Delyth is a post-doctoral researcher leading on the ethnographies and qualitative in-depth household interviews in Manchester-Salford, Gateshead, Dartmoor and Peterborough.
I completed my doctoral research in Sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast. Prior to this, I gained an MA in Sociological Research from Essex University in 2006. I worked as a research assistant from 2006, at the Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Glamorgan (now known as the University of South Wales). I primarily worked in the Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations whilst simultaneously working as a research assistant on a number of freelance projects in Cardiff for the Open University and Chapter Arts Centre.
I have peer reviewed articles submitted for publication in Child Care in Practice and the British Journal of Social Work. In 2013 I was asked to carry out an evaluation of a project collaboratively undertaken by the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) and the British Library called The Care Leavers Story Project. I have presented papers nationally and internationally at conferences in my role as an RA and on my doctoral research. I have also presented as an invited guest speaker. For further information on my publications, you can see my institutional profile here.
In the Manchester-Salford ecosystem, I volunteered in a charity shop in Cheetham Hill (which I have written about here) and carried out participant observation in the parks of Broughton. The aim of these ethnographies was not only to question how everyday cultural practices are shaped by space, place and locality, but to also explore how space, place, localities and identities are created through/by everyday participation. For the Gateshead ecosystem, I have been carrying out an autoethnography with care experienced young people. The young participants were invited to explore, through film and photography using iPad’s, any aspect of their facilitated cultural and also everyday participation over a number of months. Our aim was to consider the nature of participation that is facilitated for young people in care and how does this complement or sit outside of the young persons ‘everyday participation’. The qualitative work in Dartmoor commenced early this year.
As an ethnographer/biographical researcher I have a particular interest in exploring the forms and practices of people’s everyday participation, where such practices take place, the values attached to such practices, how these practices relate to formal participation and how people talk about their participation. I am also interested in knowing how participation can (de)construct identities and un/make, divide and connect communities.
My everyday participation activities can vary from week to week, depending on my mood! If I’m having a week where I feel energetic, as well as cycling to the office, I will either go swimming or the gym before or after work. At the weekend, I will make time to sew, knit or crochet whilst I’m watching catch up tele or watching DVDs (usually Columbo) because I do not have a TV! I have recently machine sewed my first pair of lined curtains for my living room, which is a massive achievement for me!