Personal statement

I joined the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) in October 2013.  CYCJ is an independent centre hosted by the University of Strathclyde, but predominantly funded by the Scottish Government.  Prior to joining CYCJ I worked at Glasgow City Council, helping to develop the city’s evidence-based approach to youth justice policy, practice and service development and also managing the Youth Justice Research and Development Team.  While I was there I really enjoyed being able to work collaboratively with practitioners and conducting research that was relevant and meaningful to practice.  I was pleased that the move to CYCJ not only offered the prospect of conducting high quality academic research, but also the opportunity to maintain that connection to practice through colleagues in the Practice Workstream and CYCJ’s existing practitioner networks.

My role at CYCJ is Senior Research Fellow, as well as being the lead for Research Workstream.  This involves developing and implementing the research strategy, supporting the Research Team, overseeing the research programme and ensuring that our work helps CYCJ meet its aims and objectives, as well as designing and undertaking research projects.  My key research interests are the experience and impact of loss, bereavement and trauma in young people and how these experiences interface and shape contact with the justice system.  Of particular interest is the overrepresentation of young men in justice-settings, and how their exposure to loss, bereavement and trauma might shape their developing masculinities identities, behaviours and outcomes.  As a result, I'm also interested in institutional and organisational responses to trauma, and the realities of trauma-informed approaches in practice. 

I am PI on the UKRI funded Men Minds Project, which is a participatory research project, aimed at coproducing ways of improving mental health research with marginalised young men.  I am also PI on the Nuffield funded 'Challenging Justice Inequalities Project', a participatory research project aimed at exploring the intersections between poverty, protected characteristics and children's experiences of justice. 

Find out more about CYCJ at www.cycj.org.uk