We want to make a real step-change – tackling a global problem from here in Camberwell. Bringing world-leading clinicians and researchers together means we can develop innovative new ways of preventing and tackling mental health problems experienced by children and young people, and accelerating the pace of change.
Professor Emily Simonoff, Head of IoPPN’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at King’s College London
05 November 2020
Planning permission given for Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People
IoPPN, SLAM and Maudsley Charity yesterday got the green light for our new £65m centre to transform children and young people’s mental health.
The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People will bring mental healthcare services for local young people, world-class research, specialist national services, and a wide range of clinicians and academics under one roof. The centre will provide better care facilities, and turn research into prevention, early intervention and treatments more quickly than ever before – transforming lives locally and internationally.
Millions of pounds of funding have already been secured to construct this purpose-designed new building from partners The Maudsley Charity, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s (SLaM), and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, and major donors including trusts, foundations and individuals. The new centre on South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s (SLaM) Denmark Hill hospital site in Camberwell, next to King’s College London’s Denmark Hill Campus - will represent one of the most significant current investments in mental health care in the UK.
She added, “The centre’s work will make a real difference to people’s lives. By identifying the underlying causes of poor mental health, we will develop and implement new interventions to drive best practice care globally. Through using the latest data-driven technology we will also focus on the communities most at risk here in south London, allowing us to better target prevention and early intervention.”
The Centre will house modern new CAMHS inpatient, outpatient and crisis care facilities - and bring researchers, clinicians and local and specialist services together. Work will start soon on building the new centre after the go ahead was given by Southwark Council’s Planning Committee on 3 November 2020.
Getting the green light is a real high point during the most challenging times many of us in the NHS have ever experienced. This is a true partnership with the common goal of transforming care, treatments and preventing mental illness for young people in all the communities we serve.
Dr Bruce Clark, Clinical Director for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at SLaM
David Bradley, Chief Executive of SLaM, said: “The mental health of children and young people has never been so important. I am pleased that the need for high quality mental health facilities have been supported. Together with our partners we will be able to turn our vision to transform the mental health and wellbeing of children in Southwark, nationally and globally, into a reality.”
Rebecca Gray, Chief Executive of The Maudsley Charity, said: “It has never felt as vital as now to be investing in our young people’s future mental health and well-being. This centre is only being made possible through commitment and generous support, from the NHS, King’s College London, and a wide range of generous donors including The Pears Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation and The Garfield Weston Foundation.”
Contact: For interviews or any further media information please contact Louise Pratt, Head of Communications, IoPPN: louise.a.pratt@kcl.ac.uk / +44 7850 919020
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Interim Director of the King's Maudsley Partnership