Category: Health and Wellbeing

Winner: Annabel Burnley, Department of Psychology

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is as common as dyslexia, yet few parents, teachers of psychologists have heard of it. This is alarming given it impacts children's ability to understand what is being said to them or express themselves verbally. Instead, many children fall behind in school, and struggle to form connections, resulting in struggles with anxiety and low self-esteem.

Annabel's PhD project has involved developing a new psychological support program for parents and children with DLD, called PLUTO. PLUTO helps children understand their emotions better. The use of colours and drawing enables children to take charge and build resilience in unfamiliar situations.

Category - Health and Wellbeing

Dr Melanie Channon, Department of Social & Policy Sciences

In Guatemala, menstruation has many nicknames that relate to shame and difficulty. This is unsurprising when girls often start their periods without any knowledge, leaving them to experience fear, stigma, and pain, without support. Indigenous communities here are particularly vulnerable, facing language barriers and lacking access to education and healthcare.

In Mayan tradition, life is understood through natural cycles. The moon cycle reflects the four phases of the menstrual cycle and the period is named 'la luna roja' (the red moon). Teaching and understanding menstruation through the moon cycle combines modern and traditional knowledge in a way that encourages understanding, community, and belonging.

In working to understand how traditional and modern knowledge can be combined, an indigenous midwife said the research will "create spaces that allow us to keep protecting the territories that are our bodies".

Category - Partnerships

Dr Haydn Morgan, Department for Health

Many young people in the UK face multiple social and personal disadvantages transitioning into employment. The global COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing national cost of living crisis have exacerbated these disadvantages, particularly for those not in formal education or training.

Tackling the delayed and detrimental effects of the pandemic on young people's confidence, motivation, and preparedness to enter the labour market is complex. This research found that participation in sport-based employability interventions can contribute to the development of personal attributes and employability skills in young adults.

Category - Partnerships

Dr Lisa Austin, Department for Health

Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), with support from BSW Research Hun in the University of Bath, ARC West and Swindon VSO, has been driving up the numbers of people from under-served communities taking part in health and care research. It is one of 17 ICBs to have received a share of £1.7 million funding from NHS England's Research Network Development Programme.

By increasing the diversity of people involved in research, responding to their needs, and making changes to how research is carried out, the partners want to make sure more people know about, and take part in relevant health research opportunities.

Category - Partnerships

Michelle James, Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Diego participated in a photovoice project as part of PhD research into how different forms of social protection impact asylum seeker welling in Bristol. The project was undertaken in collaboration with Borderlands, a local refugee non-profit organisation.

Diego used the view from his government-appointed hotel accommodation to express the inner battle during the asylum journey, the "place where you can see the world through the window of your senses". Alongside building understanding, empathy, and practical peer support between the photovoice participants, Diego shared how research involvement had been a catalyst for further study and creative expression.

"Your project has opened so many doors to me. I even managed to get a place in a film-making course thanks to it! I mentioned it in my application to the sanctuary scholarship and refer to it as "the first time that I got feedback as an artist".