Collaboratory Researcher Profiles
Project Title: Building an inclusive bereavement support ecosystem through improved communication in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
What were you doing before starting this PhD?
After finishing school, I was the first person from my family to go to university, studying psychology, sociology, and linguistics. Since then, I have always worked in community development and roles supporting people. More recently, I have worked in palliative care at a children’s hospice providing spiritual and pastoral care to children, young people, and their families at different stages of diagnosis, end of life and bereavement. Through this, I developed a passion for holistic health care that includes cultural, religious, and spiritual elements. For the past five years, I have also developed my theoretical knowledge alongside my practical skills by training to become a person-centred counsellor.
What motivated you to apply for this specific PhD project?
The subject area motivated me to apply for this PhD as I wanted to gain more theoretical knowledge that can build on my practical skills in bereavement support. I am passionate about making bereavement care accessible to all who may want to access it and reducing the barriers around this.
What difference do you hope to make in Loughborough through this research?
I am hoping that the impact of this research could be two-fold: implementing resources that help to provide culturally relevant and accessible support to bereaved adults, and empowering staff in delivering that support.
What do you hope to be doing in 5 years’ time?
In five years’ time, I hope to have successfully completed my PhD, and for the findings of this research to positively influence bereavement care, I would also like to be supporting bereavement care staff through education and training.