Issue four – Winter 2025
Welcome to our newsletter, which is aimed at everyone who has been on Next Step Cards training.
If there is anything you would like to see included in the newsletter, of if you have any queries at all,
please just let Jenny know by emailing: cwp.
Reflective Spaces – new date due to popular demand!
Our discussions included:
- Techniques for using the Cards
- Common challenges
- Shared practical strategies
- Impact of the Cards
- Integration of the Cards with other methods
Our next date is Wednesday 14 January 2026 from 12pm until 1pm, with further dates coming soon. Book a place here.
2025 Better Practice event
From your feedback, it seems you enjoyed it as much as we did. The event was rated 98% overall, which we’re absolutely delighted about.
We were lucky to have two excellent prestigious guest speakers, Mitch Hutchcraft and Duncan Law, and their presentations (together with others) are now available to watch back on our website.
We also heard your requests loud and clear, and Duncan Law has kindly added a section about research evidence on goal based outcomes to his handout, which is now also available to download.
The Choice Card – Values in Action
At the Better Practice event, we used The Choice Card to help practitioners connect values with practical next steps. The activity invited people to identify what matters most, notice where those values already show up, and picture what life might look like if they lived them a little more. Everyone then chose one small, realistic action they could take in the coming week — a simple way to turn values into movement, even when difficult feelings arise. Key reminders from the session:
- We can act on our values without waiting for feelings to change.
- Building on what’s already working creates momentum.
- Small, values-based steps add up to meaningful change.
A brief exercise — but one that really brought the Choice Card to life.
We asked what was one thing that you’ve learnt from the event:
“Empowerment and the importance of reflection”
“That listening is very effective and you can outline goals from the stories the young person tells”
“The feeling of empowerment, that it’s OK to make small steps”
“I have learnt that I shouldn’t put my own boundaries in and to be 'scared' of using the cards in different ways”
And what did you find most enjoyable/useful:
“Connecting with like-minded people. I wish I worked with them! Being inspired by Mitch and feeling the intellect from Duncan which makes my brain come alive. The practical activities were really useful. I would love to experience more of these. It really helps to feel how the children must feel. It is harder than you realise.”
“All of the speakers and the mix of practice as well”
Do you work for CWP? Would you like to be a Next Step Card trainer?
“I have been part of the Next Step Cards training team for a number of years and really enjoy delivering the training. The training is always warmly received and is a positive interaction with our partner colleagues.
“The commitment, at most, is about three days across the year. The training is scripted and you always deliver with another experienced colleague so there is little prep. Jenny is amazing at setting up the training and dealing with all of the admin so all I need to do is get to the venue!
“I would really recommend joining the training team especially if you are looking to get training experience and demonstrate wider skills for your CV."
Sophie Holt, MHST and CYPMHS Hub Clinical Lead - Cheshire
We are looking for trainers from Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Wirral. Please email for further details, contact Jenny at cwp.
Next Step refresher training sessions
If you’d like to revisit the full experience, we’re offering half-price places (£75) for previously trained practitioners on any of the upcoming training dates. Please email cwp.