NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award – Commendation
Richard has contributed towards a huge number of widening access initiatives across the university during his time there. His main academic areas of expertise are around substance use and misuse, homelessness and social inclusion and he has been engaging in community based projects and initiatives for the last 10 years in these areas. This included being a member of the management group for an innovative assertive outreach project for vulnerable young people funded by the Oxfordshire Drugs and Alcohol Addiction Team and delivered by the Youth Offending Team. He is also a member of the Oxford City and County Regeneration Steering Group.
He is currently working with a number of community, voluntary and statutory agencies in the delivery of a range of community‑based outreach and research activities. This has included working with learners in Springfield Prison as well as working on the Oxford Brookes University Learning Community, supporting members of the local community with their educational progression. Richard has a deep understanding of the work carried out by widening participation practitioners and can always be relied upon to communicate the importance of such work across the university.