Recruits Wanted for Child of the North Project
In a groundbreaking move, Durham University has announced the launch of a web presence aimed at showcasing research and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children in the North East region. The project, which encourages researchers to consider how their work can help address the challenges faced by children in the area, will cover various areas such as Emotional/Behavioural Healthcare, Child Welfare, Child care, Foster care and adoption, Mental Health, Child health, Neuroscience, Families and Parenting, Suicide Prevention, Trauma, Child Poverty, Child Protection, Nutrition, Education, Children's rights, Child survival, and Research related to the North East.
The web presence will link Durham to industry partners and universities in the North East, fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for further work once the website is up and running. Durham University, the institutional champion for the Child of the North Report, which highlighted the challenges and struggles of children in the region, is seeking individuals or groups working in the aforementioned areas to complete a short online form and contribute to the project.
One of the key areas of research and initiatives includes Emotional and Behavioural Health in Youth Justice. Although a project mentioned, Sefton Community Youth Connectors, is based in Sefton rather than Durham, it represents a trauma-informed, psychology-led approach to supporting girls aged 8–15 at risk of mental health issues, offending, and exploitation in youth justice contexts. This approach (Enhanced Case Management) may inform similar work in Durham due to its regional relevance in the North East area.
Another focus is Child Poverty Action and Welfare. The North East Child Poverty Action Plan (2025–2030) outlines a five-year strategy to address child poverty across the region, including Durham. This plan is essential to improving children's welfare and outcomes across multiple domains such as health, education, and social support.
Participatory Research for Care-Experienced Children is another initiative that invites care-experienced children and young people in the North East, including Durham, to share their ideas to shape health and social care research. This promotes child welfare by involving those with lived experience in defining research priorities, particularly in health and social care.
Educational Support and Funding are also crucial aspects of the project. Although not Durham-specific, several grant programs support educational projects and equipment for children with disabilities in County Durham and the surrounding area. These programs target improvements in child health, education, and mental health by enabling schools and charities to deliver better services.
Finally, Durham University hosts events such as the 2025 Annual Conference themed “Children, Youth and Theological Education,” which suggests ongoing academic engagement with child-related issues, education, and possibly ethical or social perspectives in education and care services.
The wellbeing of a child is dependent on external factors, and this project aims to address these factors by improving employment, social security, living wage, affordable housing, affordable transport, poverty, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, economic growth, reduced inequality, crime, peace, justice, family economic well-being, sustainable cities, and community in the North East. The goal is to create an extraordinary piece of work to benefit the North East region and children living there.
- Durham University's web presence will feature research and initiatives in areas such as nutrition, education, and personal growth, aiming to improve the lives of children in the North East.
- The North East Child Poverty Action Plan (2025–2030) is a collaborative effort to tackle child poverty, focusing on health, education, and social support across Durham and the North East region.
- Durham University encourages participation from care-experienced children and young people in the North East for informing health and social care research, promoting child welfare through lived experiences.
- In addition to research, the project supports educational projects and equipment for children with disabilities, aiming to enhance child health, education, and mental health in County Durham and the surrounding area.
