THREAD. Today marks an anniversary in Scotland’s ACES journey. Two years ago right now (12.30pm) people were gathering for the start of a 2-day event to hear from @DrBurkeHarris how an understandng of trauma cd bring cultural transformation. via @YouTube

2. The interview between @DrBurkeHarris & @garywrobinson 2 years ago today gave us generous insights into her commitment to hope & her determination to reduce suffering for children.

3. We were welcomed by @karynmccluskey , CEO of @ComJusScot , who was one of the early voices to bring an awareness of ACES to Scotland, in her leadership of @vruscotland in 2005.

4. We were already missing @HendryTina , who was one of Scotland’s original ACES campaigners, and who was meant to be on the platform. Sadly, she had just received the cancer diagnosis that would take her from us. ( @karynmccluskey wrote this obituary) https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/18245262.obituary-tina-hendry-gave-others-skills-change-trajectory-childrens-lives/

5. We heard frm Sir @HarryBurns16 , who as Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, had spent nearly a decade tellng audiences of ACES & of the “chemical structure of cuddles”. He never ceases emphasising t links between trauma, poverty & bufferng relationships.

6. The event that gave birth to t idea of an “ACE Aware Nation” here in Scotland wd never hv happend without t boost in 2017 of @KPJRFilms documentry @DocResilience, in which so many Scots first “met” @DrBurkeHarris. @DartmouthFilms made that tour possble.

7. Here’s the video to remind everyone all the Scottish communities that took part in that 2017 @DocResilience Tour. The interest in talking about trauma was massive! Many people just had no idea childhood suffering leaves a lasting biological impact.

8. We know thr is now a debate abt ACES takng place amongst across t U.K. We welcome that debate. It means we are facing up to childhood sufferng in a way we weren’t really doing before, as a nation. We hv a long way to go. But today we are pausing to celebrate changes since 2018

9. In fact, to further those national grassroots conversations, we have a SURPRISE planned that we will announce tomorrow (26 Sep), on the anniv of 2500 coming together to think about how Scotland’s growing awareness of trauma could help us become an ACE Aware Nation.

10. Here is what 2000+ ppl in a room looks like!! We are GRATEFUL to every single person & organisatn who has chosen to get curious abt childhood pain, for it takes courage. We cannot create t world our childrn wish for without grown ups brave enough to take ths emotional journey

11/end. We are going to end ths thread with ths image of t conference bags. It is a quote frm @DrBurkeHarris & it has become our motto. “BELIEVING IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF COMPASSION”. (Yes, caps - as it is a belief worth shouting about.) Thank you everyone for your support