Who we are

PROFESSOR OF OBESITY | Leeds Beckett University

Hi I’m Louisa and I am co-lead of the ENHANCE study. I get to work with a truly amazing team of researchers, doctors and young people who are involved with the study. We will work together with NHS England to make sure the learning from ENHANCE improves services for children and young people.

FUN FACT: When I am not at work I enjoy cuddling my goats!

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN OBESITY & PUBLIC HEALTH | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Cath and I am co-lead of the ENHANCE study. I am really lucky to be involved in every bit of the study to make sure our team are doing what we said we would. I can’t wait to hear more about the experiences of children, young people and families and teams caring for them, and then working out how we can use these experiences to improve CEW services.

FUN FACT: I once starred as Irene Care in the music video Flashdance - What a Feeling!

PROGRAMMES AND PLANNING MANAGER | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Claire and I am the project manager for ENHANCE. I get to nosey at what everyone else is up to on the project and do lots of great things with spread sheets. I help to make sure the project runs on time and we don’t spend too much money!

FUN FACT: I am a twin and my children are twins!

PROJECT MANAGER | SHINE Community Programme, Sheffield

Hi I’m Kath and I am the PPIE lead. I am passionate about working alongside young people learning from their experiences and ensuring their voice is heard. I collect real life experiences to help improve services for children and young people.

FUN FACT: I am Nanna to 5 autistic grandchildren aged 6-15!

PhD STUDENT | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Megan and I am supporting work package 3 for ENHANCE. I help out with the work package lead, and other people who are working on the project with lots of different tasks. I like working with young people and families who help make our research better.

FUN FACT: My great-great-grandfather wrote the dictionary!

PhD SUDENT| Sheffield Hallam University

Hi my name is Tahira Amin, I am a research student and working on the ENHANCE study.

I'm interested in working with children and their families to help them get the best from public services.

I enjoy talking to people and learning from them.

Fun fact: I love to untangle anything that is tangled. Give me a bunch of tangled wool and watch me go!

PhD SUDENT| Leeds Becket University

Hi, I’m Kaydee and I am a research student involved in ENHANCE.

I like to investigate problems and work together with people to solve them.

I hope to make a positive contribution to the ENHANCE project with my work!

Fun fact: I have never broken a bone!

PhD SUDENT| Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Daisy and I am a Research Student for ENHANCE. I am very interested in human health, and I wish to find out lots of new things!

I enjoy tackling challenges and coming up with creative solutions to solve problems!

FUN FACT: I have only ever watched the first and last of the Harry Potter films!

READER | Leeds Beckett University

Hi I’m James and I am one of the researchers for ENHANCE. ​My role in this project is a brilliant one. I get to speak with all of the clinics to understand what they are doing to support young people and their families. ​This includes surveys, interviews and group-conversations. ​

FUN FACT: I was born into a sheep farming family, but have always been allergic to sheep! ​

READER IN NUTRITION AND METABOLIC HEALTH | Leeds Beckett University

Hi my name is Jamie and I am researcher working on several parts of ENHANCE. I mainly spend my time staring at numbers in a spreadsheet which will hopefully help us figure out how well the clinics are working.

FUN FACT: I play far too much PlayStation!

RESEARCH OFFICER | Leeds Beckett University

Hi I’m Karina and I am a researcher for ENHANCE. THis means that I get to speak to lots of different people and ask them what works well on the project and what doesn’t work. What we should do more of an what can be done to improve things.

FUN FACT: I am the eldest of three girls and my baby sister is 19 years younger than me!

RESEARCH FELLOW | Leeds Beckett University

Hi I’m Paige and I am a researcher for ENHANCE.

My main role involves looking at survey and interview information provided by participants and then looking for patterns in what has been said.

FUN FACT: My 7 year-old son will soon be a faster swimmer than me!

RESEARCHER | University of Sheffield

Hi I’m Lucie and I get to work with our amazing ARROWS public involvement groups, clinicians, NHS England and the research team to design and develop research tools and activities to ensure we find out the most useful information to analyse the clinics in the best way.

FUN FACT: I used to be a cheerleader and won a national cheerleader competition.

PROFESSOR OF CHILD, YOUNG PERSON & FAMILY HEALTHCARE | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Veronica, a children's nurse and researcher. I work with the ENHANCE team to help the project:​

*be easy for children and young people to join​

and ​

* be fun and interesting for everyone taking part​

FUN FACT: I love fast, scary rides at fun fairs​

RESEARCHER | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I’m Elysa and I am a researcher for ENHANCE. I read lots and get to speak to many different people. I help other researchers so that we can understand what works and what doesn’t work!

FUN FACT: My younger siblings are triplets, and I am 6 years older than them!

CONSULTANT PEDIATRICIAN IN DIABETES & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT | Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Hi I’m Dee and I am a doctor in a clinic, so I help answer any questions the project team have about how different services are set up. I can also explain how mental and physical illness can affect children and young people.

FUN FACT: I am Dolly Parton’s Number 1 fan!

LECTURER & RESEARCHER | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi, I’m Chris and I’m a researcher on ENHANCE project. My role is to have conversations with young people and their families to understand what the clinics can do to provide the best possible support. ​It means I get to speak to lots of interesting and inspiring people.​

FUN FACT: I’m a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan​

RESEARCH FELLOW | Sheffield Hallam University

Hi I'm Martin and a researcher on the ENHANCE project. My role in this project is to speak to families to find out about the things that do and don't work for them. I enjoy trying to find out from people first-hand the reasons why they do and don't do a behaviour.

FUN FACT: I'm in the process of learning how to juggle!

HEALTH ECONOMICS RESEARCHER | University of Leeds

Hi there. I’m Adam and I’ll be doing economics work for this project. ​NHS England has a huge budget of £164.9bn per year. Part of our job is to make sure it’s spent as wisely as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure we invest now in young people to prevent ill health in the future.​

FUN FACT: I share a birthday with Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone fame​

RESEARCH FELLOW AT ACADEMIC UNIT OF HEALTH ECONOMICS | University of Leeds

Hi I’m Taya and I am one of the researchers for ENHANCE. ​On this project I get to work on the fun questions about resources! To figure out how best we can use what we have to serve children and young people!​ ​

FUN FACT: I absolutely love superhero movies! ​​

University of Bristol, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences

I work in a  weight management clinic helping children and young people at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and have done so since 2000. 

I am part of the ENHANCE team with a job of advising on medical outcomes from the CEW clinics.

FUN FACT: I always wanted to be a professional sportsman, the trouble was, I was never good enough.

RESEARCH FELLOW AND OBESITY SPECIALIST DIETITIAN | University of Bristol

Hi I’m Karen and I am one of the researchers for ENHANCE. ​I get to think about how all the interesting information we collect fits together – helping to create the full story!​

FUN FACT: I was born in Canada!​

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR​ IN OBESITY | Leeds Beckett University

Hi I’m Claire and I am one of the researchers for ENHANCE. ​My role is this project is really exciting, I get to work with the whole team, making sure all the different types of information we collect are aligned. This is no easy task but it will ensure that the learning improves services for children and young people.​

FUN FACT: I really want to learn how to play chess ​​