DI Susan Masheter shares her experience of the N8 Research Partnership’s National Opportunity Summit

I’m a Police Officer with Greater Manchester Police, specialising in vulnerability and child protection. On September 25th, thanks to support from N8 PRP, I had the privilege of attending the National Opportunity Summit in Leeds – a truly inspiring and thought-provoking experience.

The day focused on ‘building a country that works for all children and young people’ and achieving the UK Government’s Opportunity Mission to give all children the best chance of success in life.

Throughout the day, I was captivated by the passion and dedication of the guest speakers, all of whom are committed to improving the lives of children and creating brighter futures for the next generation. It was both humbling and uplifting to witness the incredible work being done across the country, often behind the scenes, by individuals and organisations working tirelessly to make a difference.

What stood out most was the spirit of collaboration—seeing agencies come together, sharing knowledge and resources, and driving meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable young people.

It was really encouraging to hear about progress made by Child of the North in developing evidence-based plans to support children, including the plan on vulnerability, crime, and justice, with support for diversionary approaches.

As a result of the event, I’ve sought out further information about N8 and the N8 PRP and shared this with colleagues so they are aware of the fantastic resources available, which can inform our work as we continually look to improve how we protect the public and vulnerable people from harm. 

A heartfelt thank you to the outstanding speakers and the organisers for hosting such a powerful and impactful event. I’m grateful to have been part of it.

Detective Inspector Sue Masheter is an officer in the Public Protection Governance Unit at Greater Manchester Police.

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