Patrick Stewart/Refuge Scholarship – Researcher appointed
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:11:00 GMT
The University's Chancellor, Sir Patrick Stewart with newly-appointed Refuge PhD researcher Julia Brooke
The nationwide search for an exceptional graduate to be the first ever recipient of a unique collaboration between a university and Refuge, the national charity supporting women and children who are victims of domestic violence, has now ended.
Successful candidate Julia Brooke has been awarded the Patrick Stewart / Refuge Scholarship for PhD study at the University of Huddersfield, the first ever of its kind. The world-famous actor, who is both a patron of Refuge and the Chancellor of the University, was honoured to give his name to the scholarship, which will focus on the study of children and domestic violence.
Julia joins the University's Centre for Applied Childhood Studies from a background of midwifery, during which time she has specialised in working with women who have additional needs, and has also been involved in working with young people who have experienced domestic abuse and dating violence. Her focus on this area led her to develop an interest in the link between teenage pregnancy and domestic violence, and it was as this interest was growing that she became aware of the search for the Patrick Stewart / Refuge Scholarship student.
She will now centre her PhD on the study of pregnant teenagers' experiences of domestic violence, and will take a qualitative approach in order to ensure that the range of complex issues surrounding domestic abuse and teenage pregnancy is dealt with in the most sensitive way.
She explained: "My interest in this area really stems from the fact that the issue is so hidden, yet the consequences so great, that there is a lot of work to do to ensure that pregnant teenagers who might be experiencing domestic abuse get the help and support that they need. Only a very small amount of research exists that relates specifically to this area, so my hope is that my PhD will both add to this information and also guide policy and practice."
Julia, who qualified as a midwife in 2004, worked at Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London for 3 years before returning to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust as a community midwife. In January 2009 she became a Specialist Midwife for the Trust, and was involved in training and supporting staff dealing with cases of domestic abuse, developing policies and guidelines for practice and attending Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences.
She continues: "One of my main aims of this research is to take a positive approach, because I think young mothers are often portrayed negatively, but often they are trying to care for themselves and their children in what can be very difficult circumstances. The sad fact is that the nature of domestic violence is such that it's never going to go away; I want to show people that young women are dealing with it, are developing coping strategies, but that they also need our help. This is a chance to listen to what they need and provide them with the best possible service."
Professor Stewart, Patron of Refuge, explained his involvement with the charity and Scholarship:
"I am proud to offer this scholarship for the study of children and domestic violence. I have very personal cause to support work in this area: when I was a child I witnessed violence against my mother. This is why I accepted the role of Patron of Refuge. I have seen first-hand the work this incredible charity does to support women and children escaping domestic violence and I know that it really does save lives."
Sandra Horley OBE, CEO of Refuge, says: "Pregnant teens experiencing domestic violence are amongst the most vulnerable young women in our society. The babies they carry and the children they subsequently care for are also at great risk and it is vital that we are able to provide mother and child with the expert understanding, support and protection they need during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Refuge is delighted to be associated with Julia's important research into this field and we very much look forward to hearing her findings."
