Jenny Woodward, Research Fellow

Jenny Woodward

Research Fellow

Jenny is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Health Promotion Research. She specialises in the evaluation of public health interventions, qualitative research and writing accessible briefings. The involvement of lay health workers and community engagement approaches are regular themes in her work.

Part-time, Jenny is studying for a PhD. Entitled 'People and Parks' this explores how Local Authorities and Communities can work together to improve green spaces for health.

Managing complex evaluation projects incorporating multiple research methods is a key area of Jenny's expertise. Examples include evaluations of the RNIB Living Well with Diabetes project, the HSCVF bursary fund, Leeds Winter Warmth and Bradford Beating Diabetes.

An experienced qualitative researcher, Jenny has worked in community settings, schools, and primary care. She's interviewed people from all walks of life, om topics such as the importance of transport for older people, how schools can improve the uptake of school meals, the role of voluntary organisations for mental health support and the prevention of diabetes

Finally, Jenny is skilled at writing short accessible lay summaries of research and disseminating these into practice. This is based on her time spent working in marketing and communications before her move into academia.

Jenny regularly reaches research methods, particularly in terms of collecting and analysing qualitative data and has supervised many final year dissertation students.

Current Teaching

  • Supervision of Nutrition & Dietetic dissertation students
  • Taught on various modules on the topic of conducting and analysing qualitative research

Research Interests

Jenny's PhD aims to utilise her knowledge and experience of community engagement in health and apply this to how communities can be supported in helping to maintain and improve their local urban green space. Drawing on her own personal experience she aims to map the ways in which communities are currently involved in their local green spaces, explore the role of the wider workforce and identify the support communities need from Local Authorities.

Jenny Woodward, Research Fellow

Selected Outputs

  • Southby K; Coan S; Rushworth S; South J; Bagnall A-M; Lam T; Woodward J; Button D (2022) The contribution of peer research in evaluating complex public health interventions: examples from two UK community empowerment projects. BMC Public Health, 22 pp. 1-11.

  • South J; Button D; Quick A; Bagnall A-M; Trigwell J; Woodward J; Coan S; Southby K (2019) Complexity and Community Context: Learning from the Evaluation Design of a National Community Empowerment Programme. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1), pp. 91.

    https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010091

  • Woodward J; Sahota P; Pike J; Molinari R (2015) Interventions to increase free school meal take-up. Health Education, 115 (2), pp. 197-213.

    https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-08-2014-0083

  • Cattan M; Woodward J; Marsden G; Jopson A (2009) Will anyone listen to me? The older traveller and transport planning. Access by Design, 118 pp. 31-36.

    http://www.cae.org.uk/pdf/ABDcontents_83-125.pdf

  • Marsden G; Cattan M; Jopson A; Woodward J (2008) Understanding the older traveller - stop, look and listen!. Working with Older People, 12 (2), pp. 12-15.

    https://doi.org/10.1108/13663666200800024

  • Bagnall A; Woodward J; Coan S; South J (2022) Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Access and Engagement Theory of Change and Evaluation Framework Report [Online]. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

  • bagnall A-M (2021) ABCD Social Return on Investment Summary [Online]. Leeds Beckett University.

  • Coan S; Woodward J; Bagnall A-M; Rippon S; South J (2021) ABCD Evaluation Report Summary [Online]. Leeds Beckett University.

  • Woodward J; Coan S; South J; Rippon S; Bagnall A-M (2021) ABCD Evidence Summary [Online]. Leeds Beckett University.

  • South J; Woodward J; Coan S; Bagnall A-M; Rippon S (2021) Asset Based Community Development: Evaluation of Leeds ABCD [Online]. Leeds: Leeds Beckett University.

  • Woodward J; South J; Coan S; Bagnall A-M; Rippon S (2021) Asset Based Community Development: a review of current evidence [Online]. Leeds: Leeds Beckett University.

  • Warwick-Booth L; Woodward J; O'Dwyer L; Di Martino S (2018) An Evaluation of Leeds CCG Gypsy and Traveller Health Improvement Project [Online]. Leeds Beckett Univeristy.

  • Seims A; Woodward J; White J; Bunyan A-M; O'Dwyer L (2018) Wise Up To Cancer - can it make a difference? Executive Summary Yorkshire Cancer Research.

    Available from: https://yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/how-we-help/wise-up-to-cancer

  • Woodward J; Bagnall A; White J (2016) An evaluation of the Bradford Beating Diabetes Intensive Lifestyle Change Programme [Online]. Bradford City CCG.

  • Woodward J; Day R; White J (2012) An Evaluation of Altogether Better’s NHS LifeCheck Demonstrator Project [Online]. Centre for Health Promotion Research, Leeds Metropolitan University.

  • WOODWARD J; SOUTH J (2011) People power in public health [Online].

  • GREEN J; AYRTON R; WOODALL J; WOODWARD J; NEWELL C; CATTAN M (2008) Child Parent Interaction in Relation to Road Safety Education: Final Report [Online]. London: Department for Transport.

  • GREEN J; AYRTON R; WOODALL J; WOODWARD J; NEWELL C; CATTAN M (2008) Child parent interaction in relation to road safety education: part 2- main report. Road Safety Research Report 102 London: Department for Transport.

  • South J; Woodward J (2010) A response to the inquiry: “The NHS White Paper & Public Engagement” From the People in Public Health research team, Centre for Health Promotion Research. Submission to All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care & Public Health inquiry into NHS White Paper.