I am Professor of Integrated Community Child Health at University College London and an academic, clinician, science communicator and poet. I am also Consultant Paediatrician at Whittington NHS Trust and PPI Lead for the Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre. My work focuses on using collaborative, participatory research methods incorporating the arts at the intersections of health, education and the environment in order to optimise the health and wellbeing of underserved children, adolescents and families affected by social and structural inequalities with the aim of influencing practice and policy.

We have an increasing number of children living in temporary accommodation. This has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis has led to more children falling into poverty. Professionals supporting them are under pressure - health visitor numbers are reducing and the NHS and educational support are at their limits. Finding urgent ways to support families, improve housing conditions and tackle health inequalities to improve the health and wellbeing of children to ensure they have a healthy adulthood is crucial.