The brand-new Health and Life Sciences building at Leeds Trinity University’s Main Campus in Horsforth was abuzz with activity on Tuesday 7 November when the BSc (Hons) Nursing Programme played host to Leeds People Matters (LPM), an organisation based in the Holbeck area of Leeds.

The event was organised by the Academic Lead for Nursing at Leeds Trinity, Associate Professor Abi Lancaster and me, Dr Chris Dlamini, the Programme Leader for Learning Disabilities Nursing. The purpose of this event was to support the development of our community outreach work with local partners across the Leeds and Bradford City Region.  

Leeds People Matters creates opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities and other hidden disabilities who experience disadvantage. They help people to be more independent and enjoy life in the same way as everybody else. They do this through wellbeing groups with a focus on fun, creative and active programs chosen by its members. Activities include arts and crafts, mindfulness, games, walking and sports, whilst developing confidence to access services and promote self-care.

Alongside members of Leeds People Matters were other partner organisations involved in promoting the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities. These included NHS Community Nursing Teams and other health and social care partners from across the region such as Leeds and York Partnership NHS, Leeds Health Awareness, Purple Patch Arts and Cancer SMART.

The event helped to promote our new nursing programme, due to commence in January 2024, as well as forged the tripartite relationship between Leeds Trinity University, people with learning disabilities and practice colleagues from across all health sectors. Mandy Craven, who runs the LPM wellbeing group, started the day by welcoming everyone and introducing the work they do. The group also brought with them some of their artwork which was on display in the room.

Activities on offer included colouring-in, drawing and painting mainly by people with learning disabilities. Participants to the event were offered healthy, natural vegan-friendly snacks prepared by LPM. During the event, a member of the welling group was full of praise for the work LPM have done and asked for the group to continue running in the future as he finds it beneficial.

It was also wonderful to receive positive feedback from Mandy Craven from Leeds People Matters. Mandy told me she felt honoured to be invited to host this event and was made to feel extremely welcome. She was amazed by the space and went on to elaborate that the mannequins were a big talking point for her staff and members. The LPM members gained useful information from the event.

The purpose-built facility at Leeds Trinity has been developed to prepare students to provide personalised care to patients in hospital, their homes, and the community, as well as maximise the use of digital health technology.  It includes a six-bed ward, a high dependency unit, a community flat, assisted bathing facility, clinical skills suite, and a wider teaching space. 

The University has invested approximately £5m into the new health building and upgrades to existing facilities at its Main Campus in Horsforth to address workforce development in Nursing, Allied Health, and Life Sciences across the region and beyond. Placements will reflect the integrated care system to ensure that students are able to work confidently across all parts of the health and social care sector. 

Our academic experts have co-created the curriculum with clinical practice partners, service users and carers to respond to demands on the NHS in Yorkshire, and we will continue to take collaborative approaches to future talent and skills development.

Working towards collaboration and co-developing learning consistently through our partnerships, we aim to set the standard by which we hold each other to being consistently honest, challenging and supportive.

Through better local networking, we would like our University to play an anchor role in recognising the impact on communities our students come from and work in. This impact will extend to further education, local government, the charity and voluntary sectors. Our commitment to the future includes the creation and translation of new knowledge and creativity in how we offer placements, helping to build a future workforce, and enhancing health and wellbeing of the community.

This event is one of many as we continue to engage with our partners and strengthen our bonds in enhancing the best learning opportunities for our student nurses.

Dr Chris Dlamini is Programme Leader for Learning Disabilities Nursing at Leeds Trinity University.

For more information about Leeds Trinity’s Nursing courses visit the University website.

For key dates regarding studying Nursing at Leeds Trinity visit Nursing Key Dates - Leeds Trinity University.