About us
Welcome to Community Trauma UK.
I’m Helen George, founding director of Community Trauma UK and host of the Community Trauma Conference. As a Psychotherapist specialising in trauma, I’m dedicated to supporting individuals and communities navigating the impact of psychological trauma.
Community Trauma UK is a not-for-profit intersectional organisation dedicated to addressing trauma within Black communities. Alongside my individual psychotherapy practice, this work embraces community-focused healing and collective growth, recognising that trauma impacts both individuals and communities.
Our Journey
Our story began in 2018, under the name BME Voices Talk Mental Health. We created a space for Black and Minority Ethnic mental health professionals to come together, share knowledge, challenge dominant narratives, and celebrate diversity in thought and practice.
In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd and the global response through the Black Lives Matter movement, we recognised the need for change. We moved away from the term “BME” – acknowledging its limitations – and rebranded as Community Trauma Conference UK, placing community and trauma at the centre of our work.
Now, in 2026, we continue to grow and evolve. As Community Trauma UK, we are an intersectional organisation committed to healing in Black communities. Our vision now reaches beyond conferences, as we deepen our commitment to community-centred healing
Our Impact
Since 2018, we have hosted five national conferences, bringing together hundreds of attendees, including leading mental health practitioners, pioneering researchers, influential organisations, and sponsors. These gatherings have helped build a vibrant, committed community working toward trauma-informed practice and collective healing.
Inspired by our 2022 and 2023 conferences, two revolutionary books have also been published by PCCS Books, showcasing powerful contributions from leading authors and practitioners transforming trauma therapy for Black men and women:
- Black Women, Trauma and Therapy: Revolutionising Therapeutic Thought and Practice (June 2025)
- Black Men, Trauma and Therapy: Revolutionising Therapeutic Thought and Practice (Spring 2026) – co-edited with Dr. Dwight Turner
The Next Chapter
As we relaunch in 2026, we are deepening our work and expanding our reach. Our new initiatives extend beyond conferences, shaping broader community-focused healing and collective growth.
What we do
Community Trauma is the collective emotional, psychological, and social harm experienced by people connected through identity, history, or place. In Black communities, it reflects generations of anti-Black racism and intergenerational trauma. It is further shaped by systemic and institutional discrimination, community grief and loss, injustice, and long-standing inequities and disparities.
Healing is complex because Community Trauma in Black communities is not only historical — it is ongoing. This requires approaches that strengthen individual resilience while building community-centred healing practices and resistance.
Our Work
- Events & Conferences: Connecting practitioners, researchers, and community members to bring together lived experience and collective insight
- Organisational Support: Helping organisations create community-centred healing spaces
- Research: Sharing evidence-based, community-centred healing approaches and celebrating outstanding research contributions
- Resources: Compiling resource directories to help Black communities and other marginalised groups access the community-centred support they need
Our Commitment to Black Communities
We centre Black voices, experiences and build strong networks of support. Together, we work toward a future where Black communities can heal, flourish, and thrive for generations to come.