Alder Hey Launches New Institute for Child Health and Wellbeing
A new era of hope and innovation was ushered in at Alder Hey as the Liverpool Institute for Child Health and Wellbeing was officially announced during a special visit from Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This groundbreaking partnership between Alder Hey and the University of Liverpool, and supported by Alder Hey Children’s Charity is set to transform the lives of children and young people, not just in Liverpool, but across the UK and beyond.
Liverpool faces a deep challenge – over 30% of its children are living in poverty, making it the third most deprived area in England. Such deprivation leads to significant health challenges, from mental health issues to obesity, and often results in poorer life outcomes for children. The new Institute, with a focus on research and innovation, will address these urgent needs, providing cutting-edge solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing children today.
During the event, Wes Streeting expressed his enthusiasm and optimism for the Institute’s potential. “I’m delighted to be here to open the new Liverpool Institute for Child Health and Wellbeing, which is undertaking cutting-edge research to improve the care of children and young people.
“Unfortunately, we know that across the country, too many children and young people are not receiving the care they deserve, and waits for services are too long. So, I’m grateful that Alder Hey are leading the way and investing in the research we need to turn things around.
“I want to ensure every child has a healthy and happy start to life, and improving children’s services is a vital part of our 10-year Health Plan that will build an NHS that is fit for the future.”
The Institute is built upon the strong and enduring collaboration between Alder Hey and the University of Liverpool, both renowned globally for their work in healthcare research and innovation. Together, they will draw on expertise across multiple disciplines, from artificial intelligence to climate science, and pioneer new approaches to tackle complex challenges facing children’s health.
Fiona Ashcroft, CEO of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, shared why the launch of this Institute is such a crucial milestone. “Children and young people are our future scientists, innovators, artists, medics and entrepreneurs. But we need to ensure they have the opportunities to thrive, by making them a political priority, and ending health inequality. That’s why we’re proud to fund the Institute and work alongside our partners in the Trust and the University of Liverpool. It’s also why we launched a new campaign last week – ‘Put Children First’ to called on Government to redesign the health service to create a children’s centred NHS.
“We look forward to continuing to work together with political leaders and other partners to create a collaborative health and social care system which has a shared focus on the needs of children and young people.”
The work of the Institute will be powered by an initial £2.5 million investment from Alder Hey, the University of Liverpool, and Alder Hey Children’s Charity. At the heart of this initiative is a simple but powerful goal: to give every child the opportunity to live their healthiest, happiest life, regardless of their circumstances.