“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
We think this quote perfectly sums up researcher Adela Sobrepera. So, take a few minutes from your day to read more about her below and you’ll understand why.
- What experiences led you to work for WD Trust?
I met Jon Parry (Head of Research), and Sabina Enback (Senior Researcher) when I was working for the University of Liverpool and carrying out an evaluation of the Better Policing Collaborative work across England, which consists of a consortia of research teams including Skills for Justice. As part of the evaluation, I attended one of their workshops in Lewes Constabulary and interviewed them. They were great to work with, so when Jon mentioned a job opening in the team, I was keen to apply. I had worked in an applied research setting previously in Barcelona, and I was looking forward to doing something similar in the UK in sectors I feel a strong connection with as I have a MSc in Investigative and Forensic Psychology.
- What does an average day look like for you?
It is really varied, and that is really the wonder of the job, but it involves a lot of time spent in front of the computer analysing data. However, not always is like that. I facilitate many workshops and we usually try to incorporate mixed methods into our projects, so many days are spent designing studies and workshops, interviewing people, writing reports...
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
I am naturally a very curious and analytical person, and being a researcher allows me to put these qualities to good use, but what I enjoy the most is working on projects on a myriad of topics with a great group of people.
- What upcoming projects are you working on?
Currently I am working on a project involving mental health in primary care which I find fascinating. I have a background in psychology and mental health is a topic that I am particularly interested in exploring, particularly if it is around skills and competencies needed to deliver good quality care in community settings. In addition, I am updating Labour Market Reports and infographics for all our sectors, which if Skills for Justice members have not received them yet, they will soon!
Everyone should be able to feel safe at home, at work and elsewhere. In my spare time I volunteer on a local domestic violence helpline as I am keen in helping create more safe spaces for anyone affected by DV no matter the point in their recovery journey or their background. And obviously, in a perfect world everyone would get involved in finding sustainable solutions for the planet and actively participate in reducing waste. In the Sheffield office, we have just started our own collection of used writing instruments which we take to our local recycling point.
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