Supporting the Changemaker + Challenges: Focus on the Early Years

The University of Northampton has a number of Changemaker + Challenges, which commits the Institution to supporting the betterment of local and regional and international communities; Changemaker + Challenge one focuses on making Northamptonshire the best county in the UK for children and young people to learn and flourish.

Through professional membership and involvement with key international bodies, the University’s Early Years team, within the School of Education, are influencing policy makers to focus on ensuring children around the world have the very best start in life. Dr Eunice Lumsden is the Early Years Academic Co-ordinator for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Critical 1001 Days; working to acknowledge the importance of the 1001 days from when a baby is conceived until age two. The Critical 1001 campaign seeks to promote a holistic approach to enhancing the life prospects of young children – uniting those working across the health, social care, early years and education service providers.

Dr Lumsden also holds an advisory role with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (UNSECO) expert panel, which encourages policy developments to improve the life chances of children across the globe. Dr Lumsden also has recently been appointed a Fellow of The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA); which works to enrich society through ideas and action, under the belief that everyone should have the freedom and the capacity to establish better lives for themselves and others. She has recently been on the Expert Panel supporting the International Step by Step Association to develop quality standards for children aged 0-3 and as consultant for UNICEF and the Turkish Association of Child Development, on developing professional standards for Early Childhood in Turkey.

Sharon Smith, Senior Lecturer in Child Health and Early Years is a member of the APPG for A Fit and Healthy Childhood. The APPG looks at all aspects of childhood health and wellbeing including obesity, informs policy decisions and public debate relating to childhood and has contributed to the forthcoming Government National Obesity strategy. This group works across both the Changemaker + Challenges in relation to Health and Wellbeing and Children and Young People.

Dr Helen Scott, Changemaker + Challenge leader for Challenge One said: “I’m very proud to say that the University already has a significant number of colleagues working at the forefront of policy development aligned to our Changemaker + Challenges. The University’s academics are leading the way in shaping national and local policy with our Changemaker values. Over the coming years, we hope to see this influence develop further, demonstrating the positive social impact of the University of Northampton.”