Personal profile

Biography

Elliott is a Vice Chancellor's Fellow in Public Policy at Northumbria University. He serves on Northumbria's Disability Equality Steering Group and on the Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing's (SWECW) Ethics Review College while leading SWECW's Disability, Neurodiversity, Mental Distress and Lived Experience Expert Group. He is also Impact Lead for the Common Sense Policy Group and co-ordinated work within SWECW to publish the underpinning research produced by the the Group's Beveridge-style transformative public policy platform, Act Now.

Elliott's work focuses on inequalities and social determinants of health, particularly the impact of work and welfare and especially in relation to disabled people. This includes understanding health impact, economic feasibility, public acceptability and the development of narratives capable of persuading opponents of evidence-based policy. A core project within this has been his examination of the public health case for Basic Income. His work has often depended on deploying innovative research and communication methods to include and amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. This has been supported by more than £1.4m in research funding.

Previously a research leader in the third sector, his work across academia, public and third sectors has achieved impact by creating sector-wide standards, shaping organisational approaches and influencing national policy. In the third sector, he used his Activity Trap report – which identified a fear among a large proportion of disabled people of being more active in case they were to lose disability benefits – to create policy proposals and lobby Government with national partners to remove such disincentives. This and subsequent work has led to his being invited to Government roundtables to provide evidence on disability benefits policy. 

His work has been covered by the Guardian, Independent, Times, Telegraph, Spectator, FT, BBC, Sky News, Channel 4 News, ITV News, Channel 5 News, CNBC and TIME. He provided 2024 UK General Election analysis for BBC Radio Newcastle and Tees both on the night and the following day.

Research interests

Elliott's primary research interest is the social determinants of health, and the public policy means of addressing them. Much of his work has focused on work and welfare, particularly Basic Income, and especially in relation to disabled people. Specifically, his work examines the following areas:

  • Health impact
  • Economic feasibility
  • Public acceptability
  • Narratives to ‘sell’ the policy
  • Additional needs, including those of disabled people

He also has broader expertise on inclusion, disability and inclusive physical activity.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 1 - No Poverty
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

Education/Academic qualification

Health and Social Research, PhD, Health Sciences, University of Warwick

2 Oct 202226 Jul 2023

Award Date: 26 Jul 2023

Politics, MA, Politics (Research)

1 Oct 200818 Nov 2009

Award Date: 18 Nov 2009

Classics, BA (Hons), Classical Studies, Newcastle University

1 Sept 200527 Jun 2008

Award Date: 27 Jun 2008

External positions

ESRC Peer Review College

3 Jun 2024 → …

North East Combined Authority

28 Mar 202431 Aug 2031

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

  • Disability Equality
  • Reduced Inequalities

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