As part of our continuing commitment to engaging and supporting our schools and local communities, we have launched an exciting virtual library of resources. The library hosts resources for adults, children and young people to enable them to find out more about health research and careers within this field.
We are extremely proud of the work we do with our local communities which helps us to understand what our patients need, and makes our research better. Each year our researchers demonstrate their work to patients and visitors at both of our hospital sites as part of our International Clinical Trials celebrations. 
We hold events with local community groups and we work with colleagues at King’s College London as part of the King’s Engaged Researcher Network. We also work with children and young people with the aim of encouraging children to explore careers in medicine, science and research.
Examples of our work with young people include our annual Summer School, our visits to schools in south east London as part of British Science Week 2020, careers lessons at the Evelina Hospital School and working with groups of 7 and 8 year olds with the charity I Can Be.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our public engagement activities have been moved online since March 2020.
In July 2020 we delivered our first ever online summer school. We designed activities for children at Evelina Hospital School and we have also taken part in I Can Be@home.
We have now compiled all of our virtual work to date into one library. Highlights include:
- An activity to carry out a mock clinical trial from home.
- Interactive activities from the Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine including the extremely popular Stitch n Stem embroidery kit and #Recreate Science.
- Videos and activities provided by the Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative at King’s College London
- Videos of staff talking about their career and how they came to their current role.
We will continue to work with work with King’s Health Partners to update these resources and welcome feedback and requests for new ideas.
Claire O’Neill, Public Engagement Manager said “We greatly miss being able to work with schools and young people face-to-face. However, these past few months have given us a great opportunity to find new ways of working. This also means that we can reach more people than ever before and that students can access our support, advice and fun activities at times that suit them.”
To request access to the virtual library, visit bit.ly/RandDLibrary
If you have any queries or suggestions, please email claire.oneill@gstt.nhs.uk.
