My research focuses on the experiences and needs of ‘vulnerable’ or marginalised groups, specifically children and young people who provide informal care (young carers), people with mental health problems and learning difficulties and women victims-survivors of domestic violence and abuse. I am Director of the Young Carers Research Group at Loughborough University, which is known both in the UK and internationally for its pioneering work with children and young people with caring responsibilities and their families. Broadly, my expertise is in promoting evidence-based approaches to policy making, deriving impact from participatory research and designing interventions and models of best practice for ‘vulnerable’ or marginalised groups (Aldridge, J. (2015) Participatory research: Working with vulnerable groups in research and practice, Policy Press, Bristol, UK). I have recently completed two international research studies: an investigation of the experiences and needs of children, including children with disabilities, living in Tonga – the first ever national study to include the views of children and young people themselves; and a study of Roma community perspectives on migration to the UK. As a researcher and academic I have contributed research evidence to government committees, think tanks and policy makers, conducted and overseen service evaluations and training for health and social care service providers, including GPs, social workers and mental health professionals and contributed research ethics expertise to the international Charter and Guidance on Ethical Research Involving Children (ERIC). I have served as an appointed Fellow of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Academy of Social Sciences.