The new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People has celebrated it’s landmark Opening Door Ceremony with a brilliant showcase of work from across the King’s Maudsley Partnership.  

Photography: Ben McDade

Yesterday evening, clinicians and researchers from across the King’s Maudsley Partnership attended a milestone celebratory event marking the initial opening of the Pears Maudsley Centre. They were joined by many of the donors who helped to fund the creation of the Centre, as well as the young people who have guided its design. 

Based at the heart of the world leading Maudsley Hospital site in South London, the pioneering new Centre has brought together clinical and scientific expertise with the aim of transforming the mental health of children and young people for generations to come. 

Professor Philip Shaw, Director of the King’s Maudsley Partnership said, “I have an immense feeling of pride at the sight of the Pears Maudsley Centre opening its doors.  It is the home of the Partnership, created to revolutionise how we understand and help children and young people living with mental health conditions.  It’s exciting to think of what we achieve by bringing clinicians and academics together under one roof, alongside children, young people and families.

“I’d like to share my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to getting us to this stage.” 

Guests were treated to a showcase of the work already taking place within the Partnership, including a demonstration of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy – designed to non-invasively capture images of brain activity – as well as a VR headset which helps young people learn how to manage emotional dysregulation. 

The evening also included a series of activities for guests of all ages to take part in, including learning how close up magic can help to improve communication skills, arts therapy, and a visual artist capturing the events of the night. 

Photography: Ben McDade

Dr Bruce Clark, Clinical Director of the King’s Maudsley Partnership said, “The challenges facing young people’s mental health today are numerous and it’s vital that we, as clinicians and researchers, are as well-equipped as we can be to meet them head on.  

“This ceremony represents the culmination of years of collaboration not only with colleagues from across medicine, research, and charity, but also with the many donors who have donated time and resources to make this a reality. Perhaps most important of all are the many young people who have guided the development of this Centre.” 

Senior leaders from across the Partnership shared speeches before a drinks reception on the third floor garden terrace – an area designed to promote good mental health in a natural space. 

Photography: Ben McDade

Sarah Holloway, Chief Executive of Maudsley Charity said, “The opening of the Pears Maudsley Centre is a watershed moment for children and young people’s mental health and a major milestone for us at Maudsley Charity. We have given £10m – our largest ever grant to date – towards the creation of this building but more importantly, as a proud member of the King’s Maudsley Partnership, we are excited by what will happen inside these walls.  

 

“This is the place where the best minds will collaborate on much-needed innovations in treatment and care, and where many young people and their families will find once again be given hope for the happy, healthy futures we all want for our young people.” 

Ade Odunlade, Interim CEO South London and Maudsley NHS Trust said, “The Pears Maudsley Centre represents a symbol of change, hope for the future and a commitment that we are putting children’s mental health on top of the agenda. It is setting the standard for and will influence healthcare settings around the world. I am so pleased to see our colleagues move in as we open this new chapter for the Trust, the King’s Maudsley Partnership, and the children and young people we support.”

Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London said, “This Pears Maudsley Centre reflects the very best of what we can achieve when universities, health services, charities and philanthropists work together in service of society. I am immensely proud of everyone who has helped bring this vision to life, and of the difference it will make to children, young people and their families for years to come.” 

 

Professor Matthew Hotopf CBE, Executive Dean of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Nueroscience at king’s College London said, “This is a hugely significant moment, marking the crucial next steps of the King’s Maudsley Partnership.

 

“With IoPPN colleagues joining later this year, and as the new Clinical Research Facility (designed with children and young people in mind) begins operation, this is an exciting time for the partnership and our collaborative work on groundbreaking mental health research and care for children and young people.”

The event is the first in a series of celebrations, culminating in a ribbon cutting ceremony once the Centre becomes fully operational in early 2027. 

For more information, please contact Patrick O’Brien (Senior Communications and Engagement Manager) 

Clinical services from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust have started to transition into the new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People.

The first teams to move into the building include the Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases (CIPPRD), the Crisis Line and Response service, and the Bed Management team. Further CAMHS teams will continue to relocate throughout May.

The arrival of the first teams marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Pears Maudsley Centre, with a shared focus on delivering high‑quality care in an environment shaped around the needs of children, young people and their families. The building has designed to move away from traditional institutional settings to provide a more welcoming and calm experience for young people.

Reflecting on the importance of the new space, Dr Bruce Clark, Clinical Director of the King’s Maudsley Partnership, said:

“Very sadly, mental health services are often delivered from estates and settings that are just below par. We have a modern state‑of‑the‑art building that’s been designed with service user input, which had us focus on light and views of nature. It’s just a much more pleasant and destigmatising environment.”

Professor Philip Shaw, Director of the King’s Maudsley Partnership, shared what he is most looking forward to as the Centre opens its doors:

“I’m really looking forward to the first time a young person comes into the building, spends time in a welcoming waiting area designed those with sensory sensitivities, and then meets a supportive clinical team. On the same day, they may also be introduced to a research team in an equally welcoming space, where they can take part in research and help us deepen our understanding of mental health. This ‘joined-up‘ experience from care to research is what I’m most looking forward to.”

Alongside clinical services, research teams from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London will also be moving into the Clinical Research Facility within the Centre later this year, supporting closer collaboration between clinical care and research.

“It’s a state‑of‑the‑art building and it’s impressive when you look at it.  We’re looking forward to young people and their families coming in and seeing them collaborate with our clinical and research teams.”

 

The Centre has been made possible through a £10 million donation from Maudsley Charity, alongside the generous support of major donors, foundations and individual supporters.