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How urban schools are keeping children active through a whole-school approach
New SPHR research led by Imperial College London shows how urban primary schools are supporting children’s physical activity and beginning to implement new national guidance. For most children, school is a second space beyond home where they spend a third of their waking hours building healthy behaviours that can shape…
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Four months in Toronto: what I learnt from my PhD Placement in Canada
Blog by SPHR trainee Rosalyn Arnold This summer, I spent four months in Toronto as part of a PhD research placement at the University of Toronto, working with Professor Valerie Tarasuk, Dr Andrée-Anne Fafard St-Germain and Dr Marc-Antoine Châtelain for PROOF – an interdisciplinary research programme studying…
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Reflections on the LA SPARC: Catherine Jacobs
The Local Authority Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) offers the opportunity for placements between the NIHR and Local Authority settings, in either direction, to build collaborations and bridge the gap between academia and practice. In this blog, Catherine Jacobs writes about her experience applying…
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SPHR trainee Jennie Parnham wins NIHR Impact Award
We’re excited to announce that SPHR trainee Jennie Parnham has won an NIHR early career researcher Impact Award. These prizes celebrate the contribution of an early career researcher to the impact of research. Now in its second year, the NIHR Impact Prizes honour those who…
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Public Mental Health Autumn Webinar: School-Based Mental Health Interventions
We are pleased to launch our free NIHR SPHR Public Mental Health Webinar Series with an autumn webinar focused on school-based mental health interventions, on Monday 5th October (11.30am to 1.00pm). The event will be chaired by Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology (Exeter Medical School) and…
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From the Classroom to Research: Rethinking School Non-Attendance as a Complex Public Health Issue
Blog by Hannah Smith My experience of working as a teaching assistant in a large primary school in Newport, Wales shaped my interests in researching school non-attendance. I worked closely with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and children who were neurodivergent, running group interventions and working one-to-one…
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Preventing youth suicide: new guidance to support schools, colleges, and youth organisations
Blog by Rowan Streckfuss-Davis Self-harm and suicide are distressing experiences for young people and adults around them. However, they aren’t uncommon – around one in four have self-harmed by age 17, and those who have self-harmed in the past are at higher risk for suicide and mental health difficulties than…
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New resources to help prevent suicide and self-harm in young people
The SPHR 4S study explored how educational and youth organisations can be supported to deliver self-harm and suicide prevention and postvention. The team have produced freely available guidance and a supporting infographic to help schools. The resources were launched at an online event this month. Self-harm…
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Exploring industry perspectives on potential ultra-processed food policy in the UK
By SPHR intern Grace Leung Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now account for approximately 56% of daily energy intake in the UK. Among children and young people, UPFs make up around two-thirds of daily energy intake. But what are ultra-processed foods, and why are they becoming a subject of…
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Inclusive Neighbourhood Health
Background A key focus of the Government’s 10-year health plan is to shift care from ‘hospital to community’. Providing access to services and support more locally, where and when individuals need it, should improve outcomes, provide more joined-up care and reduce the burden on acute services. Neighbourhood…
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Meet the School’s new Training Manager: Sarah Birkett
Sarah Birkett joined the Directorate team recently as the School’s new Training Manager, here she tells us a bit more about herself and the role. Please tell us about yourself and your career background Prior to joining the NIHR SPHR, I spent more than 10 years working in Higher Education,…
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SPHR Pre-application support fund – an internal award for SPHR staff, ResNet and alumni
INTERNAL ONLY – Applicants must have a link with SPHR either working or leading on SPHR activity, as a ResNet member or an alumnus. As part of the NIHR SPHR capacity building programme for the extension to 2029, we have committed to providing support for those who need it to…