Dr Kelly Bracewell
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As a member of the Connect Centre, Kelly undertakes research across large-scale national and international research projects. She also supports teaching across a range of subjects related to interpersonal violence and vulnerable groups. Kelly is also developing work to address the regulatory requirements around sexual violence, harassment and misconduct on campus. She is active within the domestic abuse sector and maintains close links with local and national partners. Kelly works with policy makers, commissioners, charitable funders and government departments.
Kelly's current role as Research Fellow requires effective team working within the Connect Centre, an established research centre for interpersonal harm, across different projects. She is also a trustee for local charities.
Kelly has undertaken several longitudinal research projects, supported research projects and service evaluations, and been seconded to major research projects with the University of Stirling and National Policing Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP). Kelly's PhD research focused on refuges as an intervention for young people.
Kelly possesses strong skills and expertise in qualitative research methods, particularly in working with vulnerable groups. In 2022 Kelly set up and continues to support and sustain an adult survivor consultation group ‘Voice of Survivors’ who provide knowledge and expertise to the Connect Centre and external projects. A children’s group ‘The Smarties’ was also set up with colleagues in 2024.
Kelly undertakes a range of research activities including literature review, design of research tools including surveys, interviews, focus groups, data analysis, observations, case file analysis, and report writing. She has worked with a wide range of external agencies including commissioners and local authorities, (vulnerable) service users, staff members, students, volunteers, and the public all of which require different ways and forms of communication, including briefing papers.
Kelly is an experienced and effective presenter and has worked on an international scale around dissemination and contributing to prestigious conferences. She has excellent abilities in developing and maintaining relationships with both organisations/gatekeepers and research participants over longitudinal projects, including with young people and those who have experienced trauma.
Kelly has significant research and work experience in the field of domestic violence and abuse. This includes current work around domestic homicide reviews as well as service evaluations. Areas of detailed knowledge include: Domestic Violence and Abuse, Sexual Violence, Victimisation, Violence prevention, Gender, Feminism, Feminist Methods, Immigration/Migration of women and children, and methods of working with children and young people. Kelly presents research findings at local, national and European conferences.
Kelly has almost ten years experience and expertise within the voluntary sector, working and volunteering for a domestic violence organisation - working with victims/ survivors of domestic violence and abuse – men, women, children and young people. She assisted with the launch of the Connect Centre (an international centre for research on interpersonal violence and harm) in 2013 and with several research projects both within and outside of the university. These include the National evaluation of the PAUSE pilot, the Evaluation of the Doncaster Growing Futures Programme and the Evaluation of a Leaving Care Service.
Kelly has also successfully supported dissertation students at both undergraduate and post graduate level around vulnerable children and families. She currently supervises three doctoral students in the fields of stalking and domestic abuse.
- PhD, University of Central Lancashire, 2017
- MA (by Research), University of Central Lancashire, 2011
- BA (Hons) First Class, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2008
- SEDA (Staff and Educational Development) Award
- Associate Member of the Higher Education Academy ref 51450
- Kelly’s research interests include:
- gender and violence
- effective prevention and responses to domestic and sexual abuse
- young people’s experiences of service provision and support
- prevention of violence
- engaging vulnerable people in research and research methods with young people
- British Society of Criminology (BSC) Victims Network
- Pan-Lancashire Domestic Abuse Steering Group
- Lancashire Domestic Abuse Forum
- Lancashire Domestic Homicide Task and Finish Group
- Preston Community Safety Partnership
- CAFCASS DA Practice reference group
- Lancashire Police VAWG Scrutiny Group
- IPSOS practice reference group academic and lead for lived experience survivor involvement
- The European Shelter Research Network
- The International Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) research network
Kelly's current role as Research Associate requires effective team working within the Connect Centre, an established research centre for interpersonal harm, across the different projects. Kelly undertakes a range of research activities including literature review, design of research tools including surveys, interviews, focus groups, data analysis, observations, case file analysis, and report writing. She has worked with a wide range of external agencies including commissioners and local authorities, (vulnerable) service users, staff members, students, volunteers, and the public all of which require different ways and forms of communication, including briefing papers. Kelly is an experienced and effective presenter and has worked on an international scale around dissemination and contributing to prestigious conferences. She undertaken several longitudinal research projects and supported research projects and service evaluations led by UCLan, including working with care leavers, and undertaking a VAWG service scoping study: 'UK Women and Girls scoping study: violence against women and girls services in Lancashire’. Additional work has been undertaken around addressing sexual violence on campus. Kelly also acts as an independent reviewer for journal submissions related to her research activity.
Kelly holds a considerable record of quality published research outputs and research reports.
Kelly is currently investigating the experiences of and responses to intimate partner stalking in the lives of young people aged 13-19 years funded by the ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre.
Previous key projects include:
- Evaluation of The Whole Housing Approach Pilot project
- Children Affected by Domestic Abuse (CADA) Evaluation, Home Office
- CAFADA: Developing the evidence base for innovation in social care for children and families affected by domestic abuse, ESRC. With universities of Stirling, Edinburgh, East London and Northampton.
- Learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews using Experience Based Co-Design (HALT), ESRC, with MMU.
- Evaluation of a national stalking service (Paladin).
- Safe Lives/ Women’s Aid Road Map evaluation of domestic violence services, funded by Big Lottery Fund.
- IMPACTS: Collaborations to address sexual violence on campus.
- Stopping the Cycle of Youth Violence Evaluation. Premier League Charity Trust/Children in Need.
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- The Criminal Justice Partnership, The University of Central Lancashire
- Shared Roadmap for System Change
- ESRC Learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews (ES/S005471/1)
- How British universities are challenging sexual violence and harassment on campus
- IMPACTS: Collaborations to address sexual violence on campus
- Evaluation of the Bystander Intervention, UCLan
- Stopping the Cycle of Youth Violence Evaluation. Premier League Charity Trust /Children in Need
- VAWG service provision across Lancashire: Transition Evaluation
- Scoping Study: Violence Against Women and Girls Services. Comic Relief
- Evaluation of Family Action’s Service for Young People in Care
- National evaluation of the Pause project
- Evaluation of the Doncaster Growing Futures Programme
- Evaluation of a Leaving Care Service, Cabinet Office
- Safeguarding Teenage Intimate Relationships research in the UK, Cyprus, Italy, Norway and Bulgaria, EU Daphne
- Mapping domestic violence service provision in Wales, Welsh Government
- Preventing Domestic Abuse for Children (PEACH), Public Health Research Programme, NIHR
- Utilising Domestic Homicide Reviews to prevent Adult Family, Domestic Homicide Doing Police Research: Approaches & Challenges. COPR Early -Career Researcher Symposium 2025 Dr Kelly Bracewell
- Enabling child friendly and child involving social care practice (oral presentation), European Conference on Domestic Violence Dr Kelly Bracewell, Prof. Jane Callaghan, Laura Bellussi, Dr Claire Houghton, Dr Camille Warrington
- Domestic Violence and Abuse: Early Intervention via Community Mobilisation (oral presentation), British Society of Criminology Conference 2023 Dr Kelly Bracewell
- Improving the response to families affected by Domestic Violence and Abuse: Implementation challenges and success, European Society of Criminology (Eurocrim) Dr Kelly Bracewell, Prof. Jane Callaghan, Laura Bellussi
- Domestic violence and abuse: Community mobilization (oral presentation), Annual Conference of the European Network on Gender and Violence (ENGV) Dr Kelly Bracewell, Prof. Khatidja Chantler, Dr Katie Martin & Prof Nicky Stanley
Telephone:01772 893667
Email: Email:Dr Kelly Bracewell
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