Dr Davara Bennett from the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, has been shortlisted for a prestigious NIHR impact award.
The NIHR Impact Prizes celebrate researchers and teams who have had a major impact on the health and wealth of the nation, as well as globally. Dr Bennett has been shortlisted in the early career researcher category for her research to improve understanding of inequalities in children entering care in England.
Between 2008 and 2023, England saw a 41% increase in the number of children in care. This sustained rise is a significant public health concern, with children affected experiencing worse long-term health and social outcomes than their peers. Dr Bennett’s research identified obstacles to tackling the socioeconomic drivers of care entry at a local level and proposed strategies for overcoming them.
Dr Bennett said: “I’m humbled to have been shortlisted for the NIHR Impact Prize – the other candidates are extraordinary. I’m proud to be highlighting our team’s efforts to galvanise action on the preventable causes of children being separated from their families. That team is made up of passionate academics, practitioners and care-experienced young people – my teachers. My thanks to them, and to the NIHR School for Public Health Research, which has supported us every step of the way.”
Professor David Taylor-Robinson, W.H. Duncan Chair in Health Inequalities, commented: “Davara's groundbreaking research has shone a powerful spotlight on the record numbers of children entering care in England, particularly impacting the North. Her work shows these trends have been caused by child poverty and reduced investment in preventative services. This has involved sophisticated statistical analysis combined with insightful qualitative work to understand the complex decision-making processes contributing to these alarming trends.
“Critically, Davara has consistently amplified the voices of care-experienced young people. Her compelling evidence and practical policy recommendations have directly influenced the Independent Review of Children's Social Care and shaped Welsh government policy. Davara’s commitment, compassion, and dedication has driven this impactful research that will genuinely transform lives.”
The winners will be announced at an in-person award ceremony on 20 March 2025, hosted by Professor Lucy Chappell, the Department of Health and Social Care’s Chief Scientific Advisor and CEO of the NIHR.