About us

We aim to create a community of researchers, educators, learners and public health practitioners to share knowledge and expertise. Collecting high quality benchmarked data to inform school health policy, practice and implementation.

With partnership working at the core of the South West – School Health Research Network (SW-SHRN, we are supported by a team from across four leading Universities (University of Bristol; Fuse (Newcastle University); University of Cambridge; University of Sheffield) and four practice collaborators (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; Mental Health and Character Team of The Department for Education; Bristol City Council and Clinical Research Network West of England).

The SW-SHRN receives input from a Young People’s Advisory Group and a Stakeholder Group which contains representation from schools and local authorities.

The pilot phase of SW-SHRN was funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research (NIHR SPHR). Additional information on the SW-SHRN can be found on the project page of the NIHR SPHR website.

The Team

Meet the core SW-SHRN team from the University of Bristol who are supported by a wider team of colleagues.

Professor Rona Campbell

Rona leads programmes of research concerned with multiple risk behaviour in adolescence and health promotion in schools. Rona’s role is a Co-Project Lead of the SW-SHRN. She is responsible for co-directing all aspects of the network to ensure robust and rigorous data is collected and translated to key stakeholders to provide them with information to take action to improve the health and well-being outcomes of young people.

Learn more about Rona’s research.

Professor Russ Jago

Russ’ research focuses on understanding why some children are more active than others and how we can help all children and young people to be more physically active. Russ’ role is a Co- Project Lead of the SW-SHRN. He is responsible for co-directing all aspects of the network to ensure robust and rigorous data is collected and translated to key stakeholders to provide them with information to take action to improve the health and well-being outcomes of young people.

Learn more about Russ’ research.

Georgina Hopkins

George manages the development and growth of the network by communicating its purpose and benefits, and raising the profile among key stakeholders. She works to ensure the needs of schools, researchers and key health and educational professionals are met, while managing relationships with existing and potential partners. George has worked at the university for over a decade and has a keen interest in the health and well-being of young people particularly in the school environment, having two school aged children herself and experience as a school governor.

Emily Widnall

Emily is interested in adolescent mental health and well-being and how this can be improved through schools. She enjoys working closely with young people to develop research ideas and co-design projects. Emily’s role on SW-SHRN is to work closely with schools to recruit them to the network and support them to run the student survey. She also carries out interviews and focus groups with students, staff and other stakeholders.

Learn more about Emily’s research.

Dr Patricia N Albers

Patricia believes in children and young people leading healthy and prosperous lives. She is interested in helping young people, schools, and communities to thrive. Patricia’s role on the SWSHRN team is to process and analyse the data. She is responsible for distilling the large amount of data into concise and meaningful messages that the schools and local authorities can apply.

Learn more about Patricia’s research.