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Dr Demelza Jones

Demelza is a sociologist, with particular interests in social inequalities; lived experience of young people, children and families; challenges and inequalities in rural communities; and qualitative and participatory methods.

Biography

Demelza joined the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) in 2023, following research and teaching roles at the University of Gloucestershire, Aston University and the University of Birmingham, and a PhD at the University of Bristol.

Demelza’s research focuses broadly on the liveability of rural areas, particularly for younger residents and lower-income households. Current and recent work in this area includes the Horizon Europe RUSTIK project, where she collaborates with Monmouthshire/Sir Fynwy County Council to investigate drivers of demographic imbalance, and projects addressing rural affordable housing, community infrastructure, and service provision funded by Defra, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the Rural Housing Network, and the Ministry of Justice.

She has additional research interests in social inequalities in access to nature, which she has explored via work on Forest School/Outdoor Learning in state primary schools, and an evaluation of the Culture Nature programme which funds public libraries to deliver nature connection initiatives in their local communities.

Demelza has previously researched and published on migration, diaspora and the impacts of austerity on low-income families. Before her PhD, she worked in the third sector with organisations including Arts Council England, BBC Children in Need, and the Refugee Council, and is current co-Chair of the University of Gloucestershire’s Sanctuary Committee.

Qualifications

  • PGCert: Higher Education Teaching, Aston University, 2015
  • PhD: Sociology, University of Bristol, 2013
  • MSc: Social Science Research Methods, University of Bristol, 2009
  • MA: Global Citizenship, Identities and Human Rights, University of Nottingham, 2007

Membership of professional bodies

Social Research Association

Teaching & Research

Research

My current research interests focus on liveability of rural communities for younger and lower income residents, and social inequalities in access to nature.

Publications

More publications from Dr Demelza Jones can be found in the Research Repository.

External responsibilities

I am External Examiner for the BSc (Hons) Sociology degree at the University of South Wales.