Episode 4

How Early Relationships Shape Every Child’s Future

In this fourth episode of Policy in Play, Dominic Richardson and Edda Olsson explore the link between child protection, well-being, and trauma prevention with global advocate Benjamin Perks. Benjamin unpacks the science of early childhood development, the power of attachment, and evidence-based policies that can prevent trauma at scale. 

The discussion highlights how parenting programmes, universal parental leave, and trauma-informed education can lay the groundwork for a society where every child thrives. 

Meet our guest

Picture of Benjamin Perks

Benjamin Perks

Benjamin Perks works for the United Nations in New York, campaigning on human rights and child development. A Senior Fellow at the Jubilee Centre at the University of Birmingham and an associate member of the Department of Social Policy and Innovation at the University of Oxford, he is a leading global advocate for child protection and development.

Described as ‘visionary’ by both Bessel van der Kolk and Bruce Perry, Ben’s book Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment and the Science of Prevention is out now.

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