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Princess of Wales Launches Anna Freud Partnership to Train UK Health Visitors on Early Childhood Mental Health

The effort shifts her early‑years campaign toward practical workforce development built on the Shaping Us evidence base.

Overview

  • The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood is partnering with Anna Freud and the Institute of Health Visiting to design and pilot training for frontline health visitors and early‑years staff.
  • The new programme will help professionals strengthen parent–infant relationships and children’s social and emotional development in the first five years, guided by the Shaping Us framework.
  • During the London visit, the Princess met families, caregivers, young people and specialists and took part in roundtables on building communities where strong relationships can thrive.
  • Anna Freud chief executive Professor Eamon McCrory said strong connections in childhood protect against later mental‑health problems and act as a springboard for lifelong wellbeing.
  • The launch follows her Nov. 19 Future Workforce Summit speech urging leaders to value “time and tenderness,” and the visit generated a widely shared photo of a baby gripping her finger.