Centre for Research in the Social Sciences

Institute for Health Citizenship:

Launch project: ‘the obesity epidemic’

Dr Pamela Fisher, Dr Abigail Locke, Dr Steve Swindells, Dr Chris Gifford, and Professor James Avis have won internal University to establish a Cross-School Institute for Health Citizenship. Other Schools involved included Art Design and Architecture, Education and Professional Development, Applied Sciences.

The area of health citizenship will significantly shape and inform policy decision in the years to come. For instance, policy concerns relating to demographic trends (an ageing workforce) will be required to enable older workers remain integrated in the workforce longer. Mental health issues will also grow in importance. While policy has recently made significant strides in combating some of the stigma and forms of exclusion faced by people with learning difficulties, there is now growing recognition that mental health service-users are subject to barriers that exclude them from full citizenship. The Research Institute for Health Citizenship will:

• Establish a cross-University research Institute that will focus on topics of contemporary health concerns and how these articulate with understandings of citizenship.
• Develop a strategy for growth and long-term research projects that examine issues on the interface between health and citizenship.
• Further debates within academia and establish relevant stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, including the media (Radio Leeds) and Huddersfield Examiner, New College, Huddersfield,  Food in Sheffield (NHS),  Healthy Weight for Kirklees (NHS), Calderdale (NHS).