Summer Term 2026
LIFELAB IN LIFELAB IN NUMBERS NUMBERS
Total number of schools who have participated in LifeLab
IMPACT REPORT 2025
This year, 7,353 young people from 184 schools and colleges took part in LifeLab programmes, from primary Health Warriors to sixth-form genetics days, and our young researchers took their work all the way to Parliament
We've just published our 2025 Impact Report and we'd love you to take a look 'LifeLab Impact Report 2025'. If you'd like to get more involved in what we do, please get in touch
BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL
This September, Europe's longest-running science festival is coming to Southampton, and for the first time in its history, local young people have helped shape the programme. Six members of our LifeLab Youth Panel worked with the British Science Festival team to curate events that will appeal to younger audiences, and their input has been central to the planning The festival runs 16–20 September across venues in the city and is free to attend, for more info, visit the British Science Festival website
EARLY LIFELAB
This year, Early LifeLab modules have been used in 21 different schools, and we would love to recruit more! Please pass on our details to schools who would like to use our resources...
“The resources were fantastic. They supported learning across different areas of the curriculum and really encouraged curiosity, discussion, and imaginative play.” Year R teacher, Tanners Brook
18,663
Total number of students participating in Early LifeLab
136
Total number of students who have been through the doors at LifeLab
13,480
Total number of Developing Talent students
Total number of Youth Panel members
1,307 92
75
Total number of Young Researchers trained
WELCOME TO OUR NEW LIFELAB TEAM MEMBER
We’d like to welcome and introduce Jackie Holmes to the Lifelab team, who will be working on our secondary programme
“Hi, I started my career working in pathology, specifically virology, after completing my degree in Biomedical Science. I have spent 30 years teaching Science and Biology in state and
independent schools in Surrey and Hampshire. I am really looking forward to using my skills to educate young people about how small changes to their lifestyle can have a big impact on their future health.”
EXPERIENCE DISCOVER CREATE
NXTGEN RESEARCHER CO-PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY
Sixteen young researchers presented their own evidence -based findings to senior city leaders - from the Council Leader and Chief Executive to Directors of Public Health and Education - making the case for change on issues ranging from mental health and social media to physical activity and education The co-production assembly marked the culmination of months of youth-led research, putting young people's voices directly in front of the decision-makers who can act on them
Summer Term 2026
YOUNG HEALTH ACTIVISTS ONLINE
Over Easter, we were delighted to welcome Bianca as an undergraduate intern, working with us to develop an online, selfdirected eLearning module for our Young Health Activists qualification so that students can complete it independently. Bianca said she "had the opportunity to develop [her] IT skills, particularly by learning how to use programmes such as Articulate, which was both enjoyable and rewarding"
LIFELAB GOES GLOBAL
its
hospital-lab roots Dublin engaged over 500 young people and is gearing up for a full randomised controlled trial; Sydney wrapped up data collection with 684 Year 8 students and is working with young people to redesign the programme from the ground up; and Soweto is preparing to pilot with around 300 learners in 2026 Watch this space!
SEEN THROUGH FRESH EYES
Last term, the LifeLab Youth Panel reviewed the LifeLab secondary module of work They looked at the lessons, gave feedback and designed new activities to help deliver our health messages They also reviewed the LifeLab activity day and suggested ways in which we can improve our delivery to enage the new generations of young people visiting LifeLab.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP?
Earlier this year we launched our sponsorship brochure, setting out the ways organisations can invest in LifeLab's work with young people If you know a business or individual who might be interested in supporting what we do, we'd be really grateful if you could pass it on. You can download it here: LifeLab Sponsorship Brochure
In March, our Director Kath Woods-Townsend delivered her inaugural professorial lecture, tracing the story of LifeLab from its earliest beginnings to its ambitions for the future You can watch the recording here bit.ly/LifeLabKWTInaugural
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Please share with colleagues and email us at lifelab@soton.ac.uk for more details
Researchers working with Young People training: Wed 13 May th
Meet
and
Southampton might be where LifeLab started, but in 2025 it was very much a world away from
