Rebecca Mead

I am committed to generating high quality practical knowledge to support disadvantaged communities of place and interest to become equal partners in action to reduce the social inequalities driving health inequalities.

I am a member of the research team conducting a longitudinal evaluation of Big Local, the largest community empowerment programme implemented in England (https://communitiesincontrol.uk), which is revealing the pathways through which communities of place develop the capabilities they need to have collective control over decisions and actions that impact on their lives and health.

As a member of the NIHR School for Public Health Research (NIHR SPHR) I contribute to several projects in the Places and Communities Programme evaluating efficient and effective strategies for investing scarce resources in local place-centred public health. I was also recently awarded funding to explore local emergency responses to the covid-19 pandemic in relation to existing social and health inequalities.

My doctoral research focussed on the implementation of public health policy aspirations relating to improving population health and reducing social inequality in health as an aspect of the work of local public sector partnerships. Since completing my PhD I have developed my research skills on a wide range of proejcts using participatory research and evaluation methods with communities of place and interest to support public health action.