July 22, 2024

Community activities mark Mohn Centre launch

The Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing commemorated its official opening in White City Innovation District earlier this month, following a week-long series of talks, panels and community activities across Imperial College London’s White City Campus.

Based in the brand-new School of Public Health building opened in March, the Mohn Centre is driving research and partnerships aimed at transforming urban living for children. Harnessing a community-led approach to transdisciplinary research, the Centre’s focus is to provide information and evidence that can promote good health within the White City local community and beyond. Priority missions of the new Centre are to empower local communities by involving schools, youth clubs and community groups in strategic planning and research priorities, and answer complex questions relating to children’s health and the environment.

Highlight launch events during the week-long celebrations included a visit by more than fifty Year 2 students from St Bernadette’s Primary School for an ‘Adventure in Public Health’. The invited students had the opportunity to meet with Imperial’s scientists and explore interactive stations from Imperial’s Environmental Research Group, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Child Health Unit and the Musculoskeletal Lab.

Students from St Bernadette’s Primary School enjoy an ‘Adventure in Public Health’ – part of the activities celebrating the launch of the Mohn Centre in the new School of Public Health building in White City.

The Centre also played host to Listen to Act’s Young People’s Advisory Group and organised a special Science Day where early career researchers were able to present their research.

On July 3rd, the Mohn Centre convened researchers, policy makers and community members for a keynote address and panel session spotlighting local and international developments and trends in child health. Keynote speaker Professor Mark Schuster – Founding Dean and CEO of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and recognised international leader in research on child, adolescent, and family health – shared his insights into the challenges facing child public health in urban cities across the US. His speech focused on critical issues and the innovative solutions being posed to safeguard young people’s wellbeing within the complexities of urban environments.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Mohn Centre. This initiative is a testament to the power of community-led collaboration. By working hand in hand with local young people, families, schools, and organisations, we aim to create healthier lives for those growing up in urban areas.
Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.”
Professor Mireille Toledano, Director of the Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing

Further highlight sessions were chaired by young people who have worked with the Mohn Centre over the past year, including Opeyemi Lawal and Nishit Joshi from the Association for Young People’s Health – who have led training on ethical practice of engaging young people in research – and Catherine James, a Research Challenge Sixth Form student involved in the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP).

ADVOCATING FOR children’s health

The Mohn Centre was established following a transformational gift from Dame Marit Mohn, who was awarded a DBE in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours in January 2024.

The Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing is creating a world-leading centre for children’s health and wellbeing in the  School of Public Health, right at the centre of White City Innovation District. Working in partnership with Imperial, community partners, local authorities and health and social care organisations, the new Centre will pursue research and education to better understand the complex network of interactions between environmental, behavioural, genetic and molecular factors and address important physical and mental health challenges and health inequalities. The Mohn Centre’s ambition is be an effective advocate for the good health of children and young people amongst influential policy-makers, to ensure that its research is far-reaching and impactful.

Dame Marit Mohn, a prominent supporter of education and community development in West London and donor to Imperial College London.

MOHN CENTRE AIMS

Improve children and young people’s health and wellbeing in White City, Greater London and beyond

Train future leaders in children and young people’s health in collaboration with partners across Imperial

To be the centre of expertise in the College for children and young people’s focused public and community involvement, engagement and participation (PCIEP)

If you would like to get involved and explore ways to collaborate please contact the Mohn Centre team.