Michaela James Email & Phone Number

I am a research officer at Swansea University’s Medical School in the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research (NCPHWR) and ADR-Wales. My main research areas include youth advocacy and empowerment around the health and wellbeing of young people, in particular physical activity/play. As well as this, I manage HAPPEN Wales, a national network aimed at improving the health, wellbeing and education outcomes of primary school children across Wales. My research involves advocating for the wants and needs of young people in their local communities to improve physical activity using citizen science, self-report surveys and data linkage. Co-production is a big part of my research; giving young people a voice. Promoting physical activity has been a big priority for me from my role as mentor to young people not in education, employment or training with three premiership rugby clubs (Warriors, Bath and the Scarlets) to being a fitness instructor and part of the NERS programme.I completed my PhD in December 2020 which explored how a multi-component intervention (including activity vouchers, peer mentoring and support work engagement) impacts the fitness, physical activity, heart health and motivation of teenagers (aged 13-14) in Wales. The ACTIVE Project highlighted that, although short-term interventions can be beneficial in improving activity, teenagers need better access to unstructured, social and fun activities in their local communities.

Listed skills include Research, Teaching, Social Media, Coaching, and 6 others.