Personal profile
Key Research Interests
My primary research focus is preventative health and poverty, working closely with community partners. This includes research and commissioned work such as food and housing insecurity (including hoarding), health literacy (e.g. in cancer prevention) and working with under-researched groups. I am especially interested in taking as Asset Based approach to Communtiy Development and focusing on what makes us well (salutogenesis).
Research Group or Lab Membership
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.
External
I am interested in Green Health and Wellbeing and green Social Prescribing and give research advice to the Norfolk Green Care Network.
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.
Teaching Interests
Qualitative methods, including visual and creative methods
Various PhD Professional Development Research methods
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Towards an understanding of walking groups as a health promoting intervention, Norwich Medical School
11 Jan 2013 → 26 Jan 2016
Award Date: 21 Jul 2016
Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research, University of East Anglia
Award Date: 5 Jul 2013
Master of Education, Masters degree (Learning and Teaching in Adult, Further and Higher Education), University of East Anglia
… → 2011
Award Date: 2 Mar 2011
Keywords
- Behavioural and Implementation Science
- Nutrition & Preventive Medicine
- Public Health, Health Services & Primary Care
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Co-development of a culturally and contextually sensitive community-based intervention to promote health and wellbeing in the asylum seeking and refugee community.
Parretti, H. (Principal Investigator), Clark, E. (Co-Investigator), Hanson, S. (Co-Investigator), Steel, N. (Co-Investigator) & Gooding, J. (Researcher)
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/03/26 → 31/05/30
Project: Research
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A trauma-informed, person-centred approach to improve temporary and supported accommodation
Hanson, S. (Principal Investigator) & Sweeting, A. (Co-Investigator)
1/01/26 → 31/12/27
Project: Consultancy
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Adapting and refining the Support Needs Approach for Patients (SNAP) to enable delivery of person-centred care to people with progressive conditions in prison
Gardener, C. (Principal Investigator), Farquhar, M. (Co-Investigator) & Hanson, S. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/24 → 31/08/26
Project: Research
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Evaluation of loneliness and social isolation project.
Hanson, S. (Principal Investigator), Hornberger, M. (Principal Investigator), Hornberger, M. (Co-Investigator) & Sweeting, A. (Co-Investigator)
1/05/25 → 30/09/25
Project: Consultancy
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Nourishing Norfolk tender
Hanson, S. (Principal Investigator), Sweeting, A. (Co-Investigator), Garner (nee Murray), N. (Researcher), Olley, L. (Researcher) & Wagner, A. (Researcher)
1/07/24 → 5/07/25
Project: Research
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The experiences of people with dementia and their informal carers of long-term condition reviews in primary care: A qualitative study
Cole, J. (Lead Author), Hanson, S., Hornberger, M. & Parretti, H. M., 26 Jan 2026, In: Health & Social Care in the Community. 2026, 1, 8897961.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Understanding healthy eating and physical activity community-centred behaviour change interventions for underserved populations: A mixed methods rapid review
Marshall, J. (Lead Author), Minihane, A.-M., Jong, S. T., Hanson, S., Akter, S., Garner, N. & Hardeman, W., Feb 2026, In: British Journal of Health Psychology. 31, 1, e70043.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A qualitative exploration of a financial inclusion service in an English foodbank
Hanson, S. & Porter, B., Jan 2025, In: Perspectives in Public Health. 145, 1, p. 42-44 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)21 Downloads (Pure) -
Evaluation of Hear for Norfolk's 'Cuppa Care' Project
Hanson, S. (Lead Author) & Sweeting, A., 15 Oct 2025, Norwich: University of East Anglia. 20 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Nourishing Norfolk Network: A Social Return on Investment
Sweeting, A. (Lead Author), Hanson, S., Garner, N., Wagner, A. & Handy, C., 12 Sept 2025, Institute for Social Value.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Achievement award for outstanding contribution to public and community engagment
Hanson, S. (Recipient), 13 Jun 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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First prize - best oral presentation
Hanson, S. (Recipient), 6 Mar 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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First prize for community engagement (poster presentation)
Hanson, S. (Recipient), 6 Jun 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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UEA Engagement Award for Outstanding response to COVID-19 (Team award)
Hanson, S. (Recipient), 17 Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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UEA Engagement Award for Partnership Working (Team award: The SCORES project)
Hanson, S. (Recipient), 17 Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Nourishing Norfolk Evaluation Launch - Norfolk Community Foundation
Hanson, S. (Speaker) & Sweeting, A. (Speaker)
12 Sept 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
File -
Health UEA: Making an impact through women's health research
Hanson, S. (Participant)
28 May 2025Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Suffolk Food summit
Hanson, S. (Speaker)
12 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Invited talk
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Podcast for UEA Civic University on health inequalities
Hanson, S. (Speaker)
6 Feb 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Food poverty in Norfolk: ‘Children have bowed legs’: hunger worse than ever, says Norwich school
21/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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BBC story on lockdown experiences (July 2023)
7/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Specialist anti-hoarding teams needed across the UK (Apr 2022)
21/03/22 → 22/03/22
21 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Specialist anti hoarding teams needed across the UK
21/03/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: UEA Press Release