Claire Mason - Research Fellow, Centre for Child & Family Justice

Posted on by Chris Atkinson

A headshot of Dr Claire Mason

Can you outline your research interests?

My work is positioned at the interface between academia and social care practice with children and families. I am a qualified social worker, committed to ensuring my research is utilised and translated into practice. I have a long-standing interest in the experiences of families, and particularly mothers, who are in receipt of compulsory state interventions and am committed to research that amplifies the lived experience voice to help shape policy and practice.

I have led the Giving Hope project, which aims to reduce the trauma experienced by mothers separated from their newborn babies due to safeguarding issues. This was recently awarded a SHAPE catalyst fund, securing £20K to support its spin-out to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

What benefits did the scheme provide?

As a researcher there is always a conflict between conducting research and finding time for bid writing. The scheme provided me with this time as well as the space to develop the Giving Hope CIC and to secure consultancy work with Adoption England.

One of my research applications was for a large-scale evaluation of the Giving Hope project. I undertook evaluation training aligned with the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) standards, allowing me to make a stronger application. The support provided by my mentor to strengthen my bid writing was very valuable.

What contributions were you able to make to research culture during the bridging period?

I have been able to share my experience of social entrepreneurship, research commercialism and co-produced research within my faculty. As part of the Giving HOPE project internship and volunteering opportunities were provided to Lancaster University students, providing them with research and impact experience. I have also been involved in the planning of a conference to be held in partnership with Kings College, London.

And into the future?

Whilst precarity will remain an on-going issue I’ve secured a part-time contract funded by the Birth Companions charity. Alongside the consultancy with Adoption England and the establishing of the Giving Hope CIC I will be keeping very busy. And then in 2026 I’m excited to be the Principal Investigator (PI) at Lancaster on a successful NIHR bid.

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