Professor Jenny Fisher
Head of Department, Social Care and Social Work, and Professor of Health and Social Care Education
My research and teaching is focused primarily on issues relating to communities, social participation and ageing well. I am passionate about the importance working in and with communities and the role of space and place in facilitating social engagement.
My profile
Biography
I have been Head of Social Care and Social Work since 2018 and a Reader in Place and Community since 2021 in the Faculty of Health and Education. Prior to this, I was a Senior Lecturer in the Department. Before joining Manchester Metropolitan University in 2007, I was the Regional Links Manager for the Community Development Foundation (2004 – 2007), and previously worked in Urban Regeneration, Community Engagement and Housing.
My research and teaching is focused primarily on issues relating to communities, social participation and ageing well. I am passionate about the importance working in and with communities and the role of space and place in facilitating social participation. In my leadership role, I work closely with health and social care organisations to support students and ensure that experts with experience contribute to education and research.
I am a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and an associate editor for Community, Work and Family.
It is a privilege to lead the Department Social Care and Social Work working with a community of outstanding staff and students, who have such strong connections to our city, with a commitment to make a difference.
INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE
My research focuses on the social aspects of ageing and sense of place. It is cross-disciplinary with a specific expertise on the importance of place and communities for well-being and active, healthy ageing. I have published widely in this area and in work about the importance of community. My research addresses an urgent societal challenge in terms of how best to support an ageing population to stay independent, healthy and active within their homes, communities and cities. The research cuts across health and social care, housing, community engagement, social participation and well-being. The impact of my research focuses on improving the everyday lives of older people in communities. I have undertaken work in the Global South (Brazil and India) where ageing populations are increasing in the absence of formal support infrastructure. My methodologies are largely collaborative and participatory, in co-production with the communities I work with to understand the relationship between person and place.
I would be very happy to consider postgraduate supervision in these areas.
Teaching
I don’t teach regularly due to my other commitments but it is important to me that I support colleagues in the department with learning and teaching. I enjoy keeping in regular contact with students through drop-ins, forums and popping into lectures.
Supervision
Current PhD Students. Principal Supervisor for 4 students
1. Harrison B. Place and recovery: An ethnographic study exploring community assets and well-being. Principal Supervisor (UK, FT and ESRC WRDTP funded) due to submit 2023
2. Kelly P. Exploring the role of social housing associations in providing place-based mental health services for residents in Manchester. Principal Supervisor (UK, FT and ESRC WRDTP funded) due to submit 2022
3. Orrin R. Ageing well at home: using appreciative inquiry with Manchester’s older adults with long-term health conditions. Principal Supervisor (UK, FT and ESRC WRDTP funded) due to submit 2022
4. Cox, Z. Disclosing stigmatized forms of victimhood amongst professional peers within services addressing violence against women and girls. Supervisor (UK, PT) due to submit 2025
Successful PhD completions supervised
1. Tingle A. Older people’s sense of self, place and belonging through engagement in cultural activities. (2021) Principal Supervisor (UK, FT and VC studentship) (no amendments)
2. Leung D-M. Enhancement and positiveness of life among older adults. (2020). Principal Supervisor. International student.
3. Smith J. Work-life balance and well-being in a group of women adult learners in Higher Education. (2018). Supervisor 50% responsibility.
4. Heyes K. An Examination of the Role of Community Social Support Groups in the Lives of People with Mental Health Problems. (2019) Principal Supervisor.
5. Horne M. Care to dance: listening, watching, dancing and reflecting the practice of a community arts and health dance artist working with older people. (2015) Supervisor 40% responsibility.
6. Goldstraw K. Operationalising Love Within Austerity: An analysis of the opportunities and challenges experienced by the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester under the Coalition government (2010-2015). (2015) Principal Supervisor.
7. Carey N. (2014). Telling sexual auto-ethnography: (fictional) stories of the (homo)sexual in social science. Supervisor 20% responsibility.
8. Woolrych R. Situating sense of place and well-being within urban regeneration practice. (2012). Supervisor 20% responsibility.
Research outputs
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Fisher, J., Lawthom, R. (2019) Place-Age Place-Making with Older Adults: Towards Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. PlaceAge.
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Chapters in books
Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Rimmer, L., Stevenson, A. (2022) 'Linking Space, Place, and Relational Well-being in Co-productive Ways.' The Palgrave Handbook of Innovative Community and Clinical Psychologies. pp. 545-557.
Kagan, C., Lawthom, R., Clennon, O., Fisher, J., Diamond, J., Goldstraw, K. (2017) 'Sustainable Communities: University-Community Partnership Research on Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development..' Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom Approaches, Methods and Projects. Springer,
Clennon, O.D., Kagan, C., Lawthom, R., Fisher, J., Diamond, J., Goldstraw, K. (2017) 'Sustainable Communities: University-Community Partnership Research on Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development.' In Leal, W. (ed.) Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom.. Springer,
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Media
Fisher, J. (2018) How sheds can help men stave off loneliness after retirement – according to our new research.
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Reports
Fisher, J.C., Lawthom, R., Hartley, S., Koivunen, E., Yeowell, G. (2018) Evaluation of Men in Sheds for Age UK Cheshire Final Report July 2018. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Tetley, J.W., Koivunen, E., Davenport, D., Fisher, J., Hadley, R., Sullivan, M., Sathish, A., Etchells, C., Hearns, J. Dementia Wristband Report.
Tetley, J., Koivunen, E., Fisher, J.C., Holland, C., Kubiak, C., Hadley, R. (2016) Home Focus Evaluation. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Fisher, J.C., Lawthom, R., Mitchell-smith, Z., O'Neill, T., McLaughlin, H. (2014) ‘The Spice of life’: An evaluation of Home Start Manchester South. Manchester Metropolitan University.
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Journal articles
Menezes, D., Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Makita, M., Smith, H., Fisher, J., Garcia-Ferrari, S., Lawthom, R., Henderson, J., Murray, M. (2021) '“You Really Do Become Invisible”: Examining Older Adults’ Right to the City in the United Kingdom.' Ageing and Society,
Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Duvvuru, J., Portella, A., Fang, M.L., Menezes, D., Henderson, J., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R. (2021) 'Cross-National Perspectives on Ageing and Place: Implications for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.' The Gerontologist, 62(1) pp. 119-129.
Woolrych, R., Duvurru, J., Portella, A., Sixsmith, J., Menezes, D., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Reddy, S., Datta, A., Chakravarty, I., Khan, A., Murray, M., Makita, M., Zubair, M., Pereira, G. (2020) 'Ageing in Urban Neighbourhoods: Exploring Place Insideness amongst Older Adults in India, Brazil and the UK.' Psychology and Developing Societies, 32(2)
Smith, J., Fisher, J., Ramprogus, V. (2020) 'Adding University to work and life: the work-life balance and well-being experiences of women who combine employment, HE learning and care of the family.' Community, Work and Family, 25(5) pp. 583-602.
Fisher, J., Languilaire, J.C., Lawthom, R., Nieuwenhuis, R., Petts, R.J., Runswick-Cole, K., Yerkes, M.A. (2020) 'Community, work, and family in times of COVID-19.' Community, Work & Family, 23(3) pp. 247-252.
Makita, M., Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Murray, M., Menezes, D., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R. (2020) 'Place (in)securities: older adults’ perceptions across urban environments in the United Kingdom ((In)seguridades de lugar. Percepciones de las personas mayores en distintos entornos urbanos del Reino Unido).' Psyecology, 11(2) pp. 214-231.
Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Fisher, J., Makita, M., Lawthom, R., Murray, M. (2019) 'Constructing and negotiating social participation in old age: experiences of older adults living In urban environments in the United Kingdom.' Ageing and Society, 41(6) pp. 1398-1420.
Saeed, A., Fisher, J., Mitchell-Smith, Z., Brown, L.J. (2019) '‘You’ve got to be old to go there’: psychosocial barriers and facilitators to social eating in older adults.' Gerontologist, 60(4) pp. 628-637.
Fisher, J.C., Lawthom, R., Mitchell-Smith, Z., O'Neill, T., McLaughlin, H. (2018) ''Neither a professional nor a friend': the liminal spaces of parents and volunteers in family support.' Families, Relationships and Societies, 8(2) pp. 249-266.
Turley, E.L., Fisher, J. (2018) 'Tweeting back while shouting back: social media and feminist activism.' Feminism and Psychology, 28(1) pp. 128-132.
Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Kagan, C. (2016) 'Delivering on the Big Society? Tensions in hosting community organisers.' Local Economy, 31(4) pp. 502-517.
Fisher, J.C. (2016) 'Let’s animate: Reflections on a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning funded project.' Learning and Teaching in Action, 11
Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Kagan, C. (2014) 'Revolting talks of migrant workers and community organisers - a UK community psychology perspective.' Australian community psychologist, 26(1) pp. 37-50.
Fisher, J., Baines, S., Rayner, M. (2012) 'Personalisation and the Co-operative Tradition.' Social Policy and Society, 11(4) pp. 507-518.
Fisher, J., Yarwood, G. (2008) 'Connecting not competing with others: raising awareness of wellbeing.' Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 128(3) pp. 110-111.
Yarwood, G.A., Fisher, J.C. (2008) 'Connecting Not Competing with Others: Raising Awareness of Wellbeing.' Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health,, 128
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Conference papers
Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Woolrych, R., Makita, M., Murray, M., Sixsmith, J., Menenzes, D., Smith, H., arcia Ferrari, M.S. (2019) '"You Really Do Become Invisible": Examining Older Adults' Rights to Urban Environments in the UK.' In Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) 50th Conference. Brooklyn New York, 22/5/2019 - 26/5/2019.
Hartley, S., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R., Koivunen, E., Yeowell, G. (2019) 'The role of Men’s Sheds in promoting the physical and mental well-being of older men..' In Physiotherapy UK. Birmingham, 1/11/2019 - 2/11/2019.
Fisher, J., Baines, S. (2013) 'Innovating Care Services Through Co-Operative Enterprises.' 4/11/2013 - 6/11/2013.
Fisher, J.C., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R. (2013) '‘Creative disruptors’ or community development workers?: community organising in the north of England.' In Carpe MMU 2013. Manchester, UK, 4/11/2013 - 6/11/2013.
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Presentations
Fisher, J., Nerantzi, C. (2015) Playing for change – the role of creative activities in accelerating shifts in learning and teaching. [Presentation] educa Berlin, Germany,3/12/2015.
Fisher, J., Nerantzi, C. (2015) A playground for learning. [Presentation] Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester,15/7/2015.
Fisher, J., Nerantzi, C. (2015) A playground for learning. [Presentation] Manchester Met, Manchester, UK,15/7/2015.
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Posters
Fisher, J.C., Lawthom, R., Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Murray, M., Smith, H., Garcia-Ferrari, S. (2016) 'Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Exploring Gaps, Challenges and Opportunities.' [Poster] Date viewed 17/11/2016.
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Other
Woolrych, R., Sixsmith, J., Makita, M., Fisher, J., Lawthom, R. (2018) Exploring the potential of smart cities in the design of age-friendly urban environments.
Career history
October 2018
Head of Department, Social Care and Social Work in the Faculty of Health and Education,
Manchester Metropolitan University
2007 - 2018
Senior Lecturer, Department Social Care and Social Work
Manchester Metropolitan University
2004 - 2007
Regional Links Manager,
Community Development Foundation
2002 - 2004
Assistant Area Regeneration Manager,
Trafford MBC