I am working across Age of Wonder, JU:MP, and establishing the Bradford Centre for Qualitative Research (CQR) to embed qualitative research in the work here at BIB. I have recently completed my PhD in criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University where I undertook an ethnographic exploration of rugby union as a vehicle for supporting Positive Youth Development within the youth justice system. My thesis is a critical interrogation of how masculine discourse found in sport and youth justice, can interact within the context of sports based youth justice programs to inhibit sports potential to encourage asset development. Prior to and alongside my PhD I achieved a Bsc in sports coaching and development and an MRes in Education at the University of Gloucestershire and have worked in sport development roles for organisations including Huddersfield Giants and Volunteering Matters. Most recently I have been involved in research projects involving youth offending institutions and police forces on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, and adult prisons on behalf of the University of Glasgow. My research interests include youth development, violence and masculinities, and sport criminology. 

Ruth joined the Born in Bradford team in November 2022 as Qualitative Research Fellow. She is working on the Supporting Young Bradford project alongside Bridget Lockyer, which is using co-productive research methods to understand the impact of family’s working patterns on their ability to offer emotional support to young adults. She is also using her expertise in qualitative longitudinal and participatory methods to advise on the Age of Wonder programme.

Prior to Joining BiB, Ruth was a Research Associate at the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University from 2019, where her qualitative work focused on families on low incomes, and where she led on a project looking at young adults’ transitions out of homelessness. She graduated from a PhD at Leicester University in 2019, which used participatory visual methods to explore everyday migrant home-making practices among migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women living in Glasgow. Her research interests include social inequalities, young people, families, social policy and participatory methods. 

Jennifer joined Born in Bradford as a Senior Research Fellow in September 2019. She is part of the research team evaluating ‘Join Us: Move. Play’, a programme which aims to increase physical activity and improve outcomes for children and young people aged 5 – 14. Jennifer is currently leading on developing the process evaluation of the programme and will develop behaviour change interventions to be tested as part of the programme.

Jennifer is a qualitative researcher with research interests in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and intervention development and behaviour change. Prior to joining BiB Jennifer developed and feasibility tested an intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour after stroke. Her PhD research involved developing and evaluating a workplace intervention for reducing sitting and increasing physical activity amongst office-based employees.

Jennifer has contributed to a book on British Muslims, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities- https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-british-muslims-ethnicity-and-health-inequalities.html 

Bridget is a Senior Research Fellow working within the ActEarly Collaboratory to ensure the successful development and evaluation of ActEarly projects. She is using qualitative methods to map and understand overall system change as a result of the ActEarly interventions in Bradford and Tower Hamlets.

Prior to starting this role in January 2020, she worked as a Research Associate/Fellow at University of York and Canterbury Christ Church University/UCL. Her PhD thesis examined the experiences of women in paid and unpaid work within voluntary organisations in Bradford. She is an interdisciplinary qualitative researcher with interests in health, organisations, gender, (in)equality and diversity. 

Elliot joined Born in Bradford in 2023 for a year long internship. He works alongside the BCQR team, but his main role is as  research and implementation assistant within the JU:MP team. After the year internship he will continue his Psychology Undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds. 

Mevagh joined Born in Bradford as an intern in September 2023. She is currently working with the JU:MP team as a research and implementation assistant and is also working with the BCQR team. Mevagh studies Nutrition at the University of Leeds and will complete the final year of her degree after her internship with Born in Bradford.