Family and relationships symposium proves success for research group

?Research, which aims to narrow a generation gap that is being widened by the ageing of the population, was showcased by the University of Huddersfield’s Families and Intergenerational Relationships Research Group (FaIR) at their first symposium. 

Speakers from around the globe came to talk about their research, in an event which took place to strengthen and develop existing networks and provide the opportunity for new partnerships to be forged between academics and community groups, both nationally and internationally. 

The opening plenary of the day, called The Value and Potential of Women Centred Working, came from keynote speaker Clare Jones CBE, who is National Lead of the WomenCentre. 

The WomenCentre provides holistic, one-stop services at centres in Huddersfield and Halifax and in the community. Clare’s involvement with the Centre dates back almost twenty years, during which time she has worked in domestic violence services, trained volunteers and established legal services which were quality marked for meeting women’s needs. She was also part of the team which pioneered the country’s first ‘one-stop-shop’ for vulnerable women in 2003.  

“The centres provide a level environment,” said Clare.  “When women, who are often in significant need, come through the door they immediately feel safe, welcomed and not judged. We find there is a sense of belonging and a commonality of gender within Women Centred working that actually makes quite a difference and we are continually working to take this effective and gendered way of doing things forward, on to a much wider scale,” she said. 

Other research included an insightful presentation from Huddersfield PhD researcher Nafhesa Ali. Her FaIR delivery brought to light the older South Asian migrant (SAM) women’s life course experience of ageing in the UK, and the challenges they face, whilst still maintaining ties and a commitment to their homeland. 

Other speakers included representatives from AMYN, a community group working with those of African and African Caribbean heritage, and Carol Hazzard, a postgraduate law student and lecturer in English, History and Research Methodologies at University Lumiere in Lyon, France. 

For the past 14 years, Carol has worked for the United Nations on their programme End Child Prostitution and Women Traffickin’ (ECPAT).  Her presentation focused on her experiences within the field of children and women trafficking, of which her main role and expertise is legal advocacy. 

FaIR sits within the University of Huddersfield’s internationally-respected Centre for Applied Childhood, Youth, and Family Research and is co-directed by Dr Sharon Wray, Reader in Sociology, and Dr Abigail Locke, Reader in Applied Social Psychology. 

Dr Wray says the group has gained new members as a consequence of the symposium and is pleased with the event’s success. 

_{Pictured: Dr Sharon Wray (left) and Dr Abigail Locke (right) are pictured at FaIR’s first symposium with Dr Andrew Clifton.}