Helen Bonnick, a pioneering voice in the field of child-to-parent abuse and founder of Holes in the Wall has been awarded an MBE in the 2025 King’s New Year Honours for her outstanding services to families
This recognition marks a significant milestone in her decades-long commitment to raising awareness, supporting affected families, and shaping professional responses to this often-overlooked issue.
Helen is widely known for her work as a social worker, researcher, and advocate. This website, Holes in the Wall, has become an international hub for resources, research, and community support around child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse (CAPVA). Through this platform, she has helped countless families and professionals better understand and respond to the complexities of these behaviours.
In addition to her independent work, Helen serves as the patron of Capa First Response, a community interest company dedicated to supporting families experiencing child-to-parent violence. Her involvement has brought invaluable expertise and visibility to the organisation, helping it grow and reach more families in need.
Reflecting on her award, Helen shares:
“It was an incredible day and a privilege to be able to represent all those working in this field. I was most impressed with the briefing that Princess Anne had been given, allowing some time for a real conversation with her about the issue of blame particularly, as well as the sad fact that families around the whole world seem to suffer similar harm. My family have supported me in this work in countless ways over the last 20 years and so it was lovely that they could be there too.”
Helen’s recognition with an MBE not only honours her personal dedication but also shines a light on the broader issue of CAPVA, encouraging continued dialogue, research, and support for affected families.
HOLES IN THE WALL 