Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

A mental health and wellbeing hub co-developed by Edge Hill University researchers has won an Educate North Award; 1 of the most prestigious awards in education.

World-leading Edge Hill research underpins the vital services being offered at The People's Place in Liverpool, run in partnership with Everton in the Community (EitC), Everton Football Club's charitable arm.

The £2.5 million hub, the 1st of its kind to be attached to a Premier League football club, adopts a:- "1 stop shop" approach to supporting people in Liverpool City Region.

Andy Smith, Professor of Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health, said:- "Current approaches to health and wellbeing services are unsustainable, expensive and often do not provide communities with timely, effective and accessible support to tackle stubborn health inequalities, especially around mental health. The People's Place offers something different."

Dr Helen O'Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education, added:- "With Everton in the Community we developed a new approach to enable residents who don't typically engage with mainstream health and care services to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. Our 'right care, right person' approach makes it easier for residents to find the right professional, in their community, on their terms."

Edge Hill researchers worked with residents, schools, NHS trusts, charities and public health specialists to create much-needed community based health programmes.

Clinical and non-clinical services are now on offer at the hub, including:- community groups, GPs, mental health nurses and counselors, dementia and diabetes clinics, and health screening, in collaboration with regional NHS health providers and the 3rd sector.

Tackling the Blues, a multi award winning sport and arts based mental health and wellbeing programme for children and young people, run in partnership with Edge Hill, EitC, and Tate Liverpool, is 1 of the programmes being delivered from the hub.

The development of The People's Place in supporting people in areas including:- bereavement, psychological crisis, Parkinson's disease, and food poverty is recognised with the Educate North Award win in the Community Engagement; University Sector category.

Professor Smith and Dr O'Keeffe said:- "We are thrilled that the impact of our collaborative work on The People's Place, as part of our 11 year partnership with Everton in the Community, has been commended by Educate North. This award win confirms how authentic, meaningful, and sustained community involvement in research can positively engage those local communities who need health and care services the most."

Jon Jones, Director of Adult Services, at Everton in the Community, added:- "We are committed to delivering innovative mental health and wellbeing support for the community, and ensuring that it is co-produced with, and meets the need of, those who access it. This award win is a testament to our successful partnership with Edge Hill University to tackle mental health inequalities, underpinned by research."

Find out more about how Edge Hill University's expanding body of research addresses some of society's most pressing problems, including the current mental health crisis.