Kathryn Curran

Physical Activity Researcher

After completing a BSc in Sports Science and Social Science and an MSc in Physical Activity and Health both at Loughborough University, Kathryn spent the following 12 months with Liverpool Healthy Schools and Everton in the Community (Everton Football Club's community football scheme) delivering nutrition education in over 150 primary schools in Liverpool.

Immediately following this, Kathryn joined Liverpool John Moores University, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (LJMU SPS) as a practitioner-researcher. Between Augusts 2009-2012 Kathryn managed the Everton Active Family Centre (LJMU SPS satellite centre) and established and co-ordinated LJMU/Everton in the Community’s ‘Premier League Health’ programme at Goodison Park. The ‘Premier League Health’ programme focused on six key regional health themes, and engaged hard-to-reach men in Liverpool in physical activity and health related behaviours. On a daily basis Kathryn engaged men who have some of the poorest health statistics in the UK, including homeless men, recovering drug and alcohol users, men who are long term unemployed and men who had recently been released from prison. Alongside her role as a project manager/practitioner, Kathryn was undertaking research (PhD) within the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences. Kathryn’s PhD thesis is entitled; Understanding the barriers to, and impact of, men’s engagement in physical activity and health related behaviours: An examination of an English Premier League Football in the Community Men’s Health programme. Kathryn is currently writing up her thesis on a full time basis, due for completion in 2013.

Kathryn is a member of the Psychology and Development and Physical Activity Exercise and Health research groups based within the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences. Kathryn regularly presents her research at the International Men’s Health World Congress. In 2011, Kathryn was invited to join a network of world leaders in men’s health and is now an active member of the group who are striving towards a global men’s health advocacy movement. Kathryn’s work and research with socially disadvantaged groups has been championed by the World Health Organization as an example of best practice.

Research Interests

• Professional sports clubs as a vehicle for engagement in health behaviours
• Understanding barriers to, and motivators for, engagement in health behaviours
• Psychosocial impact of Sport
• Football in the Community
• Men’s Health
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Sport
• Social Return on Investment

Qualifications

• BSc Sports Science and Social Science (Loughborough University)
• MSc Physical Activity and Health (Loughborough University)

Collaborations and Partnerships

In 2011, Kathryn was invited to join a network of world leaders in men’s health and is now an active member of the group who are striving towards a global men’s health advocacy movement.

Kathryn established and facilitated the partnerships between LJMU/Everton in the Community’s 'Premier League Health' programme and over 60 health and wellbeing, education, employment and homeless housing organisations within Liverpool and nationwide.

Kathryn established a partnership between Liverpool John Moores University, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Heart Research UK.

Kathryn is involved in the continued collaboration with Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community.

Memberships

Kathryn is part of the Psychology and Development (PaD) and Physical Activity Exercise and Health (PAEH) research groups based within the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Kathryn is an active member of the ‘Community Football Hub’.

Kathryn is a registered and active STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador.

Indicators of esteem

In October 2011, Kathryn was invited to the 8th International Men’s Health World Congress’ in Vienna, Austria, to form part of a symposium to present her work on using football as a vehicle for men’s engagement in health related behaviours.

Kathryn was runner-up in the ‘New Researcher Award’ at the European Association of Sports Management Conference, Aalborg, Denmark, September 2012.

Case study championed by the World Health Organization as an example of best practice for promoting physical activity in socially disadvantaged groups.

Case study requested by and accepted by University of Western Sydney, Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre as an example of best practice for using sport as a vehicle for promoting physical activity and health amongst men. See Website.

Case study requested by and submitted to International Sport and Culture Association as an example of best practice for promoting physical activity among socially disadvantaged groups. Under Review.

Case study requested and submitted to Heart UK of best practice for CVD Prevention. Under Review.

Television appearances on BBC, Sky Sports News, Everton TV, North West Today/Tonight, Premier League TV and Granada News

Radio guest on BBC Radio Merseyside, Radio 5 Live and Radio City

Media coverage in Liverpool Echo, Merseymart, The Guardian, Times Higher Education Supplement and over 50 nationwide newspapers.

Grant income

£10,000 Heart Research UK

Recent Conference Presentations

Curran, K. (2013) Encouraging positive lifestyle changes among hard to reach men. Heart Research UK, ‘Celebrating Success-Learning the Lessons’ one day conference. Leeds, UK. 23rd January 2013. ORAL

Dunn, K., Drust, B., Murphy, R. and Richardson, D. (2012) The challenge of engaging hard-to-reach populations in regular sport and physical activity: an examination of an English Premier League Football in the community men’s health programme. The 20TH European Association of Sports Management (EASM) Conference, Aalborg, Denmark , 18th-21st September 2012. ORAL

Dunn, K. & Parnell, D. (2012) Football as a vehicle for social change: reflections from the field. Football and its Communities Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. 1st June, 2012. ORAL

Dunn, K., Drust, B., Flower, D. and Richardson, D (2011) Kicking the Habit: A Biopsychosocial Account of Engaging Men recovering from Drug Misuse in Recreational Football. The 8th International Men's Health World Congress. Vienna, Austria. 2nd-5th October 2011. ORAL.

Dunn, K., Drust, B., Flower, D. and Richardson, D. (2011) Football, Health and Homelessness. The complexities of engaging homeless men in regular physical activity. The 16th Annual Congress of the ECSS, Liverpool, UK.6-9TH July, 2011. POSTER.

Bingham, D.D., Parnell, D., Dunn, K., Watson, L. & Richardson, D. (2011) The Everton Active Family Centre - Understanding Football as a Vehicle for Positive Behaviour and Lifestyle Change, ECSS Pre Conference Symposium: Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Interventions for Children and Young People, LJMU. 5th July, 2011. Team Market Place Submission.

Dunn. K., Drust, B. and Richardson, D. (2010). I just want to watch the match! A reflective account of men's health themed match day events at an English Premier League Football Club. The 7th International Men's Health World Congress. Nice, France. 28TH-30TH October 2010. ORAL.

Dunn, K. (2010) Premier League Men’s Health: Using sport as a vehicle for men’s engagement in positive health behaviours. Regional Conference. Duxford Imperial War Museum Cambridge. 22nd March 2010. ORAL-INVITED.

Invited Symposia

Dunn, K. (2011) Football as a vehicle for men’s engagement in health related behaviours. In ‘Habits and Hobbies of Men’ at the 8th International Men’s Health World Congress’, Vienna, Austria. Oct 2nd- 6th 2011.

Upcoming Invited Conference Presentations

Parnell, D. and Curran, K. The Realities of Promoting Men's Health: A Case Study from Everton FC's Community Football Programme. Physical Activity and Men’s Health Interventions. 2nd European Healthy Stadia Conference 2013: 21st March, Etihad Stadium, UK.

share was this page helpful?