Edge Hill University and Medical Needs Education – Liverpool launch new strategic partnership to strengthen mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people across the North West region.
The Faculty of Education and Medical Needs Education Liverpool are pleased to announce a new evidence-led partnership which creates new routes for collaborative research, knowledge exchange and innovation which supports the mental health, life chances, and future careers of young people. The evidence base comes directly from the voice of young people and their lived experiences with mental health and struggling to access school. It is also their opportunity to improve education and prospects for other young people.
The partnership brings together shared values and expertise to create meaningful change for learners who face significant challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. At a time when schools are seeing rising levels of need, the partnership aims to develop more inclusive approaches that help young people feel understood, supported and able to succeed.
The two organisations will co‑create evidence-based resources, share insight and develop new approaches to educational practice which informs wider sector discussions about how best to respond to the mental health and wellbeing needs of pupils in education and their communities.
The partnership will offer powerful, real‑world learning opportunities for Edge Hill students and enable MNE to benefit from the University’s internationally recognised expertise in education and mental health.
By engaging with MNE’s specialist settings, students will gain hands‑on experience, deeper understanding and greater confidence in supporting children and young people with complex emotional and mental health needs—an essential skill for the next generation of teachers and professionals working in education. These experiences directly enhance student readiness for placement, employment and future leadership.
For young people attending MNE, the collaboration will help support their mental health, life chances, and future careers in higher education and beyond.
By working together, both organisations aim to influence positive change in how mental health and wellbeing are understood and supported across the education sector. This long‑term partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to improving life chances and ensuring all young people have the support they need to thrive.