In recent years, tackling Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and fostering ‘resilience’ has become a central dimension of early years, education, youth and family policy. Dr Emma Davidson and other researchers associated with the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR), University of Edinburgh, have been interested in the rising ACEs agenda and, in particular, its prominence in Scottish social policy.

We have sought to open a reflective space to discuss why this social policy has proved so popular to date, and the possible consequence its populartity might have in theory, policy and practice.

How, for example, are ACEs shaping how we think about poverty and social inequality? What moral judgements are made by the ACE agenda, and how might it obscure issues of gender, race and class? How are ACEs taking children’s rights into account? How is the associated buzzword ‘resilience’ being operationalised in a UK context, and how is this different to understandings in the Majority World?

Since December 2017 we have undertaken a range of activities, with the aim of giving students, staff, researchers, policy makers and practitioners a critical space to reflect and debate these, and other questions. One such event was funded by the Institute for Academic Development (IAD). Supported by Dr Ruth Edmonds, this workshop used design led techniques to critically develop ACE and resilience practice.

This site documents these activities, providing links to blogs, seminar slides and presentations, as well as announcements about future seminars. To be notified of new blogs and forthcoming events, please join the mailing list.

Team members

Dr Emma Davidson, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Dr Amy Chandler, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Dr Laura Wright, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships

Dr Ruth Edmonds, Director of the UK-based firm Keep Your Shoes Dirty

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