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.”

Professor Irving 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.