Exercise During COVID-19, Health Benefits, Health Sciences, Exercise, Health Inequalities

My primary research focus is preventative health and poverty, and I work closely with community organisations. I am especially interested in taking as Asset Based approach to Communtiy Development and focusing on what makes us well (salutogenesis). This includes work around poverty, inequalities and cancer prevention.

My recent work includes a  Cancer Research UK funded exploratory study on cancer risk amongst women who have suffered domestic abuse and are in the justice system. I am continuing this work generously funded by BigC, our local cancer charity, to develop a walking group based intervention which aims to increase the women’s health literacy around cancer prevention in a novel format. I am also continuing my mixed methods research working as a co-investigator on an Alzheimer’s Research UK funded study (MedEx-UK) aiming for dietary and physical activity behaviour change amongst participants at increased risk of dementia. In 2019 I was awarded funding from NIHR Public Health to explore taking a Community Asset Based approach to physical activity among more marginalised and inactive groups. 

I am deputy lead of Theme 1 - behaviour, inequalities and health at the Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing https://healthyageingnorwich.com/theme/theme-1-behaviour-inequalities-and-health/ 

I am part of the SCORES project https://www.scoresproject.org/ an independent research study designed to better understand the cognitive health of athletes as they age. Our current focus is former professional footballers.

My partnership working includes Active Norfolk, Macmillan Cancer Support, Norfolk County Council and 4Women at Home Group (Housing association) and Norwich Foodbank. My current partnership work with Norwich City Council is on housing and hoarding behaviours

I teach across the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences on preventative health and public health. I lead the post-graduate Introduction to Research Methods - Qualitative Research Methods.

I am actively involved in public engagement and the promotion of science contributing to local events such as Norwich Science Festival, Pint of Science and local media. 

I am a research adviser to the Howard League for Penal Reform. Currently we are particularly interested in mild traumatic head injury in women in the justice system. I am adviser to the Norfolk Green Care Network https://ngcnetwork.wordpress.com/ One of our interests is 'Green Social prescribing'

My primary focus is community based preventative health, poverty and inequalities.