Edge Hill University welcomes renowned inequality expert Professor Kate Pickett OBE for landmark Education Conference
The Faculty of Education at Edge Hill University is set to host its second annual ‘Improving Life Chances and Making Hope Possible Through Education’ conference on 17–18 June. This flagship event brings together regional, national and global thought leaders to explore how education can act as a catalyst for social change, with a particular focus on inequalities, health and wellbeing.
A highlight of the two-day programme will be a keynote lecture from Professor Kate Pickett OBE, the bestselling author and leading global inequality researcher who is currently Director of the Born in Bradford Centre for Social Change at the University of York. Recently announced as the UK’s first-ever Professor for the Public Understanding of Social Science, Professor Pickett’s talk will be based on her latest book, The Good Society and How We Make It, copies of which will also be available for signing on the day.
As a prominent social epidemiologist, Professor Pickett’s influential research focuses on the wider determinants of health and the inequalities that impact wellbeing, which is central to the conference’s core themes and mission and vision of the Faculty of Education.
Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Education, said: “It is a privilege for us to welcome Professor Kate Pickett OBE and other distinguished thought leaders to Edge Hill University for our annual conference. Professor Pickett’s work has been significant in shaping much of the work we do in the field in the Faculty of Education where our mission is
‘Working Creatively with Others to Enhance Life Chances.’ Her latest book, The Good Society and How We Make It, is a truly powerful text which has many globally important recommendations on how we can better tackle deep-seated inequalities which continue to unnecessarily limit our life chances.
“Professor Pickett’s talk promises to be thought-provoking and full of practical ways of how we can work collaboratively to positively impact the education, health and wellbeing of our communities, and especially the future generations of our children and young people.”
For over 140 years, Edge Hill has been at the forefront of teacher education, driven by a relentless commitment to harnessing the power of learning to transform lives. This conference continues that mission, providing a vital platform for diverse voices from academic researchers and strategic partners to the next generation of educators in our postgraduate community to share insights and foster collaboration.
This is an in-person event and attendees are encouraged to book their tickets, with bookings for the two-day event closing soon.
Please register for Professor Kate Pickett OBE keynote and book signing by midday on Wednesday 17 June: Lecture and book signing, Professor Kate Pickett OBE: Thursday 18 June – Fill in form
Edge Hill Professor’s research on arts-based wellbeing published in world-leading journal, The Lancet Psychiatry
Research co-authored by Professor Vicky Karkou, Director of the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at Edge Hill University, has been published in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet Psychiatry.
The paper, titled “Inherent commonalities between arts-based leisure activities and psychological therapies,” provides a significant contribution to the growing evidence base regarding how creative engagement can support mental health.
As mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression continue to rise across high-income countries, healthcare services are facing unprecedented pressure. This new research offers a compelling exploration of how participation in music, dance, visual arts and creative writing can serve as a vital tool for psychological wellbeing.
Reflecting on the publication, Professor Karkou said:
“Our paper is a wonderful collaboration that brings our learning from projects like Arts for the Blues into a broader public health space. By exploring the inherent commonalities between arts-based leisure and psychotherapy, we are effectively building a bridge between the two fields.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see this work published in The Lancet Psychiatry, highlighting the potential of arts-based approaches to complement clinical practice.”
The study examines the powerful links between arts-based leisure activities and traditional psychological therapies. By identifying shared mechanisms such as the formation of social relationships and identity building, the authors demonstrate how creative engagement can effectively address the cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes that underpin mental health conditions.
Professor Karkou co-authored the paper alongside two of the UK’s leading experts in the field: Professor Daisy Fancourt and Professor Peter Fonagy from University College London (UCL).
You can read the full paper in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Edge Hill University secures role in Major £9.7m national investment to boost clinical research careers
Edge Hill University is proud to announce its participation in a significant new national initiative, the Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers (RACR).
This £9.7 million pilot programme, established by the Medical Research Council (MRC), aims to strengthen the UK’s clinical research workforce and remove the barriers that prevent talented clinicians from balancing research with frontline patient care.
A key factor in Edge Hill’s inclusion in this prestigious national investment is their recent membership in the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA). This strategic partnership has enabled the University to join a powerful coalition of research organisations and NHS trusts, ensuring that Edge Hill is at the heart of efforts to build clinical research capacity across the North of England.
Professor Jeremy Brown, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, said: “Inclusion in this MRC investment to support clinical research careers helps us sustain our rapidly growing clinical academic training programme at Edge Hill University.
“As a member of the Northern Health Science Alliance, this allows us to continue to contribute to much-needed research capacity building in the NHS workforce across the North of England.”
This initiative brings together more than 50 research organisations and 60 NHS trusts across the UK to establish 10 regional consortia. Greg Irving, Professor of Primary Care and Director of the Health Research Institute, has led Edge Hill’s involvement and been instrumental in driving this work forward.
Edge Hill will play a pivotal role in delivering flexible, tailored support to clinicians at critical “pinch points” in their careers such as the transition from doctoral research to independent research leadership.
By working closely with local NHS partners, Edge Hill University will help design place-based solutions that address local health needs, focus on reducing health inequalities in the region, and provide enhanced support for clinicians from under-represented groups.
This four-year pilot will generate essential evidence on how best to support clinical researchers in diverse settings. The findings will inform future national policy, ensuring that the UK’s research workforce remains sustainable, inclusive, and equipped to meet the evolving needs of the NHS.
Read more about the project here.
Esther Ghey inspires change at Edge Hill University’s annual safeguarding conference
Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, attended Edge Hill University’s Safeguarding Conference to share the story of her daughter and discussed the issues facing young people online.
The annual safeguarding conference on digital and online safety provided undergraduate trainee teachers with essential insights into the risks children and young people face in today’s connected world.
Through expert-led sessions, students explored topics such as online grooming, digital wellbeing, domestic abuse, and the impact of social media and phones on pupils’ mental health.
The conference highlighted current legislation, school responsibilities, and practical strategies for teachers in creating safe online learning environments as well as helping students to identify signs of harm and how to respond appropriately.
At the event, Esther spoke movingly about Brianna and the Legacy Project. Brianna, aged 16, was killed by two teenagers in a Warrington park in 2023.
Esther has since become an online safety campaigner, and she believes that conferences provide “valuable” opportunities for discussion.
Esther said: “I’m keen to be involved in events like this because they offer a rare and valuable opportunity to speak directly to those who will soon be responsible for the care, guidance and safeguarding of young people.
“Sharing Brianna’s story and the work of the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project is not only about remembrance, but about prevention and helping future educators understand the realities young people are facing today.
“I hope students leave with a better understanding of the risks linked to social media and smartphones and feel more confident in recognising when a child may be struggling. Most importantly, I want them to understand the impact they can have as trusted adults, by listening, noticing, and creating safe, supportive environments for the children in their care.”
May 29, 2026
