, charities, public bodies and national organisations whose staff regularly deal with trauma, distress and emotionally difficult material.
My background includes senior work with Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity, where I worked with major employers, government departments and organisations connected to the Heads Together initiative to improve staff wellbeing and resilience.
I later worked with Tender, the domestic abuse prevention charity, helping develop and deliver training programmes focused on domestic abuse, safeguarding and prevention work across the UK.
Alongside my professional work, I’ve spent many years involved in children's services working closely with vulnerable children and families in a range of support roles.
My experience has ranged from legal and safeguarding environments to high-profile public-facing work, including projects connected to the music and entertainment industries.
Much of my work now focuses on helping professionals better understand the cumulative impact of working close to trauma and distress — particularly in legal, safeguarding and frontline environments where people are often expected to absorb difficult material without acknowledging its effect on themselves.
My training is practical, direct and grounded in real working environments. The aim is never simply to raise awareness, but to give people useful ways of recognising and managing the emotional impact of demanding work.
Associates and advisors
As a freelance consultant and trainer, I am able to offer cost-effective bespoke training to a wide range of organisations. I also work with a team of talented and diverse associates on larger-scale projects, or those that would benefit from specialist input.
Doireann Larkin
I am the Programme Convenor of the MA in Understanding Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse at Goldsmiths University. I have over 15 years' experience working with the voluntary sector to address domestic and sexual abuse on an individual and organisational policy level, helping to build strategies and interventions that reduce or respond to violence.
I currently provide consultancy services, supporting organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors to develop training and intervention programmes which explore topics including: coercive control, harassment and bullying, sexual misconduct, supporting young people to form healthy relationships and creating workplace DV policies. I also work to build and implement evaluation frameworks for this work to measure and disseminate impact.
Vaijayanti Drumm
Vaijayanti has worked in mental health, social care and education for over 25 years. She started her career in forensic psychiatry working in a medium secure unit in London. She has worked with varied client groups including adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions, challenging behaviours, as well as those with severe and enduring mental health issues. She was employed as a Mental Health Social Worker for eight years before developing the post of Mental Health Coordinator for her local further education College.
Trained in cognitive behavioural therapy and behavioural family therapy, she has a teaching qualification as well has her degree in psychology. She now uses her education and experience to train other professionals.