Researcher / Consultant

Laura Stock

I joined the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) in September 2008 and work as a Researcher/ Consultant in the area of social inclusion with a particular focus on researching children and families, integration and community cohesion.

Since joining the TIHR I have undertaken a range of research projects related to children and young people including: the evaluation of the Right Herepilots to support the mental health of young people from 16-25 (Paul Hamlyn and Mental Health Foundation); a study on service provision to disadvantaged separated families; a research review on teenage pregnancy; and the evaluation of phase II Skilled for Health (DoH). Currently I am managing the programme evaluation of the Child Poverty Pilots: Delivering Improved Services for Separating Parents (DCSF), exploring the effectiveness of provision to support families living in poverty going through separation. Alongside projects in relation to children and families, I have been particularly involved in work in relation to community cohesion and the preventing violent extremism programme (Prevent) on both national (CLG) and local authority contexts. This includes managing the development of local authority self-evaluation guidance for preventing violent extremism projects and programmes (CLG), exploring the processes of community empowerment through Peterborough's Prevent programme and evaluating the Prevent programmes in Birmingham and most recently, in Tower Hamlets.

I bring experience of working at both local community and European levels within the voluntary sector, where I researched issues of integration and community cohesion. I worked both locally with refugee and faith-based community organisations and at a pan-European network of refugee assisting NGOs across Europe. I also have experience of working in a local branch of Social Services in the children and families team.

I have a Postgraduate degree in Human Rights from the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (University of London) and a BA (Hons.) in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I have experience in using a wide range of qualitative research methods, with a particular interest in anthropological and culturally sensitive research approaches, participatory methods, action research and evaluation methodologies.