Matt Edge

I completed my PhD from Cambridge in 2006 on the relationship between individual liberty and participatory democracy in Athenian democratic political thought. This was the beginning of a long (and somewhat strange) journey to becoming a social worker, not an obvious leap I know! I always enjoyed working with people, and the more I practiced social work, and understood what it was about, the closer I have got to understanding the link between theory and front-line work. I qualified as a social worker in 2010, but I have been doing therapeutic work with children and families (while training) since 2007, on a range of issues. I have completed further training in sensorimotor therapy, EMDR and, more generically, therapeutic work with children. I have developed a particular interest and specialism in trauma, since my work (and the people I have worked with) has taught me that trauma is both everywhere and neglected, and is a huge barrier to social justice. With this in mind, I have been involved in setting up, in 2014, a not-for-profit organisation in Cambridge, the Cambridge Acorn Project, which seeks to support children and families under stress and trauma. Most excitingly, we are currently developing a new model which (we think) unites ideas from political theory and social work in an interesting way, based around the concept of freedom, physical and emotional. This has been developed directly out of ideas published in my recent book. Other than that, I am passionate about football (soccer), writing and cooking. I am married and have a young son, Oscar, who keeps us busy (and very happy).