Enhancing engagement with sport and exercise
Drawing upon sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, public health and physical education, we conduct large-scale practice-changing research that focuses on how sport, exercise and physical activity can enrich the quality of daily lives, across the lifespan.
Our collective research seeks to understand the barriers to participation, the best ways to engage and strategies involving different sectors, to get the nation more active.
Through leadership, knowledge translation, partnerships, training, education and advocacy we work closely with multiple stakeholders to ensure the direct impact of our research on national and international policy and practice.
Physical activity promotion in a secure mental health setting
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) have a reduced life expectancy of up to 20 years, largely due to physical health inequalities.
People with SMI are far less physically active than a healthy population and a secure mental health setting can exacerbate barriers to exercise and aid sedentary behaviour.
Educating healthcare assistants to support adults and adolescents
We are undertaking an original body of work, in collaboration with St Andrew’s Healthcare, that promotes physical activity in a secure mental health setting to improve mental and physical health. Research students are using psychological interventions to encourage long-term physical activity behaviour change to support adults and adolescents undertaking clinical treatment.
Meet the experts
Enhancing the implementation of school running programmes
School-based running programmes are a practical and cost-effective way to increase opportunities for additional physical activity time outside of physical education.
Consequently, initiatives such as the Daily Mile, are currently being implemented in a grass-roots style movement across the UK.
Resources to encourage active schools
Research on the implementation of physical activity programmes in schools is notably underdeveloped. Our research to address this has been supported by The London Marathon and Kids Run Free Charities, and Research England, in collaboration with Public Health England, has resulted in invaluable resources that are widely adopted by public health teams, commissioners, schools, headteachers and teachers.
