Alder Hey: training Sunflower House staff, and the teams that followed
When a venue does a good job, word gets around.
Sunflower House at Alder Hey Children's Hospital has come to the Maggie O'Neill Centre for over a year. It trains all of its staff here. Other Alder Hey departments and teams now come here too, for the same reasons.
At a glance
Sunflower House at Alder Hey Children's Hospital has come to the Maggie O'Neill Centre for over a year. It trains all of its staff here. Other Alder Hey departments and teams now come here too, for the same reasons. Rooms are set before anyone arrives. Hosts are on site all day. Self-serve tea and coffee is in the room. Parking is free, 30 seconds from the M57.
The quick facts
- Who
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital: Sunflower House, and other departments and teams.
- With us
- Over a year.
- What they run here
- Training for all Sunflower House staff.
- Why they stay
- Rooms set up the same way every time. The right kit, and a team that bends to fit what they need.
Last updated: October 2026
What did Sunflower House need from a training venue?
Sunflower House needed a venue where it could train all of its staff. NHS training days are planned around busy rotas. So the venue has to be ready when people arrive. There should be nothing to sort out before the session can start.
Why does Sunflower House keep coming back?
- The room is set up the same way every time, so trainers and staff know just what to expect.
- The right things are in place. The screen is ready and tea and coffee are in the room. There’s 1Gb fibre WiFi, and parking is free for staff coming in.
- We work hard to be flexible and helpful, whatever the day needs.
- Hosts are on site all day, so anything that comes up is sorted quickly.
Why do other Alder Hey teams book here too?
Other Alder Hey departments and teams now come to the Maggie O’Neill Centre for the same reasons. When a venue does a good job, word gets around.
We love having Alder Hey with us. It feels good to give a space in Knowsley to staff doing such important work.
What could this look like for your NHS team?
See the NHS training venue page for prices and everything that's included.
- A room set up the same way every time, so you know what to expect on training days.
- We invoice your trust, and PO numbers are welcome.
- Free parking for staff coming in.
- Step-free on the ground floor, with an accessible toilet. The Auditorium, Community Room, Forum, Grove and Pod are all on the ground floor.
The screen in the Summit. It's ready to connect to wirelessly before your trainer arrives.
What's included when you hire a room?
Every room booking at the Maggie O'Neill Centre comes with all of this. You don't need to bring a thing. We've even got the HDMI cable.
- Room set to your layout before you arrive
- On-site hosts, all day
- Self-serve tea and coffee in the room, all day
- LED flatscreen you connect to wirelessly (no cords across the room), plus HDMI cables
- 1Gb fibre WiFi throughout the building
- Flipchart and pens
- Free parking for everyone in your group
- A mid-morning check-in with your trainer
- Kitchen and fridge access
- Room notes kept for next time
Which rooms suit NHS training?
Tell us how many people are coming and what the day involves. We'll suggest the right room.
The Summit
First floor, stairs only
The Forum
Ground floor
The Community Room
Ground floor
The Foundry
First floor, stairs only
The Grove
Ground floor
Acoustic curtains give privacy. Please don't book it for highly sensitive or confidential sessions.
The Auditorium
Ground floor
Not sure which room? Tell us your numbers and we'll pick one for you. See everything that's included
Check availabilityWho else trains at the Maggie O'Neill Centre?
See the NHS training venue page for everything that's included, or read another story.
Amore
Four years of training, almost every week, in one central venue.
Central and South PCN
Protected learning time in the Auditorium, and meetings every month.
Alternative Futures Group
Care training and meetings since Covid, including a four-week systems rollout.
Livv Housing Group
Over 14 years of training, meetings and company-wide programmes.
Libraries Connected
A London charity, using our virtual office address for 2 years.
Planning training dates of your own?
Check availability online. Or call and talk it through with your host. We'll pick the room and layout that suits you.
Every booking funds Maggie's Meals. Looked after at Maggie's.