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Lorna is an experienced researcher with a PhD and postgraduate certificate in research methods and 20 years’ experience of delivering qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation projects for public and third sector organisations.
She held research posts in academia, the NHS and local government in England before moving back to Dumfries and Galloway 10 years ago and working as a freelancer. Lorna is particularly skilled in translating complex data into accessible and engaging findings that can help organisations to increase their impact. She is passionate about projects that support community engagement, health and wellbeing, and the armed forces community. Read on to find out more about some of Lorna's work.
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Lorna worked with Grace on a research project funded by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to explore employers and neurodivergent adult experiences of neurodivergence at work. The project included a literature review, focus groups and surveys and the findings were used to develop a framework for action, which is now being taken forward by the Neuroaffirming Workplaces Programme.
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Lorna worked alongside Rebecca, Grace and Angharad on the Empowering Women Panel, a project funded by the Scottish Government to support marginalised women to shape national gender equality work. Lorna provided research and evaluation expertise throughout the project’s three years and prepared annual evaluation reports to capture its learning and impact. She also co-produced a cost of living crisis peer research project with the panel members to explore how the Scottish Government’s response to the crisis was affecting the lives of women and girls.
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Working with Grace, Lorna evaluated a mental health project in primary schools in Dumfries and Galloway. The Skills for Life project aimed to develop coping skills amongst pupils to protect their future mental health. Lorna and Grace used a mixed methods approach to explore experiences of the project and assess its impact over three years. This included teacher and head teacher interviews and more participatory drawing and writing activities to engage with pupils. The findings were used by Partnership for Children to strengthen their approach to delivering the mental health interventions.
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Lorna has been supporting communities to develop a Local Place Plan by providing the evidence they need to identify local priorities. As part of this work, Lorna has analysed national statistics on population demographics, the labour market and deprivation and summarised the data in area profiles. She’s also analysed data collected through consultation and engagement activities and prepared accessible and engaging summary reports.
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