Dr Sharon Elley

Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy

Location: University of Leeds, Sociology and Social Policy

My research broadly falls under the umbrella of youth studies and the sociology of education. I am keenly interested in formal and informal education, widening participation; and young people’s/students agency, transitions and educational/employment (dis)engagement. I combine previous professional experience as a youth worker with my academic interests in researching inequalities associated with young people and their families.

Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice, developing participatory research methods and young people’s spaces also remains a key focus of my work. My doctoral research was about young people’s lived experiences of sex and relationship education (SRE).

I am the author of Understanding sex and relationship education, youth and class: a youth work-led approach (Palgrave, 2013) as well as a number of journal articles in The Sociological Review, Sociology; and Sociological Research Online.

I am also the Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Families, the Life Course and Generations (FLaG) and the Co-Investigator on a two-year DRILL funded project called ‘A society fit for autistics’ working as an interdisciplinary team of professionals and academics in partnership with the University of Glasgow (2017–2019).