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 been coming to the Maggie O'Neill Centre for over a year to train all of its staff. Other Alder Hey departments and teams now come here too, for the very same reasons.
At a glance
Sunflower House at Alder Hey Children's Hospital has been coming to the Maggie O'Neill Centre for over a year to train all of its staff. Other Alder Hey departments and teams now come here too, for the very same reasons. Rooms are set before anyone arrives, hosts are on site all day, tea and coffee are served in the room, and parking is free, 30 seconds from the M57.
- 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 amenities, and a team that flexes to 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, with 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 exactly what to expect.
- The right amenities are in place: the screen ready, tea and coffee in the room, 1Gb fibre WiFi, and free parking for staff travelling in.
- We work to be flexible and accommodating, 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 very same reasons. When a venue does a good job, word gets around.
We love having Alder Hey with us. It's a good feeling to know we're providing a space in Knowsley for 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 your training days are predictable.
- Invoices to your trust, with PO numbers welcome.
- Free parking for staff travelling 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, ready for wireless casting from a Mac or PC before your trainer arrives.
What's included when you hire a room?
Everything below comes with every room booking at the Maggie O'Neill Centre. Nothing to bring: we've got the HDMI cable.
- Room set to your layout before you arrive
- On-site hosts, all day
- Tea and coffee in the room, all day
- Screen with Mac and PC wireless casting and HDMI cables
- 1Gb fibre WiFi throughout the building
- Flipchart and pens
- Free parking for every delegate
- 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 your numbers and what the day involves, and we'll recommend 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
The Auditorium
Ground floor
Not sure which room? Tell us your numbers and we'll recommend one. 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 recommend the room and layout that suits you.
Every booking funds Maggie's Meals. Looked after at Maggie's.