Dr Lois Orton (she/her)

BSc Hons Imperial College, MSc UCL, PhD Manchester

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer

Research Cluster Lead: Bodies, Wellbeing and the Lifecourse

Dr Lois Orton
Profile picture of Dr Lois Orton
l.orton@sheffield.ac.uk
The Wave
11am - 1pm Tuesdays

Full contact details

Dr Lois Orton
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
The Wave
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield
S10 2AH
Profile

Lois joined the 爆料TV in June 2020 on a Wellcome Trust University Award. Prior to that she spent over 10 years at the University of Liverpool in the department of Public Health & Policy. Her PhD at the University of Manchester (2006-2009) developed richly detailed understandings of the everyday lives of sanctuary seekers, describing both the challenges they faced and the ways in which they attempted to overcome them. 

Research interests

Lois鈥 research questions taken for granted understanding of inequalities in health, particularly as experienced by racially minoritised groups and those with experience of migration. Her research aims to expose how race and racism shape social and health inequity and how these processes might be countered. She embraces complexity in unpacking how racism intersects with other forms of oppression, particularly sexism and classism. She does this through deeply embedded co-produced and creative research practices with communities of lived experience, developing new narratives that challenge accepted wisdom, take forward theoretical debates around anti-racism and identity opportunities for collective action. 

Lois has a particular interest in antigypsyism (anti-Roma racism), which has been described as one of the last remaining forms of 鈥榓cceptible racism鈥. She has explored the political construction of Roma communities, both in the UK and in Central and Eastern Europe, and has co-produced with Roma women richly detailed stories that depict their everyday experiences. 
 

Publications

Journal articles

  • Miranda DE, Mead R, Soto鈥怭once B, Mikulak M, Orton L & Scott S (2025) . Health Expectations, 28(5).
  • Ayodeji O, Benton M, Orton L & Weich S (2025) . Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes, 18.
  • Cunningham-Oakes E, Perez-Sepulveda BM, Li Y, Hinton JCD, Nelson CA, McIntyre KM, Wardeh M, Haldenby S, Gregory R, Iturriza-G贸mara M , Hertz-Fowler C et al (2025) . Genome Medicine, 17.
  • Orton L, Fuseini O, K贸cz茅 A, R枚vid M & Salway S (2022) . Sociology of Health & Illness, 44(S1), 73-89.
  • Powell K, Barnes A, Bambra C, De Cuevas R, Halliday E, Lewis S, McGill R, Orton L, Ponsford R, Salway S , Townsend A et al (2021) . Health Promotion International, 36(5), 1264-1274.
  • Ponsford R, Collins M, Egan M, Halliday E, Lewis S, Orton L, Powell K, Barnes A, Salway S, Townsend A , Whitehead M et al (2021) . Health Promotion International, 36(5), 1290-1299.
  • Ronzi S, Orton L, Buckner S, Bruce N & Pope D (2020) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24).
  • Townsend A, Abrahams C, Barnes A, Collins M, Halliday E, Lewis S, Orton L, Ponsford R, Salway S, Whitehead M & Popay J (2020) . Social Science and Medicine, 260.
  • Rawlinson R, Aslam RW, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, McCluskey R, Mackinnon A , Orton L et al (2020) . Trials, 21(1).
  • Orton L & Anderson de Cuevas RM (2019) . European Journal of Public Health, 29(Supplement_4).
  • Orton L, Anderson de Cuevas R, Stojanovski K, Gamella JF, Greenfields M, La Parra D, Marcu O, Matras Y, Donert C, Frost D , Robinson J et al (2019) . International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 12(5), 319-327.
  • Orton LC, Ponsford R, Egan M, Halliday E, Whitehead M & Popay J (2019) . Anthropology and Medicine, 26(1), 48-64.
  • Orton LC, Pennington A, Nayak S, Sowden A, Petticrew M, White M & Whitehead M (2019) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 73(10), 929-934.
  • McIntyre KM, Bolton FJ, Christley RM, Cleary P, Deja E, Durie AE, Diggle PJ, Hughes DA, de Lusignan S, Orton L , Radford AD et al (2019) .
  • Lewis S, Bambra C, Barnes AJ, Collins M, Egan M, Halliday E, Orton L, Ponsford R, Powell K, Salway S , Townsend A et al (2019) . Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(1), 199-206.
  • Salway S, Katikireddi V, Raghavan R & Orton L (2018) . European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl_1).
  • Pennington A, Orton L, Nayak S, Ring A, Petticrew M, Sowden A, White M & Whitehead M (2018) . Health & Place, 51, 1-10.
  • Ronzi S, Orton L, Pope D, Valtorta NK & Bruce NG (2018) . Systematic Reviews, 7(1).
  • Orton L, Halliday E, Collins M, Egan M, Lewis S, Ponsford R, Powell K, Salway S, Townsend A, Whitehead M & Popay J (2017) . Critical Public Health, 27(4), 477-489.
  • Hyseni L, Atkinson M, Bromley H, Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, McGill R & Capewell S (2017) . European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(6), 694-711.
  • Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L, Valtorta NK & Bruce N (2016) . Oral Presentations, A20.1-A20.
  • Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L & Bruce N (2016) . SSM - Population Health, 2, 732-745.
  • Hyseni L, Elliot Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, O鈥橣laherty M, Kypridemos C, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio F & Capewell S (2016) . Posters, A74.2-A75.
  • Orton L, Pennington A, Nayak S, Sowden A, White M & Whitehead M (2016) . Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 94(9), 694-704A.
  • Whitehead M, Pennington A, Orton L, Nayak S, Petticrew M, Sowden A & White M (2016) . Health and Place, 39, 51-61.
  • Hyseni L, Elliot-Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, O鈥橣laherty M, Kypridemos C, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio F & Capewell S (2016) . Circulation, 133(suppl_1).
  • McGill R, Anwar E, Orton L, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, O鈥橣laherty M, Taylor-Robinson D, Guzman-Castillo M, Gillespie D, Moreira P , Allen K et al (2015) . BMC Public Health, 15(1).
  • Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L & Bruce N (2015) . SSM 2015 Posters, A64.1-A64.
  • Hyseni L, Atkinson M, Bromley H, Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, McGill R & Capewell S (2015) . SSM 2015 Posters, A77.2-A78.
  • McGill R, Anwar E, Orton L, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, O鈥橣laherty M, Taylor-Robinson D, Guzman-Castillo M, Gillespie D, Moreira P , Allen K et al (2015) . BMC Public Health, 15(1).
  • Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O鈥橣laherty M, McGill R, Anwar E, Hyseni L, Moonan M , Rayner M et al (2014) . BMC Public Health, 14(1).
  • Orton L, Pennington A, Nayak S, Whitehead M, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2014) . European Journal of Public Health, 24(suppl_2).
  • Orton LC, Pennington A, Nayak S, Whitehead M, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2014) . Oral Presentations, A64.1-A64.
  • Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, McGill R, Anwar E, Hyseni L, Guzman Castillo M , Rayner M et al (2014) . Circulation, 129(suppl_1).
  • Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) . The Lancet, 382, S63-S63.
  • Bromley H, Lloyd Williams F, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Taylor Robinson D, Calder N, O鈥橣laherty M, Guzman Castillo M , Hawkes C et al (2013) . European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
  • Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Taylor-Robinson D, Calder N, O鈥橣laherty M, Guzman Castillo M , Rayner M et al (2013) . European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
  • Orton L, LLoyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) . European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
  • Pennington A, Orton L, Whitehead M, Ring A, Fox D, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2013) . European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
  • R M, Anwar E, Orton L, Taylor-Robinson DC, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, Calder N, O鈥橣laherty M, Castillo MG, White M , Petticrew M et al (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A52.1-A52.
  • Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson DC, O鈥橣laherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A53.1-A53.
  • Orton LC, Pennington AJ, Nayak S, Petticrew M, White M, Sowden A & Whitehead M (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A63.2-A64.
  • Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Taylor-Robinson D, O鈥橣laherty M, Moonan M, McGill R, Calder N, Anwar E, Castillo MG , Rayner M et al (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A10.1-A10.
  • Pennington AJ, Orton L, Ring A, Fox D, Petticrew M, White M, Sowden A & Whitehead MM (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A8.2-A8.
  • Bromley H, Williams FL, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Robinson DT, Calder N, O鈥橣laherty M, Castillo MG , Hawkes C et al (2013) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A10.2-A11.
  • Critchley JA, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2013) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(3), 223-237.
  • Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O鈥橣laherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) Using the "4Ps" marketing approach to evaluate health-promoting food policies. BMC Public Health.
  • Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2013) Engaging with marginalised groups in public health research: Lessons learned in an ethnographic study with people who were seeking asylum and living with HIV. Journal of Epidemiology of Community Health.
  • Critchley JA, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2013) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(11), 916-917.
  • Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2012) . BMC Public Health, 12(1).
  • Orton LC, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson DC, Moonan M, O鈥橣laherty M, Lloyd-Williams F, Rayner M & Capewell S (2012) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 66(Suppl 1), A44.2-A44.
  • Crtichley J, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2012) Corticosteroids for preventing tuberculosis mortality: meta-analysis.. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13, 233-237.
  • Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2012) An exploratory study of resilience among asylum seekers living with HIV. BMC Public Health, 12, 926-926.
  • Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson DC, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) . BMC Public Health, 11(1).
  • Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Orton L, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(Suppl 2), A4.1-A4.
  • Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(Suppl 1), A55.1-A55.
  • Orton LC, Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Moonan M, O鈥橣Laherty M & Capewell S (2011) Evidence-based public health policy: myth or reality? A mixed method study of public health decision-making in the UK. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 6, 1-1.
  • Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64(Suppl 1), A54.3-A55.
  • Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64(Suppl 1), A21.1-A21.
  • Orton LC, LLoyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O鈥橣laherty M & Capewell S (2010) REVIEW: THE USE OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE BY PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY-MAKERS. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, A21-A21.
  • Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson DC, O鈥橣laherty M & Capewell S (2010) MIGHT FINANCIAL CUTS DRIVE NHS DECISION-MAKING "DOWNSTREAM"? A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION-MAKING. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, 54-55.
  • Orton LC & Omari AAA (2008) . Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2008(4), CD004912.
  • Webster AC, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N (2004) Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for induction therapy in kidney transplant recipients (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Dowrick C, Rosala-Hallas A, Rawlinson R, Khan N, Winrow E, Chiumento A, Burnside G, Aslam R, Billows L, Eriksson-Lee M , Lawrence D et al () . Public Health Research, 10(10), 1-74.
  • McIntyre KM, Bolton FJ, Christley RM, Cleary P, Deja E, Durie AE, Diggle PJ, Hughes DA, de Lusignan S, Orton L , Radford AD et al () . JMIR Research Protocols, 8(9), e13941-e13941.
  • Hyseni L, Elliot-Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, Kypridemos C, O鈥橣laherty M, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio FP & Capewell S () . PLOS ONE, 12(5), e0177535-e0177535.
  • Critchley JA, Orton LC & Pearson F () . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(11).
  • Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Orton L, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S () . PLoS ONE, 7(1), e29536-e29536.
  • Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S () . PLoS ONE, 6(7), e21704-e21704.
  • Gray TA, Orton LC, Henson D, Harper R & Waterman H () .
  • Orton LC & Omari AAA () . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).
  • Osei-Akoto A, Orton LC & Owusu-Ofori S () . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Bukirwa H & Orton LC () . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).
  • Orton LC & Barnish G () . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).

Book chapters

  • Critchley JA, Garner P, Hahn S, Mayosi BM, Mwandumba HC, Orton LC, Prasad K, Volmink J & Young F () In Critchley JA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Orton L & Garner P () John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Gray TA, Orton LC, Henson D, Harper R & Waterman H () In Gray TA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Webster A, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N () John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Bukirwa H & Orton L () John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Webster A, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N () In Webster A (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Orton L & Barnish G () John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Critchley JA, Garner P, Hahn S, Mayosi BM, Mwandumba HC, Orton LC, Prasad K & Volmink J () In Critchley JA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • Osei-Akoto A, Orton L & Owusu-Ofori SPO () John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Conference proceedings

  • Salway S, Katikireddi V, Raghavan R & Orton L (2018) What can health humanities contribute to understanding and tackling ethnic and racial health inequities?. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Vol. 28 (pp 17-17)
  • Orton LC & Sheard S (2017) . SSM annual scientific meeting 2017 (pp A95.2-A95)
  • Orton LC & Cuevas RAD (2017) . Ethnicity 1 (pp A10.2-A10)
  • Halliday E, Orton L, Egan M, Lewis S, Powell K, Townsend A, Tyrrell R, Whitehead M & Popay J (2015) . The Lancet, Vol. 386 (pp S41-S41)
  • Ponsford R, Collins M, Egan M, Lewis S, Orton L, Salway S, Townsend A, Halliday E, Whitehead M & Popay J (2015) . The Lancet, Vol. 386 (pp S64-S64)
  • Ronzi S, Orton L, Pope D, Valtorta N & Bruce N () Interventions for respect and social inclusion in older people and their impact on health and wellbeing: A systematic review. British Society of Gerontology Conference 2017. Swansea University, 5 July 2017 - 7 July 2017.

Reports

  • Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F & Capewell S (2010) Local decision-making for Cardio-Vascular Disease treatment and prevention: promoting evidence-based policies: end of project report
  • Woolacott N, Orton L, Beynon S, Myers L & Forbes C (2006) Systematic Review Of The Clinical Effectiveness Of Self Care Support Networks In Health And Social Care

Theses

  • Orton LC (2009) Seeking asylum and living with HIV: an ethnographic study.
  • Orton LC (2001) Impregnated bed nets as a means of controlling malaria in The Gambia.

Preprints

  • Rawlinson R, Aslam R, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, McCluskey R, Mackinnon A , Orton L et al (2020) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Rawlinson R, Aslam R, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, Mahzir I, McCluskey R , Mackinnon A et al (2020) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
Research group

Research Cluster Lead for Bodies and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse within the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations. 
爆料TV NIHR School of Public Health Research Executive Board Member. 
Co-lead for the NIHR School of Public Health Research Health Inequalities Programme.
Member of the 爆料TV Migration Research Group and Health Equity Research Group.
Member of the BSA Race, Ethnicity and Migration Study Group.
Member of the cross-university Systems Evaluation Network.
 

Grants

VoySES: Discrimination and Health (2025 - 2027)
NIHR School for Public Health Research 拢367.806
PI: Lois Orton, Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh and Katie Powell (爆料TV)

CLARITY+: Collective reimagining of community-led public health evaluation from the perspective of racially minoritised communities (2024 - 2026)
NIHR School for Public Health Research 拢190,398
PI: Lois Orton and Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh (爆料TV)

Storying Life Courses for Intersectional Inclusion: Ethnicity and Wellbeing Across Time and Place (2022 - 2025)
ESRC 拢1,357,379
PI: Majella Kilkey (爆料TV)

Roma populations and Health Inequalities: Deconstructing a European Policy Problem (2020 - 2026)
Wellcome Trust University Award 拢534,192
PI: Lois Orton (爆料TV)

CLARITY: Co-creating knowledge with minorities and marginalised groups (2023 - 2024)
NIHR School for Public Health Research 拢256,849
PI: Sarah Salway and Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh (爆料TV)

The Health of Europe鈥檚 Roma: Where are the women? (2019 - 2020) 
Wellcome Trust 拢49,984
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Integrating attention to ethnicity and migration within applied public health and health inequalities research (2017 - 2018)
NIHR School for Public Health Research 拢73,384
PI: Sarah Salway (爆料TV)

Feasibility study and pilot trial of an evidence-based low intensity psychosocial intervention delivered by lay therapists for asylum seekers and refugees (PROSPER) (2018 - 2021) 
NIHR Public Health Research Programme 拢498,306
PI: Chris Dowrick (University of Liverpool)

What are the health and health inequalities impacts of the Big Local community empowerment initiative in England? (2018 - 2021)
NIHR Public Health Research 鈥 Community Engagement 拢836,169
PI: Jennie Popay (Lancaster University)

The 鈥榩roblem鈥 of Roma health and wellbeing: A critical analysis of European perspectives (2016 - 2017)
Wellcome Trust. 拢4,964
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Unpacking the multiple determinants of health for the Roma in Europe (2015 - 2016)
University of Liverpool Interdisciplinary Network Fund 拢2,879
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Seeking asylum and living with HIV: an ethnographic study (2006 - 2009)
University of Manchester Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences Research Scholarship 拢5,000
PI: Lois Orton (University of Manchester)

Seeking asylum and living with HIV: An ethnographic study (2006 - 2009)
ESRC and MRC Interdisciplinary Research Studentship (awarded in open competition). 拢50,000
PI: Lois Orton (University of Manchester)
 

Teaching interests

Lois convenes the Masters Dissertation module in the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations. 

She is also an invited lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University where she co-delivers (with a Roma colleague) sessions introducing MA students to Critical Romani Studies as a lens to understanding the experiences of Roma people living across the world. 

Through her teaching, Lois aims to share her critical and engaged perspectives with the next generation of social science scholars and professionals. Her research and teaching are closely aligned, both substantively and methodologically. She draws on her wealth of research experience to directly support a large cohort of Masters students through the process of developing and delivering their dissertation projects. Substantively, her teaching focuses on the theory and practical application of a range of complementary methods drawn from sociology, political science and history to explore and address the avoidable differences in health between different groups in society (health inequalities). Methodologically, there is a focus on complexity theory, ethnography and critical policy studies. Substantive topics include the intersection of three main axes of inequality: race/ethnicity, gender and poverty and, within this, on the role of power/control as an underlying social determinant of health. 

Lois uses a range of techniques to inspire students from diverse backgrounds, many studying in the UK for the first time. She is a firm believer in active learning and encouraging students to share and reflect on their personal experiences.

Teaching activities

Postgraduate supervision

Lois has supervised Masters and PhD students in a range of social science projects exploring and addressing the drivers of health inequality among various multiply-marginalised groups (racially minoritised groups, those with migration backgrounds, those living in under-resourced environments, older people).


She is particularly interested to hear from prospective students whose research critically explores the intersection of health and social science with a focus on inequality, lived experience and action.
 

Professional activities and memberships

Some of Lois' other professional activities include:

Acquiring the PGCert in Learning and Teaching and becoming an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2012.
Establishing and acting as inaugural chair for NIHR School for Public Health Research Researchers鈥 Network in 2015.
Completing the Aurora programme for developing future female leaders in higher education in 2017.
Being invited to speak at the 11th Annual Roma Conference 鈥楲egacies and Manifestations of Anti-Roma Racism in Health Policies, Practice, and Research鈥 at Harvard (USA) in 2023. 
Joining the Board of Trustees for Clifton Learning Partnership, a charity supporting the Roma community of Rotherham and being appointed as Chair in 2026. 
Training peer researchers and joining the advisory board for the Office for National Statistics project on Roma Lived Experience in England and Wales (2024 - 2026).
 

Partnership work, impact and engagement is at the heart of Lois鈥 work. Below are a few recent examples. 

The NIHR-funded CLARITY/CLARITY+ projects began with a blank page, asking around 20 grass-roots organisations serving racialised communities in South Yorkshire and the West Midlands to suggest how the university sector could help them meet their own needs. This led to the establishment of what was termed 鈥楰nowledge Partnerships鈥. These Partnerships have evolved over the years into what is now referred to as the 鈥楥LARITY+ Collective鈥 (including academics such as myself and community partners). The Collective have been organising a series of showcase and peer-to-peer events for mutual knowledge exchange. 

The NIHR-funded VoySES Discrimination & Health project is a unique collaboration between the NIHR School of Public Health Research and the People鈥檚 Health Trust (a large umbrella charity that exists to end unfairness and ensure everyone has the chance to live a long, healthy life). In this project Lois co-leads a team of academics that are working with six community organisations across the UK delivering projects aimed at reducing discrimination and its health harms. Learning from the project will directly inform their practices and that of the 600 community organisations that PHT supports.

The ESRC-funded 鈥楽torying Life Courses for Intersectional Inclusion鈥 project and Lois鈥 Wellcome-funded 鈥楻oma Populations and Health Inequalities鈥 project take a similar approach. In both cases, policy and practice partners, and researchers recruited directly from racialised communities, are involved in every stage of design and delivery. The ESRC project also includes co-investigators from anchor organisations supporting racially minoritised communities in Sheffield and Rotherham. Both projects have been identified as potential impact case studies for the next REF submission.

The creative methods that Lois uses in her research (including poetry, art and performance) lend themselves well to storytelling, which has proved to be an effective way of communicating with a wide range of audiences. She has organised public-facing events at various fora, from local festivals (such as Migration Matters and Festival of Debate) to the national ESRC Festival of Social Science. Lois has also produced online resources (often linked to these events) that are designed to reach a wider audience.

Lois often receives requests for advice on how to better support the Roma population from health and social care providers in South Yorkshire and beyond. She has delivered events at Sheffield Town Hall (in collaboration with the Mayor of Sheffield), at the Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Board and with MPs across race and migration related All Party Parliamentary Groups in London. Lois鈥 role on the Office for National Statistics Roma Lived Experience project is shaping a final report that will address the recognised inadequacies of Census data. 

Lois鈥 role as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Clifton Learning Partnership has provided additional opportunities to closely connect her research with real world concerns. A number of collaborative projects have sprung directly from learning that emerged through this role, shaping both research and health/social care delivery in the region.