Ruth Mckenna Email & Phone Number

I lead one of the social research teams in the Advanced Learning and Skills Analysis (ALSA) Unit in the Scottish Government. Our unit includes statisticians, economists and social researchers, and we provide analysis relating to post-school education and skills. My role involves advising on the evidence base used to develop policy, conducting high-quality and robust research, commissioning research, and evaluating the impact of government policy. My areas of focus are post-school education reform and community learning.

As a member of the senior management team, I was responsible for general organisational and financial oversight of Waverley Care. I led our research and evaluation activity on blood borne viruses and sexual health, working in partnership with NHS and other third sector organisations. I also led our communications team, including social media and wider comms.

I was responsible for managing Waverley Care's research and engagement work on sexual health and blood borne viruses (BBV). This involved working collaboratively with NHS boards across Scotland, other third sector organisations working in the field, and with people living with or affected by BBVs. I also managed My Voice, our engagement project with communities affected by female genital mutilation (FGM).

This role sat within the Destitute Asylum Seeker Service, a partnership project between British Red Cross (BRC), Scottish Refugee Council, Refugee Survival Trust, Glasgow Night Shelter, Strathclyde University Law Clinic, Fasgadh and Rehoboth Nissi Ministries. I was based with BRC Refugee Support and managed a peer research project looking at the extent to which destitute asylum seekers could access support and services in Scotland. My use of peer research was pioneering within BRC and is now used within the organisation as a good practice example of this methodology. I also carried out other engagement work with refugees and asylum seekers, for example, coordinating our response to the Scottish Government's New Scots consultation. I gathered and monitored quantitative data on a range of topics, including access to section 4 asylum support and accommodation.

GRAMNet brings together researchers, practitioners and policy makers who work alongside migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Scotland. I began working with the Network in the run up to Refugee Week 2014. As Refugee Week coordinator, I was responsible for organising 13 GRAMNet events, ranging from academic seminars to public open days. During this time I also became involved with the GRAMNet social media team. Following Refugee Week, I joined this team and was ultimately promoted to Engagement Coordinator. In this position I oversaw the dissemination of research via Twitter, Facebook and the GRAMNet blog. I also managed two social media and engagement staff. I represented GRAMNet at seminars and other events, and worked to develop strategies to engage communities in the work of the Network. For example, I regularly participated in knowledge exchange events, working with external partners to disseminate research.

While completing my PhD, I undertook a research placement in the Learning Analysis Unit of the Scottish Government. My task was to produce an accessible overview of research relating to parental engagement, specifically focusing on the experiences of BME parents, Roma parents and disabled parents. In addition to collating literary materials on this topic, I also engaged with schools, teachers, parents and pupils, to find out about their experiences and use this information to make good practice recommendations for teachers. The purpose of this research was to generate materials for the new Education Scotland website.

The Russian Centre in Scotland is a Glasgow based charity that works alongside Eastern European and Russian migrants. I initially became involved with the Centre when completing my Masters dissertation, which looked at the accessibility of the voluntary sector to migrants. Based upon the findings of my research, I worked with the Centre to implement strategies that would help their members to better access voluntary opportunities. I was then promoted to Project Manager of the organisation. As the Centre is a small, community organisation, this involved a wide range of responsibilities including managing volunteers, sustaining fundraising activities and office administration. I applied for and secured funding from Glasgow City Council, the Big Lottery Fund and Lloyds TSB Foundation (as it was known at the time). This funding was used to expand a Russian club in three Glasgow schools, to create a new family information service and to sustain core costs. As the Centre also works to promote cooperation between Scottish and Russian enterprise, I was responsible for liaising with Scottish and Russian organisations when such opportunities arose.

I worked as a sales assistant while completing my undergraduate and masters degrees. This involved delivering good customer service, monitoring and replenishing stock, and overseeing the running of the shop floor. Due to my length of service, I also held additional administrative responsibilities. These included auditing stock and gift vouchers, carry out risk assessments and carrying our inductions with new staff.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Social And Political Sciences, Pass

Diploma, Russian Language, Distinction

Master'S Of Research, Global Security, Distinction

Bachelor Of Laws - Llb, Law, First Class Honours