Personal profile
Biography
Pam is an Assistant Professor in Community Wellbeing with particular interests in child and adolescent development; inequalities; and wellbeing. Her research focuses broadly on factors that influence health and wellbeing in educational and community settings, with recent projects focusing on school attendance; school exclusion; community perspectives on local health and wellbeing; and substance use support for military veterans.
Pam has expertise in a range of quantitative and qualitative research approaches including surveys, observational methods, focus groups and interviews. She also has an interest in public involvement and engagement. She is currently Public Involvement and Engagement lead for Fuse: The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health and is co-chair for the Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Group.
Across the School of Communities and Education, Pam supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research students in Health & Social Care; Guidance and Counselling; Social Work; and Public Health. She also leads Dissertation Project (level 6), Inequalities and Social Justice (level 4) and Learning at University (level 4) modules, and teaches quantitative research methods in Health and Social Care, Guidance and Counselling, and Social Work. Additionally, Pam is a member of the University’s Ethics College of Reviewers.
Pam is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of Advance HE.
Prior to her PhD, Pam spent time working within primary and secondary education taking on Learning Support and Social Inclusion roles. She also spent time as a children’s mentor in the voluntary sector.
Research interests
Inequalities
Child and Adolescent Development
Health and Wellbeing
Food Insecurity
Poverty
School Attendance, Absence and Exclusion
Education/Academic qualification
Psychology, PhD
23 Apr 2015 → 31 Dec 2099
Award Date: 23 Apr 2015
Psychology, BSc (Hons)
1 Jul 2005 → 31 Dec 2099
Award Date: 1 Sept 2005
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords
- Reduced Inequalities
- Social Mobility
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):
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SDG 1 No Poverty
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A reply to ‘British Muslim children’s and parents’ views on halal school food: a participatory study’ by Zeibeda Sattar et al
Graham, P. L., 26 Mar 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Global Discourse: An interdisciplinary journal of current affairs. p. 1-6 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Examining the cost of learning in United Kingdom higher education: Qualitative insights from academic and professional service staff at a post-92 English university
Graham, P. L., Shotton, L. H., Goodall, A. & Hayman, R., 25 Mar 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Equity in Education & Society. p. 1-18 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Exploratory analysis of inter-connected factors related to secondary school absenteeism: Caregivers’ perspectives
Carrick, A., Chen, R., Littlefair, D., Friedman, S., Mulholland, K., Hudson, K., Graham, P., Graham, P., Davies, C., Barker, L. & Cordier, R., 1 Jan 2026, In: International Journal of Educational Research. 136, 16 p., 102901.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
‘This unusual lifestyle is full of highs and lows’: exploring social harms with kinship carers in North East England
Hall, K., Grimshaw, L. & Graham, P. L., 1 Feb 2026, In: Families, Relationships and Societies. 15, 1, p. 21–38 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)11 Downloads (Pure) -
Food insecurity and alleviating hunger
Graham, P. L., McInnes, A. & Mugyisha, A., 25 Aug 2025, The Routledge International Handbook of Glocal Social Work. Pentaris, P. & Walker, J. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Taylor & FrancisResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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“Trying to juggle study and work”: University staff reflections on supporting students experiencing financial hardship
Graham, P. (Speaker), Hayman, R. (Speaker), Shotton, L. (Speaker) & Goodall, A. (Speaker)
30 Jun 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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The challenges of poverty and food insecurity in school and community settings in the UK
Graham, P. (Speaker) & Dalton, C. (Speaker)
27 Jan 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Food security and adolescent mental health
Graham, P. (Speaker), Fothergill, M. (Speaker), Young, J. (Speaker) & Haskell, C. (Speaker)
Jun 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Mental Health Support for Girls in Alternative Education
Graham, P. (Speaker), Brookes, I. (Speaker), Hardy, C. (Speaker) & Haskell, C. (Speaker)
Jun 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Food insecurity and poor food habits amongst college students in the North East of England
Graham, P. (Speaker), Young, J. (Speaker), Haskell, C. (Speaker) & Fothergill, M. (Speaker)
24 Jun 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Projects
- 9 Finished
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Community Perspectives on Climate Action in Hartlepool
Graham, P. L. (PI) & Lee, R. (CoI)
1/04/24 → 26/06/24
Project: Research
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Community Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing in Hartlepool
Lee, R. (CoI), Hackett, K. (CoI) & Graham, P. L. (PI)
Additional Research England QR Allocation - internal funding
1/01/23 → 1/07/23
Project: Other
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Girls' experiences in alternative education
Graham, P. L. (PI) & Haskell-Ramsay, C. (CoI)
National Institute for Health Research
1/07/21 → 31/03/22
Project: Research
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Substance Misuse Support for Military Veterans in Newcastle
Watson, P. (CoI), McGovern, W. (CoI), Mason, C. (CoI) & Graham, P. L. (PI)
2/09/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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Prizes
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British Psychological Society North East of England Branch Public Engagement Award
Graham, P. (Recipient), 2016
Prize
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Thesis
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School Breakfast Clubs, Social Relationships and Behaviour
Graham, P. (Author), Russo, R. (Supervisor), Reynolds, C. (Supervisor) & Defeyter, M. A. (Supervisor), 1 Oct 2014Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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