Sarah Alden

Sarah transferred to the department from the University of Leeds in October 2015, and works alongside Andrea Wigfield as part of the Care-Connect research team. Prior to her research career, Sarah was employed for the statutory and not for profit sector in a range of roles providing specialist housing and welfare advice.

Sarah is committed to research which aims to make a difference, such as contributing to policy impact or system change within organisations, key fields of interest include: social policy and social care, policy implementation and social welfare. Sarah's more recent research has involved evaluating projects aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness, and increasing the physical activity and wellbeing of older people. One of the projects Sarah is currently working on is Time to Shine, a six year, mixed method, cross-partnership programme which aims to reduce the loneliness of older people across the city of Leeds. It is commissioned by Leeds Older People’s Forum and funded through the Big Lottery Fulfilling lives: Ageing Better Programme.