Research Opportunities
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On this page you will find details of opportunities specifically for care leavers, including involvement in studies and research projects.
If you would like to participate, you will find contact details below each opportunity to ensure a smooth process for getting involved. |
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Does care experience affect self-concept in adulthood?
Research explores how care-experienced adults understand and make sense of their self-concept in adulthood.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Harry O'Neill
Email: [email protected]
Participation Criteria:
- Adults aged 21+
- Experience of being in care (foster care, residential care, kinship care, etc.)
- Willing to participate in a confidential, one-to-one interview (offered online, by phone, or in person)
Name: Harry O'Neill
Email: [email protected]
Paid study for care experienced individuals
This study aims to explore how relationships developed in residential homes impact how care experienced individuals transition to independence.
Participation will involve a 45-60 minute online interview.
Participants will receive a £25 Amazon voucher for their time.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Christina Tofarides
Email: [email protected]
Participation will involve a 45-60 minute online interview.
Participants will receive a £25 Amazon voucher for their time.
Participation Criteria:
- Young people aged 19 to 25
- Were in care in the UK consistently from age 15 to 18
- Spent time in a residential home setting during that period
Name: Christina Tofarides
Email: [email protected]
Improving permanency for children and young people with SEND
Project is in the early development stage and seeks input from care experienced young people aged 16 to 25 with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).
Participants will be invited to meet and discuss initial ideas.
A payment of £25 per hour is available to recognise their time and contributions.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Sarah Gorin
Email: [email protected]
Participants will be invited to meet and discuss initial ideas.
A payment of £25 per hour is available to recognise their time and contributions.
Participation Criteria:
- Care experienced young people aged 16-25 with SEND
Name: Sarah Gorin
Email: [email protected]
Mapping the Margins
This research aims to explore how racism affects the health and wellbeing of young people using Photovoice as our primary research method.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Jonathan Bekantoy
Email: [email protected]
Participation Criteria:
- Aged between 16 - 25
- Identify as a South Asian woman with a disability or
- Identify as a black man with experience in the care system
Name: Jonathan Bekantoy
Email: [email protected]
Research Project on Placement Instability
Research explores the impact of placement instability on mental health outcomes for care experienced children and young people.
Participate in a 45-60 minute interview discussing the effects of placement instability on mental health, and the factors that may influence this relationship.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Cody Varnish
Email: [email protected]
Participate in a 45-60 minute interview discussing the effects of placement instability on mental health, and the factors that may influence this relationship.
Participation Criteria:
- Aged 16 to 24
- Have experience of being in care
- Have experienced at least 2 placement changes in the UK care system
Name: Cody Varnish
Email: [email protected]
Care experience and substance use research study
This research study explores intergenerational substance use and whether early attachment and care experience influence these patterns. The aim is to better understand and support families affected by substance use, especially where children have gone into care.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Jessica Baker
Email: [email protected]
Participation Criteria:
- Aged 18+
- Living in the UK
Name: Jessica Baker
Email: [email protected]
Exploring care experience and positive life outcomes
This research study aims to explore care experience and positive life outcomes. Existing academic literature has largely focused on negative trajectories - such as over-representation in the Criminal Justice System and poor health and educational outcomes - this study seeks to address the gap by shifting the focus toward success and resilience.
The researcher is hoping to speak to adults who have been in care and are happy to talk about what has been important to them in achieving positive life outcomes.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Ceri Halfpenny
Email: [email protected]
The researcher is hoping to speak to adults who have been in care and are happy to talk about what has been important to them in achieving positive life outcomes.
Participation Criteria:
- Aged 18+
- Care experienced
Name: Ceri Halfpenny
Email: [email protected]
Leaving care without a safety net: understanding the experiences of care leavers from the perspective of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
Leaving care can be a really challenging time, but there isn’t much research that looks at care leavers’ mental health from their own point of view. This project aims to change that by listening directly to care leavers and learning from their experiences.
The goal is to shine a light on what care leavers go through, hear their views in their own words, and use what’s shared to help shape better support and therapy services in the future.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Helen Catling
Email: [email protected]
The goal is to shine a light on what care leavers go through, hear their views in their own words, and use what’s shared to help shape better support and therapy services in the future.
Participation Criteria:
- Aged 18-25
- Care leaver
- Willing to talk about experience of leaving care and how it's affected your mental health
Name: Helen Catling
Email: [email protected]
My Story and Me: STORIES TOLD BY “CARE EXPERIENCED” YOUNG ADULTS ABOUT THEIR CARE STATUS AND MENTAL HEALTH
This research aims to explore stories told about identity, care experience, mental health and associated support, and gives care experienced young adults the chance to share their own stories, in their own words.
By listening to these personal experiences, the research aims to build a better understanding of mental health in the context of care and use these insights to help shape more effective support and services in the future.
Participation Criteria:
Sign up here
Name: Natalie Henry
Email: [email protected]
By listening to these personal experiences, the research aims to build a better understanding of mental health in the context of care and use these insights to help shape more effective support and services in the future.
Participation Criteria:
- Aged 18-25
- Care experienced
- Experienced difficulties with your mental health as a young person/young adult
- Thought about accessing, or tried to access support for your mental health
Sign up here
Name: Natalie Henry
Email: [email protected]
exploring the relationship between care experience and involvement in criminal activity
This research is focussed on exploring the relationship between care experience and involvement in criminal activity, with a particular focus on drug dealing offences. The aim of this research is to hear the voices of care experienced young men to understand how and why they may have become involved in drug dealing activity or what factors they felt diverted them away from this.
Taking part involves a one-off, informal interview lasting around 1 hour, with flexibility if needed. Interviews can take place online (Teams or Zoom), by phone, or through a text-based messaging service of the participant’s choice.
Participants will receive a £15 high street voucher.
Participation Criteria:
Name: Gary Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
Taking part involves a one-off, informal interview lasting around 1 hour, with flexibility if needed. Interviews can take place online (Teams or Zoom), by phone, or through a text-based messaging service of the participant’s choice.
Participants will receive a £15 high street voucher.
Participation Criteria:
- Male
- Aged 16-25
- Care experienced
Name: Gary Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
