​ACEs are recurrent, stressful experiences occurring in childhood that affect a child either directly (e.g. child abuse and neglect) or indirectly through the environment in which they live (e.g. exposure to domestic abuse, parental mental illness, substance misuse or incarceration). 

The global evidence now shows that ACEs impact neurological, immunological and endocrine development, increasing stress on the body and the child's’ vulnerability to health‐harming behaviours, leading to increased risk of poor health outcomes in adulthood. They create psychological contexts that compromise the adoption of healthy values and behaviours and in later life can predispose us to normalise and replicate the dysfunction that we have experienced early in life. The most important thing any community can do for its own long-term wellbeing is to prevent the occurrence of ACES.

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ACEs are the single biggest predictor of later aggression, depression, criminal behaviour, ill health and poor levels of achievement.  ​​Click here to see the Impact of ACEs
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The evidence shows us that the single most important thing to build resilience and prevent ACES is for children to experience stable, nurturing and positive relationships