My main area of work to date has focused on issues relating to social security, welfare reform, deprivation, social exclusion and the measurement of poverty. I was a researcher on the first Poverty and Social Exclusion study to be carried out in Northern Ireland in 2002, which provided a baseline measure of poverty in the region for the first time. I was also a researcher on the second Poverty and Social Exclusion study a decade later, carrying out a major qualitative study into family life in a context of poverty. More recently, I have been working with children and young people, investigating their attitudes to important social issues like health, education, religion, community relations and politics. Methods have included developing co-production approaches with young people ensuring the views of vulnerable young people such as those with mental health issues, disabilities and experience of the care system are included  in all aspects of research. I have recently completed a qualitative study funded by N.I. Department for Communities investigating lone mothers’ attitudes and motivations to employment, education and training in a context of labour market activation policy.  Currently, my work involves addressing the social harms associated with substance use.