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A research partnership of universities, community health providers and local councils has been awarded funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to examine how integrated community service delivery models in coastal areas across England affect children, young people and their families.

Children and young people in England experience some of the poorest health outcomes and services in Europe, with health inequalities particularly marked between the north and south of the country.

This is even more pronounced in coastal areas of England where deprivation is high, and social determinants of health such as housing, education, access to services, infrastructure, employment and social mobility play an important part in children and young people’s lives. There are also uneven numbers of children in care or young people leaving care in some coastal areas and, for them, health outcomes are even worse.

The new project is being led by Professor Sheena Asthana at the ²ÝùÊÓƵ and Professor Sally Kendall from the University of Kent. Lasting 30 months, it will also involve researchers from the University of Lincoln, University of Manchester, University of Warwick and Torbay Council, as well as representatives from Kent County Council, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and members of the public with expertise by experience.

With children and young peoples’ experience at the heart of the study, the researchers will take a realist approach to building a model of integrated health and care services for children and young people that work for them in coastal contexts and different circumstances. It will address gaps in knowledge around how such models impact on the experiences, lives and health consequences for children and young people.