Princess Kate launches new collaboration to 'build social, emotional skills'

Princess Kate has launched a new partnership for her early childhood work.

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has partnered with Scouts to launch a new Shaping Us blanket badge.

The news was announced on January 14 through a joint social media post from the Centre for Early Childhood and Scouts, alongside an image of the newly designed embroidered badge. “We’re excited to announce the Shaping Us blanket badge, created in partnership between Scouts and The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood,” the post read.

The statement explained the purpose behind the collaboration: “Based on the Shaping Us Framework, the badge recognises volunteers, parents, carers, and young people who are helping others build the social and emotional skills they need to thrive.”

The Shaping Us framework sits at the heart of the Princess of Wales’ early years campaign. It focuses on increasing understanding of how early childhood experiences influence mental health, emotional resilience, relationships, and behaviour later in life. Since its launch in 2021, the Centre for Early Childhood has increasingly prioritised partnerships that bring those principles beyond research and into real-world settings.

Scouts, one of the UK’s largest youth organisations, confirmed that the badge will be worn on Scout blankets and will recognise meaningful engagement with the Shaping Us framework.