Shaping the Future Event Celebrates 75th Anniversary of the NHS and the NIHR Be Part Of Research Campaign in Sheffield Winter Garden 

Sheffield, 22nd July 2023

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Sheffield Winter Garden was abuzz with activity as researchers and the public gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Be Part Of Research campaign. The "Shaping the Future" event, running from 11am to 3pm, offered a plethora of family-friendly interactive activities and a captivating exhibition of research images.

Despite the weather, the atmosphere was warm and vibrant as families and individuals came together to celebrate the past, present and future of health research in Sheffield and beyond. The Winter Garden, usually known for its picturesque flora, served as the perfect shelter for visitors as they enjoyed the event's offerings.

The event featured numerous stands with interactive activities, captivating visitors and encouraging active participation. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in discussion with researchers from a variety of backgrounds, learn about current research from educational displays and hands-on activities, and even take part in a mock clinical trial! 

Stands included researchers from Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience building brain hats, a team from the virology department at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals demonstrating the safest way to don PPE using fluorescent dyes, a hearing loss simulator demonstrated by researchers from the University of Sheffield and many more - take a look at our photo's below to see what else attendees got up to throughout the day. The "Shaping the Future" event truly encompassed the spirit of celebrating health research.

"We are thrilled to have organised this family-friendly event to mark such an important occasion," said Emma Fargher, one of the event organisers. "Despite the rain, we saw an incredible turnout and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. It was heartening to witness people of all ages actively participating in the various activities and exhibitions."

The "Shaping the Future" event was a collaboration between various research organisations in Sheffield, including The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Sheffield BRC, NIHR Devices for Dignity MIC, Primary Care Sheffield, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Sheffield Cancer Clinical Trials Centre, NIHR Children and Young People MedTech Co-operative and NIHR Sheffield CRF. The event aimed to not only celebrate the NHS's remarkable research journey over the past 75 years, but to also raise awareness about the importance of health research and explain how the community can get involved. 

The organisers would like to extend their gratitude to all the dedicated individuals and organisations that ran the stands, showcasing their passion for healthcare and research. Their efforts in creating interactive and informative displays made the event a resounding success.

About the NHS and the NIHR Be Part Of Research Campaign:

The National Health Service (NHS) was founded on 5th July 1948, with the vision of providing high-quality healthcare services to all, regardless of their financial status. The NIHR Be Part Of Research campaign encourages people to actively participate in health research, contributing to advancements in medical knowledge and treatments.