A Gateshead health researcher has been awarded a fellowship and aims to use the funding to support people get more active in their daily lives.
Dr Louis Goffe, Research Lead at Gateshead Council and an Associate Researcher at Newcastle University, has been awarded an Advanced Local Authority Fellowship (ALAF) as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme. The ALAF scheme offers fully-funded opportunities for post-doctoral researchers within local authority settings.
Dr Goffe’s research seeks to identify strategies and activities that can encourage underrepresented groups in Gateshead to participate more in walking and cycling, with the aim of improving their health and reducing health inequalities.
The active travel study will also provide improved insights for local authorities and central government bodies on how they can be more supportive in creating healthy and equitable environments for communities across the country.
On the inspiration behind his research, Dr Goffe said: “A long time ago I had a job where I had to commute by car and hated it. I subsequently made a pledge to myself to always find a job where I can get there under my own steam, either walking or cycling – and have since then felt the benefits of this both physically and mentally.
“When I joined Gateshead Council, I was inspired by the brilliant work that was being delivered on active travel by passionate officers in both public health and transport, as well as by our community partners. I therefore wanted to develop a programme of research that would support their efforts, help reduce health inequalities and combine my love of walking and cycling.”
This grant award will enable Dr Goffe to provide significant and high-quality research into the council’s active travel programme and evaluate the impact that the programme will have on underrepresented communities across Gateshead. It will also be fully funded by the NIHR and come at no cost to the council.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health at Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council, said: “We are delighted that Louis has been awarded this prestigious fellowship, which is further evidence of the amazing work we’re doing within our two Health Determinate Research Collaborations (HDRCs) in Tyneside. Our close partnership between Newcastle University and both Gateshead and Newcastle councils shows that our region is a great place to do public health research that is truly rooted in, and with, our communities.
“Louis’ successful application is another great example of this and shows our dedication to increasing our capacity for high quality, local and impactful research to help our communities to thrive.”
PIC-GLOUCESTERSHIRE CC
