Personal statement

Since 2013, I have worked on various research projects within academia, the health service and the Scottish Government. 

Most of my research and work experience to date has been underpinned by a social justice perspective - whether through working ; helping convey the views of victims and survivors of historical (non-recent) abuse in care to the Scottish Government about the implementation of a financial compensation/redress scheme in Scotland; or providing personal coaching to individuals to help improve their lives; or improving access to education, employment and social inclusion for those living in rural communities; or supporting parents with learning disabilities to develop their parenting skills and support networks; or working on research projects that are focused on helping to understand and enhance the lives of others.

Since 2017, I have been working as a Research Associate in CELCIS (the Centre for excellence for children’s care and protection) at the University of Strathclyde. The main research projects I have been involved with include:

The Drawing Together international research project:  a three-year international research project the explored the relational wellbeing of young refugees who settled in Scotland, Norway and Finland.  CELCIS was commissioned by the University of Bedfordshire to support the research and policy activity of the Scotland team.  The project explored how they drew and described their important relationships across three time-dimensions - their childhood, present and future.  The research methodology included art workshops, individual interviews with ecomapping of important relationships, and paired interviews alongisde a value person.  Other activities included holding an art exhibition, film production, blogs, podcasts.

The Bright Spots Programme: CELCIS, in partnership with Coram Voice, is leading the Bright Spots programme Scottish pilot. The Bright Spots Programme supports local authorities with a new opportunity to listen to the voices of their care experienced children and young people about the things that are important to them. Using the surveys, ‘Your Life, Your Care’, and ‘Your Life Beyond Care’, which have been developed to provide an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences of care and how they feel about their lives, the local authorities can help to drive local service provision and focus on change where children and young people say it is needed. The initial Scottish pilot commenced with three local authority areas – Aberdeenshire Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and East Ayrshire Council - in 2021. The second pilot phase began in 2024 with three new partner local authorities: Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Borders Council and Stirling Council

Non-recent abuse in care:  In early 2017, I contributed to a review of literature and policy that charted the development of child care services between 1900 and 2014 that Professor Emeritus Andrew Kendrick was commissioned to undertake for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.  Thereafter, I became a key member of the CELCIS research team who, in partnership with other key stakeholder organisations, ran and delivered a consultation with survivors about a potential financial redress/compensation scheme for victims and survivors abuse in care in Scotland.  From late 2018 until March 2020, I was on part-time secondment to the Scottish Government to support the work of their new redress team in implementing policy and legislation to fulfil the Government’s commitment to financial redress for survivors of childhood abuse in care.  I continue to provide research support to the Government's redress team as required.

I represented CELCIS on the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s InterAction Action Plan Review Group (The Review Group) until the group ended in March 2022. The Group monitored the implementation of the InterAction Action Plan on Justice for victims of historical abuse in care. The Review Group included representation from survivors, survivor support organisations, service providers, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, the Scottish Government, CELCIS and Social Work Scotland.