Newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the Children and Young People's Wellbeing @ Exeter Research Network newsletter

Contents:

NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | RESOURCES

Read on to find out more about: our new Network leadership, Themes updates, a MEMBERS SURVEY for you to share your ideas on the future direction of the Network, as well as events and funding opportunities.

We'd love to share your latest projects, publications, events or opportunities. Please email cyp-wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk

NEWS

An introduction to the new CYP Wellbeing Network co-leads

Anna Adlam – Anna is an Associate Professor and a Clinical Psychologist (HCPC registered) based in the Psychology department. Anna is also the Director of Research and Evaluation for Cedar and Create. Anna’s primary research area focuses on developing and evaluating neurocognitive interventions for children and young people who experience executive function challenges associated with neurological conditions (e.g., brain injury, epilepsy), neurodivergent conditions, and mental health/wellbeing needs.

Gretchen Bjornstad – Gretchen is a Senior Lecturer in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Research Collaboration (ChYMe) and in the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West (PenARC). She is the programme manager for the Child Health and Maternity National Priority Programme in PenARC. Her current research is focussed on the mental health of parent carers of children with disabilities and how families access support across health, social care, and education services.

Marie Clancy – Marie is a children’s nurse by background and has worked internationally in Australia, Malawi and Afghanistan. She has expertise in neonatal and children’s palliative care. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Academy of Nursing and PPIE lead. Her PhD focussed on the experiences of refugee families in children’s palliative care in the West Midlands using arts-based research methods. She is passionate about creative pedagogy in nurse education and is working with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Culture and Health. She is excited to learn from all the different disciplines and perspectives within the CYP network.

Huge thanks go to our outgoing leads Vashti Berry and Ed Watkins for their hard work and enthusiasm in seeing the Network established and flourish into the strong group it is today. We’re relieved that you’re not going far and are staying on the Steering Commitee!

Current Network Themes

As you may be aware the Network has four Sub-Themes chosen by members. These are:

Meaningful involvement of children and young people in research- led by Rosie Fox
Bio-psycho-social-cultural mechanisms of mental health- led by Anke Karl and Angeliki Kallitsoglou
Mental Health and Education- led by Darren Moore
Adverse Childhood Experiences- led by Thomas El-Hoss and Vashti Berry

For more information on who to contact, or to get involved please visit the Network Themes webpage or email cypwellbeing@exeter.ac.uk

Theme Lead vacancies
We are looking for volunteers to co-lead Theme 1 and Theme 3. If you are interested, or would like to know more please email cypwellbeing@exeter.ac.uk

Network Steering Committee member changes

Thank you to long serving committee members Alan Barker, Helen Dodd and Kristin Liabo for their support in establishing the network and supporting events and themes. Please keep in touch!

We’ve also been joined by Kirsty Cann, Liz Hampton, Laura Macro, Rosalie Jones McVey, Lisa Price and Katie Wood.

The full list of Steering Committee members is available on the Network website.

Network Survey- share your ideas

Do you have any other ideas for how the Network could support your work over the next year? We are open to suggestions and are particularly interested in supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Whether it’s funding, resources, or other forms of support, we want to hear from you. Please visit our Network website for more information on our aims and areas of focus and email cypwellbeing@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.

Please complete the survey HERE by Monday 24th February.

Pioneering Planetary Health Framework for School Food 

Congratulations to CYP Wellbeing @Exeter Network member Fatma Sabet, who together with Steffen Boehm have published a report on their planetary health framework for school food. This innovative approach combines health and sustainability within school meal systems, offering insights into how food education and sustainability can intersect for long-term impact. 

Key findings include: 

School meals and education must work together: By integrating experiential food education (like cooking lessons and farm visits) with sustainable meal provision, schools can shape healthier, more environmentally conscious habits. Watch this interview with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall saying exactly this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U34Ail1ZfbU 
Sustainability at the forefront: Prioritising scratch cooking, local agroecological food sourcing, and plant-based meals emerged as key pillars of sustainable school food: Watch Miki, a catering lead explaining how this works in practice:   ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yib7LQzuRtE 
Ethical leadership matters: Empowering catering teams and local producers can shift school food systems away from reliance on large corporations and toward community-driven partnerships that benefit both pupils and local economies.

This study sets the stage for a planetary health approach to school food, and Sabet and Boehm encourage educators, policymakers, and advocates to join in shaping this transformative movement. The publication is available in full here Study

We would love to share your news here- please let us know about your publications and awards!

EVENTS

CYP Wellbeing Network Seminar: Digital Interventions for ADHD with Professor David Daley

Monday 24th February 10:30- 11:30 Live at St Luke’s Campus, Baring Court room 112 or online via TEAMS Meeting ID: 348 361 005 70 Passcode: Cu2wC6nG

The CYP Wellbeing @Exeter Research Network are pleased to invite you to this seminar with David Daley, Head of Applied Psychological Practice at Nottingham Trent University.

Going digital in an analogue health system: Can we make digital interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder accessible, acceptable and effective? Professor Daley will explore how digital interventions can be made accessible, acceptable, and effective for ADHD treatment, drawing on findings from major NIHR-funded research projects.This seminar is open to all—please share with colleagues and networks!

Call for speakers for CYPW Seminars 2024/25

We need your help! Are you interested in presenting, or do you know individuals or networks who may be interested in partnering with us? This is a great opportunity to share your research with colleagues and Network members inside and outside the University. Presenting at these seminars allows you to receive valuable feedback and explore potential research collaborations.

Please also let us know if you would like to invite/host a speaker to present to the network. We do not currently have a budget to host speakers, so external seminars can be held online or you can invite colleagues who are already visiting the university for a different purpose (e.g., PhD examination, research visits).

If you have attended any of our previous seminars, we would love to hear your feedback on what went well and what could be improved. Please fill out the feedback form or email your comments to cypwellbeing@exeter.ac.uk.

Your participation and feedback are invaluable in making our events successful and impactful. Thank you for your support!

Upcoming Webinar: Transforming Children & Young People's Mental Health Services

Join Public Policy Exchange on Thursday 13th March 9:30am to 1:00pm for an important webinar, Transforming Children & Young People's Mental Health Services: Prospects for Improvement under a New Labour Government.

Explore key topics, including mental health trends, government plans, multi-agency strategies, the role of schools and youth hubs, the impact of social media, and policy changes to address wider determinants of poor mental health.

For more information and to register see here.

Public Policy Exchange Webinar- Tackling Bullying in Schools

Tuesday, April 1st 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM GMT

Public Policy Exchange invites you to a webinar on Tackling Bullying in Schools: Improving Understanding and Building Environments of Prevention. This interactive session will address key challenges in combating bullying and explore practical strategies to create safer school environments.

Topics include:

Trends in bullying and cyberbullying prevention
Teacher training and youth-led initiatives
Supporting marginalised groups and mental health integration

Speakers include Kamila de Nada (Kids Inspire) and Linda James MBE (BulliesOut).
Register here to secure your place.

OPPORTUNITIES

Recruitment Open: Chief Scientist for the Adolescent Health Study

Applications for the Chief Scientist position with the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) are now open! This is a great opportunity to shape the study’s scientific strategy alongside the AHS Director and Executive Team.

The role offers flexibility to attract top candidates, including fixed or long-term appointments, secondments, and full- or part-time arrangements (minimum 0.4 FTE).

The application deadline is 10th February. For more information please view the vacancy details or contact AHScomms@mrc.ukri.org.

Job Opportunity: Dawson Professorship of Young People’s Mental Health

The University of Cambridge invites applications for the prestigious Dawson Professorship of Young People’s Mental Health, commencing 1st October 2025 or soon after. This role seeks a candidate with an exceptional international research record in young people’s mental health, alongside the leadership, vision, and collaborative spirit to advance mental health science for young people in Cambridge.

Responsibilities include teaching, research, supervision, and administration. A competitive salary and a Professorial Fellowship at St Catharine’s College accompany the position.

For informal inquiries, contact Professor Mark Johnson (mj492@cam.ac.uk). Apply by 3rd March 2025. For more details, visit Cambridge University Jobs.

Exploring Pathways to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Network

Dr. Jennifer Allen from the University of Bath is excited to announce the launch of the Exploring Pathways to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Network, funded by the GW4 Alliance. This network seeks academics, researchers, and postgraduate students interested in longitudinal research and child mental health to join.

Opportunities include talks, workshops, and collaborative funding bids. Interested individuals, including ECRs (PostDoc, PhD, DClin, DHealth, MRes), can sign up here.

For more information, visit the website or email exploring-cyp-mh@bath.ac.uk.

GOSH Charity and LifeArc Launch £1m Funding Call for Translational Research

Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) and LifeArc have opened their 2025 Translational Research Accelerator Grant (TRAG) funding call, offering up to £1 million to academic researchers across the UK. Since 2019, this partnership has driven innovation to improve prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of rare paediatric diseases.

For the first time, the scheme is open nationally, with outline applications due by 12pm, Thursday 3rd April 2025. Register and access guidance on the GOSH Charity website.

Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Inquiry- call for evidence

An estimated one in five women experience sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetime, with one in twelve affected by violence against women and girls (VAWG) annually. The true scale is likely far greater.

To address this, the Government launched its Tackling VAWG strategy in 2021, followed by the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan in 2022. The new government has committed to halving VAWG in a decade through its Safer Streets mission, aiming to reduce serious harm and restore public confidence in policing and justice.

Despite these efforts, police-recorded VAWG-related crimes surged by 37% between 2018 and 2023, with over one million incidents recorded in 2022/23—representing 20% of all crime.

In 2025, the National Audit Office (NAO) will review the Home Office’s progress on implementing these strategies. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will question senior officials on priorities and prevention measures.

Those wishing to submit written evidence should review the submission guidelines. The Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere.

Research Dissemination Survey

The research dissemination team in the Library are excited to announce the development of new guidance to support research dissemination, helping you effectively share your work, engage diverse audiences, and maximise its global impact.

This resource will highlight opportunities to connect with academics, organisations, businesses, and the public throughout the research lifecycle. It will also provide insights on tailoring messages for different audiences, using platforms to amplify your work, and fostering collaborations to raise our university’s profile.

To ensure the guidance is relevant, they are researchers to please complete a short questionnaire. Your feedback on the tools you use and challenges you face will help shape a resource that supports researchers across all departments.

Please complete the questionnaire here: https://forms.office.com/e/MpiD3WAY0j

For questions, contact Bethany Knight (b.c.knight@exeter.ac.uk), Research Dissemination Librarian. Thank you for your participation!

Explore PIVOT-RP: get personalised alerts for research funding opportunities

PIVOT-RP is a funding database. It can help you to access over 35,000 funding opportunities and £101.56 billion in available funding.

Create your user account today at pivot.proquest.com and streamline your research funding journey. Further information on how to use PIVOT RP can be found here.

RESOURCES

Funding for Impact, Grant Applications and Beyond

The Impact@Exeter team are excited to announce the launch of Funding for Impact: Grant Applications and Beyond, their latest Impact Essentials training. This pre-recorded module is now available here and on the Impact@Exeter section of the RIME SharePoint site.

This 70-minute training, delivered in bite-sized sections, explores the impact funding landscape, strategies for securing funds, and tips for writing compelling, impact-focused proposals. It also dispels common funding myths and highlights how to include evaluation and evidence activities.

Perfect for all career stages, this flexible resource is designed for self-paced learning. Access the training and resources here on the Impact@Exeter area of the RIME SharePoint site.

RENEW Good Practice Guide for interdisciplinary collaboration   

The RENEW project is rooted in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration, emphasising research that extends across disciplines and beyond academia. This document is designed to promote the exploration and guidance of collaborative practices within and around the RENEW initiative. It is available to download here. 

Understanding and supporting children’s mental health- Free resources

Available from the Emerging Minds website, this collection of resources on children's mental health are derived from scientific research, the lived experiences of families, and insights from health professionals. They are aimed at parents, family members, educators, health professionals, and any adult interested in enhancing children's wellbeing.

The resources aim to answer questions such as: what does mental health looks like in children? What if infants and children didn't have mental health? What shapes a child's mental health? I want to know more about children's emotions and behaviours? Are a child's reactions or behaviours are age-appropriate or might they indicate mental health difficulties? How can I nurture positive mental health in children? Where can I find guidance on supporting a child facing challenges or tough times? What does positive mental health look like and how can I recognise when a child might need extra support? This knowledge helps us nurture and protect children's mental health early on, laying the foundation for lifelong wellbeing.

Thank you for reading our newsletter. Find out more about the Children and Young People's @ Exeter Wellbeing Network.

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