UCL experts help shape the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge - In launching The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, has paid tribute to the "support, knowledge and expertise" provided by two UCL academics. Professors Peter Fonagy OBE and Eamon McCrory (both UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), have been working with the Duchess on the importance of early childhood for a number of years, and are both members of The Royal Foundation's Early Years Steering Group. Today, the Duchess formally launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood,  which will drive both awareness and action on the positive impact the early years has on individuals and communities. The announcement follows 10 years of work by The Duchess, in which she has looked at how difficult experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of key social challenges such as poor mental health, family breakdown, addiction and homelessness. To coincide with the launch, the Centre also published its first report, Big Change Starts Small , which brings together leading sector research and sets out recommendations on how all aspects of society can contribute positively and make a difference on this important issue. Both Professors Fonagy and McCrory supported in writing the report and were invited by the Duchess to attend a roundtable, to mark its publication, held at the London School of Economics. Writing in the foreword of the report, The Duchess of Cambridge says: "Our first five years lay important foundations for our future selves.