Research Community

Siobhan is a fully funded PhD candidate at the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research, at Anglia Ruskin University. Her research explores the experiences of military mobility for young people from British Army and RAF families, both overseas and within England, drawing on primary data that centres youth voice. Alongside her doctoral work, Siobhan works for SSAFA Community Health, supporting British Forces Overseas as a visiting Children and Young People’s Mental Health Community Nursing Practitioner and ADOS 2 Assessor. From her ongoing PhD research, she has developed a booklet sharing young people’s advice on navigating mobility, which is widely used to support families across the UK and overseas. Siobhan holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Social Science and Social Policy, a master’s degree in Psychology, and a master’s degree in Mental Health Nursing. Her personal, academic and professional work is grounded in supporting the wellbeing of the Armed Forces community.

The work of the Stress, Trauma, and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre focuses on the psychological well-being and mental health of those who have experienced stress, adversity, and trauma. The team focus on exploring and understanding predictors, correlates, and impacts of a range of psychological disorders including, but not limited to, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and Dissociation and work with a range of different populations (healthcare workers, emergency services, Armed Forces, children and adolescents, as well as the general adult population). Additionally, recent efforts have focused on exploring the concept of post adversity psychological resilience.

The Centre for Military Research Education and Public Engagement is a research, education, public engagement, and practice unit in Scotland dedicated to the Armed Forces. It is based in Edinburgh Napier, a recognised Gold Covenant University, and works with key military stakeholders across Scotland, the UK and internationally through various networks related to armed forces transition, mental health, and wellbeing. At the heart of the centre is a multidisciplinary team of academics, practitioners, veterans, and key military personnel from tri-services with a reputation and demonstrable track record for innovation and flexible approaches to project management, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies

The Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research are a multi-disciplinary team conducting integral translational research in the Armed Forces Community. The Northern Hub’s research profile is both qualitative and quantitative, covering health and social care, public health, psychology, social policy, human geography, and nursing. They consistently work to attract and facilitate collaboration across the Armed Forces sector, working with a variety of organisations across the Government, Local Authorities, NHS and Third Sector.

Established in 2016, The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice is a flagship for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal change.  This rings together researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and peace-builders from diverse backgrounds and international locations who share their multiple perspectives and work collaboratively to solve specific problems associated with the GRI’s priority themes of Legacy, The Politics of Security and Institutional Peacebuilding, Rights and Social Justice and Religion, Arts and Peacebuilding. 

The Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research carries out research, policy development and consultation on the impact of military Service - improving the well-being of Veterans, Service personnel and their families. Their work falls into four key areas of research: Thriving Families, Transition Measurement and Service Improvement, Women and Equalities, and Narrative. They have a growing domestic and international profile and are involved in NATO research on military-to-civilian transition, and sexual violence, as well as collaborative work with international universities.

The Westminster Centre for Research in Veterans supports the Armed Forces community by producing innovative and high-quality research and community engagement. The centre’s robust research profile aims to positively impact Veterans' health and healthcare at regional, national, and international levels. They aim to continue to embrace new technologies and creative methodologies to address issues that negatively affect the well-being of the military population. Additionally, the Westminster Centre hosts the informative Armed Forces Community Research International Webinar.