By Dominique Nylander and Dorcas Akeju OBE, ARC NWC Public Advisors

On 25th September 2024, ARC NWC public advisors Dominique Nylander and Dorcas Akeju attended ARC NWC’s member organisations, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’s “Put Children First: Ignite the Sparks” event.

Dominique, currently in her second year of a combined Nursing and Social Work degree at Edge Hill University, and Dorcas, public advisor co-lead for the Health Across the Lifecourse research theme, joined discussions on tackling child health inequalities.
The event was chaired by Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, and featured a youth panel from YPAS, the LFC Foundation, Youth Focus NW, Alder Hey Youth Forum, and Liverpool City Council.

Key Issues Raised:
• Child Poverty and Healthcare: With 4.2 million children in poverty—three times as many as in 2019—reducing poverty and addressing child health inequalities are critical. The campaign urges the government to prioritise children, with a focus on prevention and community care.
• Holistic, Accessible Care: The panel emphasised the importance of meeting children’s varied needs through tailored plans, community-based healthcare, and better education on personal health. Access to services must be improved by reducing waiting lists and tackling food and heating poverty.
• Mental Health: Growing mental health issues among children were highlighted. Long waiting times, underfunded services, and poor referrals make matters worse. Early intervention, a range of therapies, and neurodiversity training for healthcare staff are essential.
• Inclusivity and Listening: Inclusive healthcare requires listening to children, challenging stereotypes around mental health, and making sure services are supportive rather than judgemental. Politicians need to involve children in decision-making, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Housing and Social Support: Secure, affordable housing is vital, as housing issues directly affect health. The Housing First model, which provides stable housing before other support, was discussed as a positive approach.
• Youth Voices: The Youth Panel highlighted the disparities faced by children in deprived communities and called for action to bridge the life expectancy gap between the wealthiest and poorest areas of Liverpool. Their message was clear: children must be at the centre of policy decisions.

Government Action Needed:
• Invest in holistic, ongoing care from childhood into adulthood.
• Create targeted services for 16-18-year-olds.
• Separate funding for children’s services to ensure they are prioritised.
• Address disparities in housing, education, and healthcare across different areas.

We believe the event showed the importance of both involving children in shaping the policies that affect their health and well-being, and of embedding lived experience through coproduction. At ARC NWC, our Health Inequalities Assessment Tools (HIAT) ensure all our research focuses on tackling inequality. By investing properly in services for children, we can support them to lead healthier lives as they grow.

Alder Hey Children’s Forum member Melody Sutton aged 11 said “This forum and the events we attend are so important because it’s a chance for us, as young people, to really be heard. We know what we need to feel supported and healthy, and it’s important for us to give a voice to those who don’t have the opportunity to share theirs. By sharing our ideas here, we can help leaders make changes that truly benefit kids like us. I’m proud to be part of a group that’s standing up for children’s health and well-being.”