CHARM participated in the Opening of the National Research Centre for Children and Young People with Disabilities at the Valnesfjord helsesportsenter (VHSS) in the municipality of Fauske on October 29, 2012. Representing CHARM were Erik Bautz-Holter, Halvor Hanisch og Reidun Jahnsen. Representatives from Beitostølen helsesportsenter (BHSS) were also present at the meeting as well as users of VHSS services, interested professionals, politicians and representatives from funding and supporting agencies. The event was a success, even though the health minister was stuck in snow and could only receive congratulations via Skype!
Interested researchers took part in a network meeting in Bodø the following day. In addition to the representatives from CHARM, the following researchers were in attendance: Trond Bliksvær and Lena Heggebø from VHSS, Astrid Nyquist from BHSS, Brit Lillestø from the Univeristy of Nordland (UiN) and Cecilie Anvik from Nordland Research (Norlandsforskning NF).
Erik Bautz-Holter gave a presentation of CHARM and the representatives from the other participating organizations also presented the current research projects in their institutions. UiN og NF have a social science orientation, which can complement the research in CHARM which is more medicine-oriented. During the meeting, a number of areas and topics of interest came up which can be the foundation of future collaboration. The researchers who are working on research topics relevant to the new National research centre pointed out that collaboration in knowledge-building is needed in the field.