The concept of event legacy is being turned on its head by the Liverpool
Experience Campus (LEX) with the venue helping communities benefit from events long before they’ve taken
place.
LEX’s more fluid approach to legacy was put into action when it oversaw the
delivery of an oral health education event for 270 neurodivergent children and their parents
and carers.
Little Smiles for Everyone at Liverpool Central Library,
took place during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, in March, several months ahead of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD)
Congress, held at LEX’s Convention Centre on 1-4 July.
Through its network of Legacy Champions, LEX worked in partnership
with international experts in paediatric dentistry attending EAPD 2026, and local partners,
including the University of Liverpool School of Dentistry, Alder Hey Children's
Charity and Liverpool City Council to deliver the event.
Adrian Evans of LEX said: “For us, successful event legacy
is not simply activities that happen around the event itself, but
partnerships and programmes that are intentionally designed to leave a positive
and lasting impact on the city region.
“We work with conference organisers long before they
arrive in Liverpool, identify where their expertise aligns with the city
region’s priorities, and then connect them with our network of Legacy
Champions who can help turn those opportunities into meaningful action."
Evans said Little Smiles for Everyone was the ‘perfect example’
of the process in action.
“The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry brought
world-leading expertise to the city, and through our legacy framework
we were able to connect that expertise with local partners working to
improve outcomes for children and families. The result was a collaborative initiative
that addressed a real community need and created benefits far beyond the
congress itself."
Legacy champions:
The Little Smiles event was the latest example of LEX's legacy strategy in
action. Their approach connects visiting
associations with a network of experts, charities, public
sector organisations and community groups to create projects that
address key Liverpool City Region priorities.
Rather
than treating legacy as an afterthought, LEX helps
clients embed it into the event lifecycle from the moment a
conference is secured. Working closely with organisers, the LEX
team identifies areas where the knowledge, expertise and
influence of delegates can be used to make a meaningful difference to local
communities.
Through
its network of Legacy Champions across health, education, innovation,
sustainability and community sectors, the
team facilitates partnerships that align the objectives of
visiting associations with existing regional priorities, ensuring that business
events leave behind more than economic value.
Emma has been a journalist for over 20 years, with experience working in both local and trade media. After reporting on the fast-paced world of hospitality for many years, Emma is enjoying this transition into the equally exciting world of events to cover Holly Patrick’s role on AMI and M&IT while she takes her maternity leave.
