North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
“Of the very most deprived neighbourhoods…the Anfield area of Liverpool is one of the most deprived areas in England”
Lee Wainwright, Business & Management, University of Liverpool, 2019 Cohort
Growing up in Anfield within ‘the most deprived area’ in England, didn’t really mean anything as a young person. I didn’t feel ‘poor’. Only when I was old enough to think about university did I begin to notice a difference between what I saw on TV or heard on the radio regarding ‘UCAS points’ and ‘clearing’, and what me and my friends were doing – none of us were planning to apply to university, all were encouraged by parents to find a job as the next step, shrugging off poor A Level results (for some of us) as unnecessary formalities. No one had older brothers or sisters who were students.
My PhD Life in Lockdown
Hannah Sawyer, Psychology, University of Liverpool, 2018 Cohort
Due to COVID-19, we have all been working from home since March. This unprecedented situation is something that I, like many others, was not expecting or prepared for when I started my PhD only five months ago. My PhD routine prior to lockdown consisted of coming to the office every day and having face-to-face meetings with supervisors, as well as including a social aspect of receiving peer support through regular coffee breaks and in-person chats. This came to a halt 11 weeks ago and since then I have been working, alone, in a make-shift “office” in my living room.
Peers for PhDs: Advice for Surviving the PhD AND Covid-19
Natasha Bradley, Psychology, University of Liverpool
Peers for PhDs is a student-led group to support wellbeing of PhD students at the University of Liverpool. It was initially started by three postgraduate researchers from different parts of the university (including Natasha Bradley, an ESRC funded student). We initially met at personal development workshops and wanted to provide more opportunities for PhD students to network outside of their department. We hosted focus groups with other students, who often described a PhD as a lonely experience. Looking at the published evidence on postgraduate student mental health, it seemed to us that increasing opportunities for PhD students to support each other would be beneficial.
Will Medd: Online ‘Group Coaching with your PhD’
Rita Newton, Health and Wellbeing, University of Manchester, 2017 Cohort
Attending the coaching session led by Will, taught me that it’s quite normal to be derailed amidst a pandemic, and whilst returning to a sense of calm and focus will be a challenge, it’s okay to take it one step at a time, I just need to remember to breathe!
North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership 