Leading academics
at Northumbria University, Newcastle have received a prestigious professional
award for their research into school breakfast clubs and holiday hunger.
Professor Greta Defeyter, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor, Strategic Planning & Engagement, and
Dr Pamela L Graham, Vice-Chancellor’s Research
Fellow, at Northumbria, have received the North East of England Branch of
the British Psychological Society Public Engagement Award 2016.
The Award recognises individuals or
groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of psychology
to the general public in the North East of England. Nominations for the award
are made by British Psychological Society members, with the
winner
decided by a panel, comprised of members of the North East of England Branch
Committee.
Professor Defeyter
and Dr Graham lead Northumbria University’s Healthy Living Lab, which explores pressing social issues, bringing together a team of over 20 academics including
experts in health economics, nutrition, psychology, social work, sociology,
sports science, sports psychology, and law.
They academics directly involved the views of children, parents, teachers and holiday
club staff in their research into
school breakfast and holiday clubs, showing that the clubs are a necessary
resource to support families throughout the year. As a result of the research a
number of school breakfast programmes, focussing on improved nutritional,
educational and social outcomes have been funded, as well as a number of
interventions aimed at reducing so called ‘Holiday Hunger’.
Professor Defeyter
advises a number of national governmental and international committees on the
importance of school breakfast clubs and holiday interventions. She is a key
academic advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group on School Food, providing
guidance and advice to the 25 strong MPs and Lords group.
In 2015, she was made
a Fellow from the British Psychological Society. More recently, she won a Food
Heroes Award (Sustain, 2016) for her research and evaluations on school
breakfast clubs and holiday hunger.
Commenting on the award, Greta said:
"It's a real honour and a huge accolade to receive this award, especially
as we have been nominated by our peers. It is incredibly rewarding to know that
the research we are conducting is having a positive influence on families; and
that our research findings are being used to inform policy.”
Dr
Pamela L Graham, a Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow, added: “Colleagues within
our Lab have worked hard to ensure that the views of children, parents and
school and community staff are represented throughout our research and are
shared as widely as possible. To have the value of this work recognised is an
excellent achievement for the whole Lab and we are delighted.”
Professor Defeyter accepted the award
at a meeting of The British Psychology
Society’s North East Committee in York.
Dr Beth Bell, Chair of the British Psychology Society’s North East Committee, said: "The Public Engagement Award recognises outstanding practice,
and it is a pleasure to award it to Greta and Pam this year. Their work at the
Healthy Living Lab clearly demonstrates the value and importance of involving
the public in research and the significant impact that this has had on practice
and policy. They are widely recognised as experts in their field and through
their research are making a very positive impact on children’s lives."
The British
Psychological Society is the representative
body for psychology and psychologists in the UK.
For more information about
Northumbria's Research visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/research
