Alison Gregory

Background

About Alison Gregory

I am interested in the impact that domestic violence and abuse (DVA) has on health and wellbeing, and the responses of professionals, in health and specialist organisations, to those in abusive relationships, their childern, and those informally supporting survivors (friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues). In 2014 I completed a PhD ('On the outside looking in: the shared burden of domestic violence') which explored the radiating impacts of DVA. This research considered how the health and wellbeing of informal supporters was being impacted. I have since been funded by the NIHR SPCR (Primary Care Scientist Launching Fellowship) and the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (Early Career Research Fellowship) to take this work forward. This includes exploring the avenues for support which could be developed to help informal supporters help-seek and self-care, so that they in turn might be better equipped to support survivors. I also co-lead the VOICES study which is funded by the NIHR SPCR to investigate how children exposed to DVA are impacted. Because of the practical nature of this work I have a strong interest in knowledge mobilsation, and I work closely with DVA specialist organisations, and with commisioners of DVA services within local authorities, CCGs and police forces across the UK. In particular, my PhD work informed a public health campaign run in Bristol during 2015 ('It might be nothing, but it could mean everything'). In November 2015 I won the Corinna Seith Young Scholar Award for my work in this field.