PhD Studentship - From Strategy to System Change: Developing and Evaluating a Universal Physical Activity Offer for Children and Young People

Project Supervisors: Prof Andrew Daly-Smith, Dr Anna Chalkley, Dr Daniel Bingham

Project Description:

This fully funded PhD project focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of a district-wide universal offer for children and young people’s physical activity in Bradford. The studentship is embedded within Join Us Move Play, Bradford’s Local Delivery Pilot (LDP) programme, funded by Sport England, which pioneers a whole-systems, place-based approach to addressing inequalities in physical activity.

Join Us Move Play represents a shift away from individual behaviour change interventions towards transforming the social, organisational and environmental conditions that shape opportunities to be active. The programme works across education, health, local government, community and voluntary sector partners to create inclusive, sustainable opportunities for movement and play as part of everyday life. A central ambition is to reduce inequalities in physical activity participation, particularly for children and young people living in areas of structural disadvantage.

The PhD will sit at the heart of this work, supporting the co-development of a coherent, district-wide framework for the delivery of children and young people’s physical activity. This framework will be developed in a similar vein to the Creating Active Schools framework, providing a shared vision, principles and practical guidance to align action across settings, sectors and levels of the system. A key component of the research will be developing a process to operationalise the district physical activity strategy, Every Move Counts.

Methodologically, the project will be interdisciplinary and applied, drawing on participatory and co-design approaches to ensure the framework and universal offer are shaped by children, families, practitioners, community organisations and system leaders. Implementation research methods will explore how evidence-informed approaches are adopted, adapted and sustained within complex, real-world systems. Systems science approaches, such as systems mapping, will be employed to understand interactions across the system and how change occurs over time. Methods will be refined with the successful candidate, allowing the project to align with their interests while remaining grounded in policy and practice.

A defining feature of this PhD is its emphasis on real-world impact. The student will work at the interface of research, policy and practice, contributing to live decision-making and system development across the district. This will provide opportunities to develop skills in collaboration, facilitation and knowledge mobilisation, alongside advanced methodological training. Outputs will include academic publications, practical tools and frameworks for use by local and national stakeholders.

Overall, this PhD will generate new knowledge on how universal, system-led approaches to physical activity can be designed and implemented to address inequalities, leaving a legacy for Bradford District with learning of national relevance.

Funding notes:

This studentship is fully funded for UK students and covers tuition fees plus a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per year for living costs.

International students are welcome to apply, but will be required to cover the difference between UK and international tuition fees.

Funding for:

UK Students

Enquiries email name and address:  

Please contact research@bradford.ac.uk

How to apply:

Apply directly online through the application portal.

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