Edge Hill University achieves 2 nominations for the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards

AN Edge Hill PhD student and the Arts4Us project, focused on children's mental health, are finalists in the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.

These prestigious awards recognise the best innovators and researchers in health and care across:- Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and South Cumbria. Edge Hill has reached the final stages in the following categories:

• Tackling Health Inequalities Award; Arts4Us: Tackling children's mental health inequalities through the arts.
  

• Research Student of the Year Award; Lucy Kaluvu, who is studying a PhD in Health Research.

Arts4Us is a project that enables children and young people with mental health challenges to access local arts activities which will improve their wellbeing.

Edge Hill's Professor Vicky Karkou, project lead, said:- "Arts4Us champions the mental wellbeing of children and young people through creative expression, striving to diminish the health disparities that impact their lives. We've engaged numerous children and young people in Schools and Hospital settings, demonstrating the transformative potential of arts-based interventions. We want to ensure children and young people will be able to access the mental health support they need regardless of where they live."

The project, the largest of its kind, is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council under the mobilising community assets call and supported by the Jameel Arts and Health Lab. It is co-produced with children, their families in collaboration with arts, youth, health and social care organisations as well as schools and higher education institutes including:- University of Salford, University of Liverpool, Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust, and the Mersey Care, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trusts.

Lucy Kaluvu, a PhD Health Research student at Edge Hill's Primary Integrated Care (EPIC) Research Centre, is in the running for Research Student of the Year. She, said:- "Being nominated for this award is an incredible honour and a testament to the power of research in driving meaningful change. This recognition is not just mine; it reflects the dedication of the patients, patient and public advisors, supervisors, colleagues, fellow researchers, and everyone who believes in the impact of innovation. Research is more than discovery; it's about shaping lives, breaking boundaries and leaving a legacy. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and excited to keep pushing forward."

Lucy was nominated by Professor of Primary Care Greg Irving for how she is:- "bridging academic innovation and real-world healthcare improvement." She continued:- "Lucy's research holds significant potential to positively transform healthcare in the UK, and her dedication to this field is truly commendable."

Lucy's research investigates the experience of patients with multiple long-term health conditions, examining how the conditions develop over time and how quickly doctors find them.

Her work has also been commended with a recent Short Placement Award from the National Institute for Health and Care Research's School for Primary Care Research. This award is helping her connect her academic research with practical improvements in healthcare.

The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards are a collaborative celebration event hosted by Health Innovation North West Coast (HINWC) and the Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC).

BBC North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson will host the awards ceremony at:- The Spine, Liverpool on:- Thursday, 10 April 2025.

Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors have helped raise £12,993 for local charities

MIKE Prendergast and colleagues at Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors have helped raise:- £12,993 for local charities through the firm's Charity Will Month. North West Air Ambulance and Alder Hey Children's Charity have recently been presented with cheques for:- £4,331 each as their chare of the funds raised.

Every November, Mike Prendergast and colleagues, at Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors, organise a Charity Will Month to support local good causes. The scheme has been running since 2009 and has raised over:- £172,000 for local charities.

Last November, the firm raised money for Queenscourt Hospice, North West Air Ambulance Service and Alder Hey Children's Charity. After seeing over 185 different clients, the firm helped raise the sum of:- £12,993 in total, with the proceeds split equally between the 3 charities.

Mike Prendergast said:- "Our annual Charity Will Month proves incredibly popular, giving local people the chance to get their affairs in order and at the same time, support local charities. Clients from across Ormskirk, Southport and the surrounding areas have been in to see us and many have told us about how the charities we have supported have helped them personally."

Commenting on the fundraising, Lily Fox from Alder Hey Children's Charity said:- "It's fantastic news that Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors have been able to raise so much for great local charities. The funds we have received will go towards the vital work we do providing world class care to the 450,000 children and young people who are cared for at Alder Hey every year."

Grace Cunningham from North West Air Ambulance said:- "Donations from the public are a huge part of how we are able to operate and the funds raised by Dickinson Parker Hill will help us continue with our work providing expert medical care to over 8 million people across the North West."