New FREE online course - Words Matter: How to Communicate with Children so they Thrive
New FREE online course - Words Matter: How to Communicate with Children so they Thrive
On 8 September 2026, Words Matter hosted an important expert-led discussion at the House of Commons exploring why preventing childhood verbal abuse in education must become a central part of the Government’s education and safeguarding strategy, particularly at a time when verbal abuse is now specifically recognised in the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
Chaired by Lord Jim Knight and sponsored by Jess Asato MP, the event brought together leaders in education, research and safeguarding to present new findings on teacher-student communication, examine the latest evidence on lasting impact of verbal abuse, and hear testimony from a young person with lived experience.
Speakers included:
Leora Cruddas CBE – Founding CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts, the national organisation for schools trusts in England. She has advised successive governments and sits on several DfE advisory and partnership bodies. She also serves on the advisory board of Evidence Based Education and spent many years in local government.
Professor Vivian Hill – Programme Director of the UCL Institute of Education Doctorate in Child, Adolescent and Educational Psychology and twice Chair of the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Division of Educational and Child Psychology.
Professor Karen Hughes – Professor of Public Health at Public Health Wales, Bangor University and public advisor to WHO. Leading researcher on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and author of the recent landmark study with 20,000 adults revealing childhood verbal abuse can be as harmful as physical abuse to adult mental wellbeing.
Delyth Lynch – Director of Safeguarding at Wellington College; Executive Board of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA); and author of Beyond Compliance: The DSL’s guide to creating a school-wide culture of safeguarding.
Pete Warmby – Former teacher, autistic and ADHD advocate, and author of several books, including the forthcoming Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive, launching in September.
Paddy Crump – A mental health and digital rights campaigner dedicated to turning lived experience into meaningful systemic change. Member of Words Matter Youth Advisory Board.
Jessica Bondy – Founder of Words Matter
On 28 April 2025, Words Matter hosted a crucial discussion at the House of Commons about why preventing childhood verbal abuse by adults should be central to the government’s aim of raising the healthiest generation of children in history.
Chaired by Sharon Hodgson MP, the event focused on recent evidence highlighting the serious and lasting effects of verbal abuse – experienced by 2 in 5 children (41%) – which significantly impacts both individuals and wider society.
Speakers included:
Professor Peter Fonagy – Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL and a government advisor.
Professor Eamon McCrory – CEO of Anna Freud and Head of Neuroscience and Developmental Psychopathology at UCL.
Professor Karen Hughes – Professor of Public Health at Public Health Wales, Bangor University and public advisor to WHO.
Professor Andrea Danese – Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King’s College London, and General Secretary of the European Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Jessica Bondy – Founder of Words Matter
On 11 April 2024, Words Matter hosted the first international event on childhood verbal abuse with the World Health Organization (WHO) and University College London’s (UCL) Division of Psychology and Language Sciences.
The conference brought together presentations from global experts in the study of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), neuroscience, developmental psychology, and public health to elucidate and promote discussions on unifying definitions, impact, societal cost burden, and prevention.
We are delighted to share with you the Summary report for Words Matter: Impact and Prevention of Childhood Verbal Abuse, prepared by Prathit Singh, Child Rights Consultant and student at Geneva Graduate Institute.
The report provides an excellent overview of everything that was shared during this momentous day. It includes a summary of all talks by Professor Peter Fonagy, Dr Manasi Kumar, Jessica Bondy, Professor Shanta Dube, Professor Mark Bellis, Maria Aarts, Professor Xiangming Fang, Professor Catherine Maternowska, Jonathan Kifunda, Dr Martin Teicher, and finally Dr Berit Kieselbach and Dr Alexander Butchart.
Head of the Division of
Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London,
Chief Executive of the Anna Freud, UK
and Words Matter Advisory Board member
Research Professor at the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Welcome, introductions and event overview
Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London, Chief Executive of the Anna Freud, UK
Words Matter — The founder’s story
Jessica Bondy, Founder Words Matter, UK
Childhood verbal abuse as a maltreatment subtype: Exploring the unification of definitions and measures and future implications
Professor Shanta R. Dube, Ph.D., MPH, Professor and Director, Master of Public Health Program, Department of Public Health in the Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, US
Prevalence and impact of verbal abuse and other forms of childhood adversity
Professor Mark Bellis, Director of Research, and Innovation at Liverpool John Moores University and founder of WHO Collaborating Centre in Violence Prevention
The Golden Gift — Developmental support to identify, activate and develop skills that contribute to constructive interaction
Maria Aarts, Director and Founder of Marte Meo International, Eindhoven
Afternoon welcome and overview
Dr Manasi Kumar, Research Professor at the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Costs of inaction against childhood verbal abuse: Implications for society and the economy
Professor Xiangming Fang, Professor & Director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at China Agricultural University and the School of Public Health at Georgia State University
Applying the Socio-Ecological Framework: Using data and evidence in practice and policymaking
Professor Catherine Maternowska, Honorary Professor of Violence Prevention for Young People, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, UK and Jonathan Kifunda, Founder and Executive Director, Thubutu Africa Initiatives.
The neurobiological consequences of childhood verbal abuse
Dr Martin Teicher, Ph.D., MD, Director of the Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program at McLean Hospital and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Moving from research to practice
Dr Alexander Butchart, Unit Head, and Dr Berit Kieselbach, Technical Officer, Violence Prevention Unit, Social Determinants of Health Department, World Health Organization
Founder of Words Matter
Professor and Director, Master of Public Health Program, Department of Public Health in the Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, US
Director of Research, and Innovation at
Liverpool John Moores University and founder of WHO Collaborating Centre in Violence Prevention
Director and Founder of
Marte Meo International, Eindhoven
Professor & Director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at China Agricultural University and the School of Public Health at Georgia State University
Honorary Professor of Violence Prevention for Young People, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, UK
Founder and Executive Director, Thubutu Africa Initiatives, Tanzania
Director of the Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program at McLean Hospital and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Head of the Violence Prevention Unit, Social Determinants of Health Department, World Health Organization
Technical Officer, Violence Prevention Unit, Social Determinants of Health Department, World Health Organization
Sign up to our Words Matter mailing list to receive regular updates as our charity evolves, plus information about events, fundraising and other ways to get involved in our work. * indicates required
