Child of the North
Child of the North
A platform for collaboration, high-quality research and policy engagement to improve the lives of children in the North of England
Our aim
Child of the North is a joint collaboration between the N8 and Health Equity North, which forms part of the Northern Health Science Alliance. By acting together and with regional partners, our aim is to translate research evidence into transformative impact that improves outcomes for children living in the North of England and beyond.
Building on these collective strengths will help us to gain better traction in addressing complex and deep-rooted issues affecting children. It will also help to champion the rich and distinctive features of a northern childhood.
We can achieve this through co-production with children and young people, practitioners and policy-makers and by leveraging the strengths and expertise of the N8 universities and other across the region.
Our campaigns
In 2024 we embarked on a campaign with the Centre for Young Lives calling for a ‘Children First Government’.
Our twelve-part reports series ‘A country that works for all children and young people’ published throughout 2024 and into 2025 highlighted the problems of inequity experienced by children in the North of England, facing disadvantages in relation to a range of issues including poverty, special educational needs, school attendance and mental health. The reports provide evidence-based plans and recommendations to help policymakers address the issues.
Our latest report Education Equity for the North of England: Challenges & Opportunities published September 2025 highlights ongoing inequalities with a focus on the school readiness crisis and its longer term impact on young people.
For our #ChildrenFirst campaign running for twelve weeks from September to December 2025, we are providing updates on our reports, alongside practitioner toolkits to support schools, child health services, and local authorities to implement the report recommendations and put children first.
You can find reports, updates, toolkits and webinars for each of the twelve issues raised in the campaign by following the links on the campaign webpage:
All Party Parliamentary Group
The Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was established in 2022 and brings together key sector organisations and MPs from across the political spectrum.
The APPG holds regular meetings with its members to discuss issues regarding children in the North and works to develop policy solutions that will create lasting change. Health Equity North provide the Secretariat, and more information can be found on their webpage:
Publications, reports and resources
Copies of all previous Child of the North research publications are available on our reports page.
Contact Us
Stephen Parkinson, Research Partnership Manager
