A major new health and wellbeing centre designed to support both students and the local community will ‘show what Salford is about’, says a boss at the University of Salford.
The new £54 million Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre, which is currently under construction and will open in late 2026, will offer students the opportunity to learn and develop skills in a state-of-the-art facility, whilst working with patients from the local area.
“It is about bringing the community in. It is about training the workforce of the future,” said Victoria Halliwell, the Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean in the School of Health and Society at Salford University.
The university already runs public clinics on its campus, but the new building will expand these services whilst maintaining low fees for residents in the local area.
Students will be able to learn in an industry leading environment while delivering services with the support of local partners working closely with the university.
Victoria Halliwell, added: “The student learning experience is so fundamental. On many health and care programs, much of that experience happens out of university while they’re out on placement.
“We were thinking about how we could really enhance some of those experiences. One of the obvious ways is to try and bring some of those experiences in house, in an environment which we have some control over, with a level of support that we have control over.
“In doing so, the students are making a real difference to the community, and I think that would give students a real sense of a purpose and, really help them feel like they’re on the right path for their future careers.
The centre will be used to support existing local programmes, helping partners see more people in a community facing high levels of health inequality and often limited access to specialist care.
The building has been designed to promote wellbeing through its layout, lighting and green spaces. The included features aim to improve visitors’ health just by visiting the centre.
The facility will also include social spaces aimed at reducing isolation with local Salfordians being encouraged to visit the centre once it has opened.
Victoria Halliwell added: “We’re actively seeking partners to work with other services in the building that are still of huge benefit to students and to the community.
“I think just by engaging with the community, and getting them into the building, then you start really getting people to think about coming to the university.
“I think this building shows what Salford is about. It is about bringing the community in. It is about training the workforce of the future. It is about our students really getting the very best experience that they can. It’s an absolute privilege and a joy to develop this building.”
More information about the project can be found here.
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