Image credit: Maggie Stephenson / The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood
A new framework from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood highlights the importance of social and emotional skills from infancy to adulthood. BSAC is proud to support this work, recognising the vital role these skills play in shaping resilient, confident individuals.
The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has published the new Shaping Us Framework aimed at raising awareness of the crucial role social and emotional skills play in shaping our lives.
At BSAC, we see the power of these skills firsthand in diving, where confidence, teamwork and resilience are essential both underwater and on land. With our President, HRH The Prince of Wales, championing initiatives that enhance well-being, we’re proud to support The Princess of Wales’ mission to inspire action across society.
The Shaping Us Framework outlines thirty essential life skills that begin developing in early childhood and continue to grow throughout our lives. It aims to provide a universal way to talk about these skills, helping people across different sectors - from education to mental health - to work together more effectively.
The Princess of Wales highlighted the importance of this approach, saying:
To create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance… At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.
At BSAC, we recognise that these skills don’t just support early development—they are fundamental at every stage of life. Learning to dive is about much more than technical ability; it fosters self-belief, problem-solving, and connection with others. These same attributes are at the heart of The Royal Foundation’s work to build a happier, healthier society.
Mary Tetley, BSAC CEO, said:
As volunteers who give their time for others in their communities, BSAC members understand the power of positive experiences in shaping life skills. The Shaping Us Framework reinforces what we see in our community every day: social and emotional skills are key to personal growth and well-being. BSAC is proud to support this important initiative.
The first project based on the new framework will be launched by The Princess of Wales this week, and we look forward to seeing how this initiative drives positive change across society.
