Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Awareness Training
What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that occur during childhood. These experiences can include abuse, neglect, or growing up in a household affected by issues such as domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse, or parental separation.
Research has shown that ACEs can have a significant impact on a person’s physical health, mental wellbeing, and life opportunities. ACE Awareness Training helps professionals understand these impacts and respond in supportive, trauma-informed ways.
Why ACE Awareness Matters
Early childhood experiences shape how the brain develops and how people respond to stress throughout their lives.
People who have experienced multiple ACEs are statistically more likely to experience:
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Anxiety and depression
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Substance misuse
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Chronic health conditions
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Difficulties with relationships
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Educational or employment challenges
ACE Awareness Training helps organisations recognise the effects of trauma and build services that are more compassionate, effective, and responsive.
What You Will Learn in ACE Awareness Training
Our training introduces the key concepts behind Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma-informed practice.
Participants will learn:
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What Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are
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The research linking ACEs to health and social outcomes
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How trauma affects brain development and stress responses
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The concept of toxic stress
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Protective factors and resilience
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How to apply trauma-informed approaches in professional settings
The training emphasises understanding behaviour through a trauma lens and creating environments that support recovery and resilience.
Who ACE Awareness Training Is For
ACE Awareness Training is relevant for professionals who support people in health, education, social care, and community services.
It is particularly useful for:
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Healthcare professionals
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Teachers and education staff
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Social workers and support workers
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Advocacy organisations
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Community and voluntary sector staff
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Criminal justice and housing services
Any organisation working with vulnerable or marginalised groups can benefit from understanding the impact of childhood trauma.
Trauma-Informed Practice
A key focus of ACE Awareness Training is developing trauma-informed services.
Trauma-informed practice recognises that difficult behaviour or distress may be rooted in past experiences of trauma. Instead of asking “What is wrong with this person?”, professionals learn to ask “What may have happened to this person?”
This shift helps organisations:
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reduce re-traumatisation
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build trust with service users
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improve engagement and outcomes
Benefits of ACE Awareness Training
Organisations that invest in ACE awareness often report:
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improved understanding of behaviour
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more compassionate service delivery
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better communication with service users
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increased staff confidence when supporting people affected by trauma
By recognising the impact of childhood adversity, services can play an important role in promoting resilience and recovery.
Book ACE Awareness Training
Our ACE Awareness Training can be delivered to organisations, teams, or community groups. Sessions can be adapted to different sectors and professional roles.
To find out more about Adverse Childhood Experiences training, or to discuss training for your organisation, please contact us.
Cost
1 day bespoke in-house training starts at £850 for up to 12 participants.
One to one online training – £295
1 day online training for up to 12 participants £600
The Trainer
The trainer Dorothy C Le Grove PG Cert(Hyp) PG Cert(WHW) is fully accredited by Rock Pool Life to deliver the Aces Recovery Toolkit programme.