DCU LifeLab is a health literacy intervention co-designed with teachers, young people, and health professionals to improve the health knowledge, choices and behaviours of Irish teenagers in disadvantaged communities. The programme combines school-based activities with sessions in a purpose-built LifeLab to advance youth health and wellbeing.
Based in DCU Polaris, Ireland’s most advanced facility for STEM teaching and learning, the lab is an interactive educational space for 12-16 year olds, allowing for hands-on learning experiences that support health literacy education and engagement.
Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use health information and services to make informed decisions about their health. It includes the skills needed to navigate healthcare systems, interpret medical advice, manage medications, and understand the impact of lifestyle choices on health.
In 2018, researchers Dr Sarahjane Belton and Dr Johann Issartel began work with over 1,000 young people from 10 DEIS schools to co-design and pilot the programme, with Dr Hannah Goss joining the project the following year. The new funding will advance the programme’s development and enable it to impact more young people over the coming years.
The project is designed to dovetail with the Wellbeing Programme in Irish schools, and aligns with the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) plan.
Professor Blánaid White, Executive Dean of DCU Faculty of Science and Health commented:
“This generous support from the Sunflower Charitable Foundation represents a significant investment in the wellbeing of future generations. The DCU LifeLab is a powerful example of how research, education, and community partnership can come together to empower young people with the tools they need to make informed health choices. We are proud to see this programme grow within the Faculty of Science and Health”.
LifeLab principal investigator Dr Hannah Goss said:
“This support from the Sunflower Charitable Foundation marks a transformative moment for LifeLab. It will allow us to grow the programme, deepen our research, and bring health literacy education to more young people across Ireland. By embedding interactive, real-world learning into the school experience, we’re equipping teenagers with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health—both now and into the future.”
Commenting on the announcement, Samantha Briody, CEO of the Sunflower Charitable Foundation said:
“The Sunflower Charitable Foundation is proud to support the DCU LifeLab programme, aimed at improving the health choices of Irish teenagers. It particularly welcomes the use of interactive education spaces in helping young people cope with the pace of change in today’s environment.”
