New UK-Norway Partnership Aims to Give Every Baby the Best Start in Life
7 August 2025
Next week, The Rt Honourable Dame Andrea Leadsom and Dr Matthew Price will attend Arendalsuka, Norway’s largest cross-party political conference, in a significant move to expand the global reach of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation.
In partnership with the Foundation’s Norwegian counterpart, 1001 Dager, Dame Andrea and Dr Price will use this visit to place the first 1001 critical days firmly on the international agenda.
The visit will begin in the coastal town of Grimstad where the pair will present to an audience of policymakers, academics and frontline practitioners. With the Foundation’s mission firmly in mind that “every baby should experience the best start in life,” Dame Andrea and Dr Price will use this opportunity to share ideas from the UK and around the world with colleagues who are committed to improving the earliest experiences of babies and the support provided to their families and carers.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Dame Andrea said:
“We believe passionately that every baby deserves the best start in life. Our work in the UK has shown how powerful collaboration between policymakers, charities, researchers and practitioners can be. We’re looking forward to exploring how we can work together with our Norwegian colleagues to support the 1001 critical days – the period from pregnancy to age two.”
Lena Yri Engelsen of the 1001 Dager added:
“The National Foundation 1001 Days in Norway warmly welcomes this visit by the 1001 Critical Days Foundation. Our shared mission - to promote global recognition and understanding of the critical first 1001 days of life for the entire family, represents one of the most vital and impactful efforts we can undertake in light of the current global context.”
Held annually since 2012, Arendalsuka transforms the coastal city of Arendal into a hub of open democracy, lively discussion and policy making, involving political leaders, charities, businesses and researchers. And where better to discuss the theme of giving every baby the best start in life than the town that is the real-life inspiration for Disney’s Frozen kingdom of Arendelle – it couldn’t be more symbolic! And yes.....the cold never bothered us anyway.
For more information:
For all media enquiries, please email media@1001cd.com or call 07813 636 218
Find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube
About the 1001 Critical Days Foundation
The 1001 Critical Days Foundation is a new charity, with a mission that: “every baby should experience the best start for life.” We aim to transform the lives of babies by providing funding for charities delivering frontline support, commissioning international research into how to achieve the best outcomes for babies and advocating for the importance of the 1001 critical days around the world.
About the 1001 Dager
1001 Dager is a Norwegian non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing mental illness during the critical first 1001 days of life, from pregnancy through to a child’s second birthday.
The organisation works to:
• Raise public awareness about the importance of perinatal mental health
• Advocate for stepped-care perinatal mental health services tailored to pregnant individuals and new families
• Promote improved collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers and policymakers
Its vision is to ensure that every family in Norway receives timely, knowledge-based and compassionate support when they need it most.