Academic papers, research reports, community publications and other outputs from research at the intersection of poverty, race, health inequalities and social justice.
My current primary research explores the everyday lived experience of poverty amongst Pakistani heritage communities in a post-industrial town in north west England. This project is ongoing and findings will be published as the work develops.
I am also engaged in ongoing work around children's oral health inequalities and the systemic barriers that shape health outcomes in deprived communities — with implications for NHS policy and public health commissioning.
A participatory qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and the Capabilities Approach to explore how poverty shapes everyday life, identity and capability in a Lancashire town. Community members are active co-investigators throughout the research process.
Published and forthcoming academic work across journals, edited volumes and conference proceedings.
Journal of Community Dentistry (forthcoming), pages. DOI: add here
Journal of Community Dentistry (forthcoming), pages. DOI: add here
Environment and Planning D: Society and Space (forthcoming), pages. DOI: add here
In: Fraenkel, J and Firth, S, Lal, Brij V (eds.), The 2006 Military Takeover in Fiji: A coup to end all coups?. ANU Press, pp. 209–237.
In: Fraenkel, J and Firth, S (eds.), From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 campaign and its aftermath. ANU Press, pp. 315–337.
Human Capabilities and Development Association, Bradford, UK. 2025.
Research outputs designed for community audiences, practitioners and policy makers — translating academic findings into accessible, actionable knowledge.
University of Central Lancashire / Lancashire BME Network
This report presented an end-of-cycle evaluation of the Energy 360 Project, delivered in Pennine Lancashire between August 2020 and February 2022 and funded through the Energy Redress Scheme. Commissioned by LBN, the evaluation was undertaken by the Global Race Centre for Equality at the University of Central Lancashire in partnership with onEvidence Ltd. Using a mixed-methods approach—including desk review, stakeholder analysis, and interviews with programme managers and delivery partners—the evaluation assessed the project’s relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency. The report contributed to policy and practice by identifying best practices and lessons for organisations delivering energy support interventions to vulnerable households. It highlighted the importance of adaptive programme design, flexible funding mechanisms, and strong partnership working in reaching communities most at risk of cold homes and high energy costs. The evaluation also provided practical recommendations to improve beneficiary targeting, strengthen monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and support more effective project design and partnership arrangements in future energy poverty initiatives.
Download reportUniversity of Central Lancashire / Lancashire BME Network
This report presented the final evaluation of the IAG Support 360 Project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered through a partnership led by Lancashire BME Network with four community partners: Bangladeshi Welfare Association, ITHAAD, Northern Community Network, and People’s Enterprise and Empowerment Forum. The evaluation examined how the partnership provided Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to vulnerable communities in Pennine Lancashire, building on findings from the interim report submitted in June 2021. The report contributed to policy and practice by demonstrating the effectiveness of community-led partnerships in delivering trusted advice services to minoritised and underserved populations. The project significantly exceeded its targets and highlighted the importance of locally rooted organisations in reaching communities facing barriers to mainstream services, including digital exclusion, language barriers, and immigration-related challenges following Brexit. The evaluation also documented the increased demand for support during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified innovative delivery approaches developed by community organisations. Its findings emphasised the value of trust-based, culturally responsive advice provision and recommended continued investment in community-led support models to strengthen social capital and reduce pressure on statutory services.
Download reportUniversity of Lancashire / AP Smilecare
This report presents the end-of-cycle evaluation of the AP Smilestars Supervised Toothbrushing Programme, delivered across early years settings in Blackburn with Darwen between 2022 and 2026. Commissioned by programme leads and delivery partners, the evaluation assessed the implementation, reach, and impact of the programme in supporting daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste among children aged 2–5. Using a mixed-methods approach—including baseline and follow-up monitoring data, staff feedback, parent engagement insights, and setting-level observations—the evaluation examined programme effectiveness, fidelity, and engagement across diverse communities. The report contributes to policy and practice by evidencing the value of supervised toothbrushing as a scalable, preventative public health intervention in areas experiencing high levels of child oral health inequality. It highlights the programme’s success in embedding daily routines within early years settings, improving children’s familiarity with toothbrushing, and increasing staff confidence in oral health promotion. The evaluation also identifies key enablers of success, including strong partnerships with settings, accessible training, and culturally responsive engagement with families. Importantly, it underscores the role of universal early years interventions in reducing inequalities where access to dental services is uneven. The findings provide practical recommendations for strengthening delivery, including enhancing parental engagement, refining monitoring frameworks, and supporting long-term sustainability through integration with wider health and early years systems. Overall, the evaluation demonstrates that supervised toothbrushing programmes such as AP Smilestars can play a critical role in improving early childhood oral health and informing future commissioning and public health strategy.
Read moreMy full CV includes complete publication lists, conference history, funding record, community roles, and professional experience. Available on request or via download below.