The LIRCH Hippinghold 2026 Conference

5 years. 10 million people. 20% greatest need.
The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health's Hippinghold*.
Resetting the equity balance for rural and coastal communities.

*Hippinghold

Noun

Lincolnshire dialect circa 1779–1783 for a 'plan of gossiping or meeting of servants'.

The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH), based at the University of Lincoln, and funded through a £10.9m UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant, is the UK's first integrated and multidisciplinary research institute solely dedicated to understanding, highlighting, and reducing the place-based health inequalities that affect rural, remote, and coastal communities.

LIRCH has an initial period of 5 years to explore the health and wellbeing inequalities affecting the 10 million people living in rural and coastal areas in the UK, of which 20% are within vulnerable communities.

The inaugural LIRCH Hippinghold will bring together academics, policy makers, local government, healthcare service professionals, community members, and industry to explore the vital research that’s being undertaken to support these communities, understand the scale of opportunity, progress plans for future action, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear keynotes from LIRCH Director - Global Professor Mark Gussy, with others soon to be revealed, followed by a series of interactive and collaborative workshops.

This event is free to attend but booking is required.