The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit's "Places and health" team has released a new report, "Places and children's health: a research and policy agenda", which summarises the findings from a collaborative workshop held in May that focused on how place impacts children’s health.

 Photo of 2 children on a climbing frame

Over 70 delegates from research, policy, planning, and practice participated in the workshop, which included presentations on key policy and research findings in this area, followed by breakout sessions where stakeholders identified, synthesised, and prioritised pressing public health issues related to place and children’s health.

The report outlines the most pressing research needs identified by stakeholders during the workshop. Through collaboration with multisectoral stakeholders, the authors hope this agenda acts as a catalyst for new and innovative joint projects.

A series of videos has also been created with Rich Mitchell, Jon Olsen, Paul McCrorie and Fi Caryl talking about their research on how the places in which children live and play shape their health, their exposure to unhealthy commodities, 20-minute neighbourhoods, active travel to school, the impact of greenspace on children’s mental health, and physical activity. The videos can be viewed on the Studying Physical Activity in Children's Environments (SPACES) webpage and on the SPHSU YouTube channel.

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First published: 23 October 2023