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Frances Howard

Dr Frances Howard

Senior Lecturer

Social Work, Care and Community

Role

Dr Frances Howard is Senior Lecturer in Youth Work across BA and MA programmes. She teaches the following modules, alongside dissertation supervision:

  • Perceptions of Youth (BA Youth Work)
  • Youth Cultures and Lifestyles (BA Youth Work)
  • Critical Issues in Contemporary Society (MA Youth Work Leadership and Practice)

She draws on creative approaches to teaching and learning and undertakes film making activities with students as a way to develop pedagogical resources. Frances is keen to support student-led research projects with Nottingham Youth Organisations.

She also undertakes evaluation and research for arts, youth and community projects and has recently supported Captivate - Nottinghamshire's Cultural Education Partnership and Nottinghamshire YMCA with the evaluation of their programmes.

Career overview

Frances' first monograph: Global Perspectives on Youth Arts Programs - how and why the arts can make a difference  was published in September 2022 by Policy Press. This book draws from her PhD research on young people, youth work, the arts and extends this body of work to incorporate global comparative research on youth arts programmes. Frances has previously worked in local authorities, arts education and youth work. Alongside her role at NTU, she is an Advisory Board member for Nottingham's Community Artist Network, and a Moderator for the young people’s Arts Award.

Research areas

Frances is leader of the Youth Research Group within the School of Social Sciences. Her research interests include youth arts programmes, music-making, health and well-being, youth work and informal education, community engagement / development, youth participation / voice and activism. She is currently supervising Doctoral Candidates on these topics and would welcome any future approaches for postgraduate research towards in these areas.

External activity

In addition to working with the above external partners – Captivate, NottinghamCAN, YMCA and Arts Award, Frances is currently co-convenor of the BERA Youth Studies and Informal Education special interest group. She is also an active Member of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work and has recently been appointed to the Editorial Board for the journal Youth & Policy.

Publications

Books

Articles and chapters

Special issues

Project Reports

Press expertise

Frances has press expertise in Youth Work, Youth Services and Arts Education. She contributed to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport's consultation on Youth Services in March 2021 and to the UK Parliament Inquiry on supporting Vulnerable Adolescents in November 2022. She has also been interviewed by NottinghamshireLive on youth club closures.