Who We Are

Brenda Meldrum B.Sc., M.Phil., LLAM, R.Pl.Th., R.D.Th

Three themes have motivated me for the whole of my working life, which has mostly been concerned with children and young people.

First is my desire to give children a voice to express their needs, emotional states and creativity. Children have a raw deal and there is little justice in the way they are treated in our society; helping them to find their voices and to make choices has been my primary motivation.

Second, I train other people to support children. I train women and a some men, many of whom have failed in the school system and work in jobs low in our hierarchy of social standing. For them, to succeed on a training course where they have looked at themselves and their own strengths and qualities as well as learning skills, gives them a huge boost in their self-esteem and sometimes changes their lives. In turn, these insights and developments help the children they work with.

Third, I hold a passionate belief in the therapeutic value of the creative arts - particularly theatre and poetry - as a medium of expression of our humanity. Working through play, art, drama and narrative with children and with adults allows them to explore endless possibilities, gives them the opportunity to try out different roles and find alternative resolutions to their stories of self.

Educated at the London School of Economics, I took my degrees in Social Psychology and then Developmental Psychology. I am a drama teacher and I ran a children’s theatre for 10 years.

After I trained as a Dramatherapist and Play Therapist, I joined The Place2Be, a charity offering emotional support to children in mainstream primary schools, where I developed their training programmes, and taught professionals to train volunteers and school staff in communicating with children.

Since January 2005, I have been setting up Playing Matters to carry on the work of training adults in effective communication with children.

Roger John Dennien MA, PGCE (Special Ed)

I have taught for forty years in a range of schools. During this time I have worked with a number of university departments in providing training for school staff at all levels.

I have been involved with the principles and issues regarding the welfare of young people and their learning for all of my professional life. As headteacher of a special school dealing with boys and girls who considered themselves to be failures, it was a key to the success of our work that we addressed their mental well-being as the first priority. All staff, throughout the school, knew that this was their shared responsibility. Happy children enjoy learning.

At The Place2Be, where I was Chairman of the Advisory Board, then a Trustee and finally Head of School Operations, I ensured that the work of all staff was seen to be systemic, so that the school itself became a mentally healthy community within which the children could flourish. The talents and skills of counsellors and trainers were directed towards supporting the emotional well-being of children and all staff working with them.

I have been a Registered Ofsted Inspector and continue to work as an External Adviser for the appraisal of Headteachers by school governors.

I am currently on the Advisory Panel for Counselling for Effective Learning, which is working in independent schools to provide a range of services for staff and pupils.