Summary
Eleanor Formby joined Sheffield Hallam University as a researcher in February 2003. She has over 17 years' experience in (predominantly qualitative) social research and evaluation. As a Sociologist, her areas of expertise cluster around young people's wellbeing, and equality and diversity, with particular reference to:
• the life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) young people, including issues related to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, and their impact on education, employment, and health
• young people’s (formal and informal) learning about sex and sexualities, sexual practices, and sexual health, including the provision of school-linked sexual health services
• the in/exclusion of ‘sex’ and sexuality within the formal school curriculum (within sex and relationships education (SRE) and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE)), including the implications and practice issues for teachers and other professionals.
Before joining the University, Eleanor had been a researcher for a research consultancy company, and prior to that for a Member of Parliament.
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About
Eleanor Formby joined Sheffield Hallam University as a researcher in February 2003. She has over 17 years' experience in (predominantly qualitative) social research and evaluation. Eleanor has three (overlapping) areas of interest and expertise:
• LGBT+ young people’s experiences of school and youth work environments, including related to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying
• young people’s (formal and informal) learning about sexuality, sexual practices, and sexual health (including specific interests in the teaching of/professionals involved in sex and relationships education (SRE) and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE))
• LGBT+ people’s understandings and experiences of ‘community’ and ‘belonging’.
Before joining the University, Eleanor had been a researcher for a research consultancy company, and prior to that for a Member of Parliament. -
Teaching
Social Sciences and Arts
Eleanor is involved in PhD supervision and guest lecturing in the Faculty of Development and Society.
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Research
Eleanor is currently leading:
• a three-year evaluation of the Government’s anti-homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools programme for the Government Equalities Office (GEO)
• research on approaches to supporting LGBT+ young people in the UK and Sweden, funded by the British Academy/Leverhulme
• a five-year evaluation of yOUTh, an LGBT youth work project in West Yorkshire, funded by the Big Lottery
• research into support and information for LGBT+ youth in South Yorkshire, for SAYiT (a young people’s charity based in Sheffield).
Previously she has led:
• two evaluations of pilot GEO homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying grants
• #FreshersToFinals research on LGBT+ perceptions and experiences of higher education
• research to examine the impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying on future education, employment and training opportunities, funded by the International LGBTQ Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)
• gender identity awareness research for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• a study to explore LGBT understandings and experiences of 'community', funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the 'Connected Communities' programme
• tackling homophobia and transphobia in settings supporting young people: what are the barriers and facilitators? (South Yorkshire based study)
• national mapping of personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) for the Department for Education.
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Publications
Journal articles
Formby, E., & Donovan, C. (2020). Sex and relationships education for LGBT+ young people: Lessons from UK youth work. Sexualities. http://doi.org/10.1177/1363460719888432
Formby, E. (2017). How should we ‘care’ for LGBT+ students within higher education? Pastoral care in education: an international journal of personal, social and emotional development, 35 (3), 203-220. http://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2017.1363811
Formby, E. (2015). Limitations of focussing on homophobic, biphobic and transphobic ‘bullying’ to understand and address LGBT young people’s experiences within and beyond school. Sex Education: sexuality, society and learning, 15 (6), 626-640. http://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2015.1054024
Formby, E. (2013). Understanding and responding to homophobia and bullying: contrasting staff and young people’s views within community settings in England. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 10 (4), 302-316. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-013-0135-4
Formby, E., & Wolstenholme, C. (2012). If there’s going to be a subject that you don’t have to do …’ Findings from a mapping study of PSHE education in English secondary schools. Pastoral care in education: an international journal of personal, social and emotional development, 30 (1), 5-18. http://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2011.651227
Formby, E. (2011). Sex and relationships education, sexual health, and lesbian, gay and bisexual sexual cultures: Views from young people. Sex Education: sexuality, society and learning, 11 (3), 255-266. http://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2011.590078
Formby, E. (2011). Lesbian and bisexual women's human rights, sexual rights and sexual citizenship: negotiating sexual health in England. Culture, health and sexuality, 13 (10), 1165-79. http://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2011.610902
Formby, E. (2011). ‘It’s better to learn about your health and things that are going to happen to you than learning things that you just do at school’: findings from a mapping study of PSHE education in primary schools in England. Pastoral Care in Education, 29 (3), 161-173. http://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2011.599857
Formby, E., Hirst, J., Owen, J., Hayter, M., & Stapleton, H. (2010). 'Selling it as a holistic health provision and not just about condoms ?' Sexual health services in school settings: current models and their relationship with sex and relationships education policy and provision. Sex education, 10 (4), 423-435. http://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2010.515099
Owen, J., Carroll, C., Cooke, J., Formby, E., Hayter, M., Hirst, J., ... Sutton, A. (2010). School-linked sexual health services for young people (SSHYP): a survey and systematic review concerning current models, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and research opportunities. Health technology assessment, 14 (30). http://doi.org/10.3310/hta14300
Conference papers
Formby, E. (2011). LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL HUMAN RIGHTS, SEXUAL RIGHTS AND SEXUAL CITIZENSHIP: AN EXPLORATION OF LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL WOMEN'S NEGOTIATION OF SEXUAL HEALTH IN THE UK. JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, 8, 268.
Formby, E., Hirst, J., Owen, J., & Hayter, M. (2011). BARRIERS TO THE DELIVERY OF SCHOOL-LINKED SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE UK: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIETAL AND SCHOOL VIEWS ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S SEXUAL HEALTH. JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, 8, 146.
Book chapters
Formby, E. (2015). Sexuality education with LGBT young people. In Ponzetti, J.J.J. (Ed.) Evidence-based approaches to sexuality education: a global perspective. (pp. 249-260). New York: Routledge
Formby, E. (2014). The emotional health and wellbeing of young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. In Tod, A., & Hirst, J. (Eds.) Health and inequality: applying public health research to policy and practice. (pp. 62-71). Abingdon: Routledge
Formby, E. (2014). Sex and relationships education, sexual health, and lesbian, gay and bisexual sexual cultures: views from young people. In Attwood, F., & Smith, C. (Eds.) Investigating young people’s sexual cultures. Abingdon: Routledge
Formby, E., Piercy, H., & Allmark, P. (2010). Sexuality. In Allmark, P., Salway, S., & Piercy, H. (Eds.) Life and health: an evidence review and synthesis for the Equality and Human Rights Commission's triennial review. Sheffield: Equality and Human Rights Commission: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_life_health_omnibus.pdf
Formby, E., Hirst, J., & Owen, J. (2010). Pathways to adulthood: reflections from three generations of young mothers and fathers. In Duncan, S., Edwards, R., & Alexander, C. (Eds.) Teenage parenthood: what’s the problem?. (pp. 85-111). London: Tufnell Press: http://www.tufnellpress.co.uk/
Formby, E., Piercy, H., & Allmark, P. (2010). Gender identity (Trans). In Allmark, P., Salway, S., & Piercy, H. (Eds.) Life and health: an evidence review and synthesis for the Equality and Human Rights Commission's triennial review. Sheffield: Equality and Human Rights Commission: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_life_health_omnibus.pdf
Books
Formby, E. (2017). Exploring LGBT spaces and communities : contrasting identities, belongings and wellbeing. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Exploring-LGBT-Spaces-and-Communities-Contrasting-Identities-Belongings/Formby/p/book/9781138814004
Reports
Formby, E., & Donovan, C. (2016). Selfies evaluation : final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Formby, E., Willis, B., & Stevens, A. (2016). Inspiring equality in education grant evaluation : final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Formby, E. (2015). #FreshersToFinals : From freshers’ week to finals: Understanding LGBT+ perspectives on, and experiences of, higher education. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam Universty. http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/ceir/fresherstofinals-freshers%E2%80%99-week-finals-understanding-lgbt-perspectives-and-experiences-higher-educat
Formby, E. (2014). (Trans)gender identity awareness and support in Rotherham. Sheffiled: Centre for Education and Inclusion Research, Sheffield Hallam University.
Formby, E. (2013). The impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying on education and employment : a European survey 2013. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Formby, E. (2012). Connected lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities? A scoping study to explore understandings and experiences of ‘community’ among LGBT people. Swindon: Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Formby, E. (2012). Solidarity but not similarity? LGBT communities in the twenty-first century. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Formby, E., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., Demack, S., Stevens, A., Shipton, L., ... Willis, B. (2011). Personal, social, healthand economic (PSHE)education: A mappingstudy of the prevalentmodels of delivery andtheir effectiveness. London: Department for Education.
Formby, E., & Willis, B. (2011). Tackling homophobia and transphobia in settings supporting young people: What are the barriers and facilitators?Findings from a South Yorkshirestudy. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University.
Allmark, P., Salway, S., Piercy, H., Barley, R., Faulkner, M., Formby, E., ... Mcclimens, A. (2010). Life and Health: An evidence review and synthesis for the Equality and Human Rights Commission's triennial review. Sheffield: Equality and Human Rights Commission. http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_life_health_omnibus.pdf
Formby, E., Hirst, J., & Willis, B. (2009). Socialising and sexual health: an evaluation of the needs of gay, bisexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Sheffield. Sheffield: Centre for HIV and Sexual Health. http://www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk/publications/index.php
Hirst, J., Formby, E., Parr, S., Nixon, J., Hunter, C., & Flint, J.F. (2007). An evaluation of two initiatives to reward young people. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/rewarding-young-people-pro-social-behaviour
Hirst, J., Formby, E., & Owen, J. (2006). Pathways into parenthood: reflections from three generations of teenage mothers and fathers. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/ceir/outputs.html#2006
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Other activities
Board member, European Sociological Association Sexuality Research Network
Editorial board member, Pastoral Care in Education
Fellow, Sheffield Institute of Policy Studies -
Media
Eleanor has written for a variety of public blogs and has been interviewed by BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Sheffield. Her research has featured in a variety of media outlets, including Attitude, Children and Young People Now, Gay Times, Huffington Post, Pink News and Times Higher Education.