Dr Lindsey Metcalf McGrath
School of Justice Studies
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: L.J.Metcalf@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 3281
Lindsey is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology. She is currently researching the lived experiences of people being prescribed cannabis in the UK. She has a particular interest in the stigma and social harms arising from drugs policy. (See: https://linktr.ee/medcanproject)
Other research specialisms include the implications of social policy for socially marginalised groups and voluntary sector organisations. Lindsey's research has examined the relationship between the state and the voluntary sector, the role of volunteer charity trustees, and university-community partnerships.
Lindsey is a member of the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion (CCSE). Her research contributes to both the 'Drug Use and Drug Policy' and 'Voluntary Action/Third Sector responses' research clusters. Lindsey founded and leads the CCSE writing group to support academic writing and publishing.
Lindsey is Employability Lead for Criminology and is committed to developing partnerships with local employers and opportunities for Work-Based Learning and Practice-Based Research. Her teaching interests include work-based learning, the relationships between criminology & practice, and theorisations of stigma and inequalities.
Lindsey previously worked in senior management and policy roles in the civil service. She has been a trustee of charities working with the LGBT community, young people, people living with HIV and women experiencing domestic violence. She is a board member of Interchange, a local charity that links universities with local voluntary and community organisations for research and work-based learning projects.
Degrees
University of Liverpool, UK, PhD in Sociology
University of Liverpool, UK, MA Research Methodology
University of Essex, UK, BA (Hons) Philosophy & Sociology
Highlighted publications
Metcalf McGrath L, Beckett Wilson H. 2023. "It's a big added stress on top of being so ill": Challenges for UK cannabis patients Publisher Url
Beckett Wilson H, Metcalf McGrath L. 2023. “It’s a big added stress on top of being so ill”: The challenges facing people prescribed cannabis in the UK. International Journal of Drug Policy, 122 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Internet publication
Beckett Wilson H, Metcalf McGrath LJ. 2023. Living in Limbo: The experiences of UK patients who are prescribed cannabis Publisher Url Public Url
Metcalf McGrath L, Beckett Wilson H. 2023. Prescribed but prohibited: UK cannabis patients face stigma and health inequalities Publisher Url Public Url
Metcalf LJ. 2013. Measuring Impact: how can third sector organisations make sense of a rapidly expanding marketplace of tools? Publisher Url
Film
Metcalf McGrath L, Beckett Wilson H. 2023. "It's a big added stress on top of being so ill": Challenges for UK cannabis patients Publisher Url
Dataset
Metcalf McGrath L, Beckett Wilson H. 2023. “It's a big added stress on top of being so ill”: The challenges facing people prescribed cannabis in the UK DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Journal article
Beckett Wilson H, Metcalf McGrath L. 2023. “It’s a big added stress on top of being so ill”: The challenges facing people prescribed cannabis in the UK. International Journal of Drug Policy, 122 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hardwick L, Metcalf LJ. 2020. Using a situated knowledge lens to reveal knowledge gains for community partners engaged with a university – community partnership. People, Place and Policy Online, 14 :65-78 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Metcalf LJ. 2019. The impact of a changing policy environment on board members in small and medium-sized voluntary organisations Voluntary Sector Review: an international journal of third sector research, policy and practice, 10 :329-346 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Harlock J, Metcalf L. 2016. Measuring impact: prospects and challenges for third sector organisations Voluntary Sector Review, 7 :101-108 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Metcalf L. 2013. The Hodgson Review and trustee remuneration:examining the debate on payment of charity board members Voluntary Sector Review, 4 :395-402 DOI Publisher Url
Hardwick L, Metcalf L. Using a situated knowledge lens to reveal knowledge gains for community partners engaged with a university – community partnership People, Place and Policy Online, 14 :65-78 DOI Publisher Url
Report
Metcalf LJ, Hardwick L. 2020. What types of knowledge do voluntary and community organisations gain from hosting an Interchange student? A summary of research into the experiences and perspectives of voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) who have hosted a student researcher in partnership with Interchange. Publisher Url Public Url
Book review
Metcalf LJ. 2018. Review: The Logic of Charity: Great Expectations in Hard Times by John Mohan and Beth Breeze People Place and Policy, 12 :50-52 Publisher Url
Metcalf LJ. 2014. Review: Linda Milbourne (2013) The voluntary sector in transition: Hard choices or new opportunities? Voluntary Sector Review: an international journal of third sector research, policy and practice, 5 :147-148
Metcalf LJ. 2013. Review: NPC (2014) Funding impact: Impact measurement practices among funders in the UK Charity Times, December 2013 / January 2014 :13-13
Conference publication
Metcalf LJ. 2017. Third sector boards in an era of austerity The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2017, The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2017 Public Url
Tickle SJ, Metcalf L. 2016. Young people at risk of social harm: Government policies, the 'crisis' and withdrawal of youth welfare in the UK. 44rd Annual Conference of the European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control
Metcalf LJ. 2014. Contracted-out welfare: Perspectives of voluntary sector board members Social Policy Association Conference 2014: Social Policy Confronting Change: Resistance, Resilience and Radicalism
Thesis/Dissertation
Metcalf LJ. 2012. Governance and public services: Trustees' experiences of the changing role and responsibilities of the voluntary sector Goldson B, Walklate S. University of Liverpool
Public engagement:
Public talk or lecture, Local community members, Invited Speaker, Liverpool, Big Ideas. 2024
Performance art: music, dance, drama, etc., Patients, Industry, Scientists, Researcher, film creator, Conway Hall, London, UK Medical Cannabis Patients Conference (Drug Science), Public screening of "It's a Big Added Stress on Top of Being So Ill: The Challenges facing people prescribed cannabis in the UK, animation of research findings.. 2023
Other: Please specify in text box below, Creative academics / artists, Podcast Interview, Invited guest speaker, Telling real life stories through creativity - experiences of people prescribed medical cannabis, The Firefly Creatrix Podcast, https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oDu6uH1gKdKJehzJYHPtr?si=n9h1s9FJQ6-imgmZTzU0Ow. 2023
Participatory research, Third Sector, Organiser and facilitator, ESRC Festival of Social Science, Liverpool, UK, Interchange event: Working together in an era of austerity. 2017
Festival event, Third sector, Organiser and Facilitator, Interchange: Exploring collaborative research involving academics and VCOs, ESRC Festival of Social Science. 2016
Festival event, Third sector, Organiser and Facilitator, Interchange: Social Policy and the Voluntary Sector, ESRC Festival of Social Science. 2013
Other invited event:
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on medical cannabis under prescription, UK Parliament, London, Invited to present research findings on the experiences of cannabis patients to Members of the Commons and Lords in the APPG. 2024
Drug Science Medical Cannabis Working Group, UK-wide, Invited to present research findings to members of the Drug Science group, spanning industry members, patient representatives, clinicians and academic experts.. 2024
APSS Employability Showcase, Liverpool John Moores University, Presentation: Learning from a Work-Based Learning pilot in Criminology. Mixed faculty/employer event.. 2023
Media Coverage:
UK medical cannabis access beset with social and systemic barriers: Filter Magazine, New York 2024
Prescription cannabis users criminalised despite 5 years of legality, Mersey News Live 2023
Award:
Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Knowledge Exchange (Overall University Winner), Liverpool John Moores University. 2023
Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Knowledge Exchange (Faculty Winner), Liverpool John Moores University. 2023
Amazing Course Team Award (awarded to Criminology Dept), John Moores Student's Union. 2020
Doctoral Fellow Award, Association for Research on Nonprofit Organisations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA), USA.. 2009
Conference presentation:
Cannabis prescribing in the UK: Patient stories, European Research Showcase, Online/Global Science Show, Other. 2023
The experiences of people prescribed cannabis in the UK, Intersections: APSS Faculty Research Conference, Liverpool John Moores University, Oral presentation. 2023
Experiences of people using medical cannabis on prescription in the UK: Emerging findings, Drugs: North West Research Group Annual Conference, Liverpool John Moores University, Research presentation. 2022
Coproduced Research with Social Science Students, 8th Living Knowledge Conference, Corvinus University, Budapest, Oral presentation. 2018
Types of learning/knowledge acquired by partner organisations engaged in coproduced research wth social science students, Pedagogic Research Conference, University of Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2018
Using the social sciences to understand our community, Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS), University of Birmingham, Oral presentation. 2017
Community organisations and students as partners: Collaborative social science projects with Interchange, LJMU Teaching and Learning Conference 2017, Liverpool John Moores University, Oral presentation. 2017
Research Grants Awarded:
Quality Research, Exploring the experiences of people prescribed cannabis in the UK, Dr Beckett Wilson, Helen, LJMU, Grant value (£): 769, Duration of research project: 1 year. 2023
LJMU QR Funding - CCSE, Investigating the impact of changes to the UK 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act which allow the prescription of Cannabis-Based Medical Products (CBMPs), Dr Helen Beckett Wilson, Grant value (£): 2095.55. 2021
Liverpool John Moores University, Voluntary organisations working with children and young people, Dr Sarah Tickle, Grant value (£): 1680. 2019
LJMU QR Funding, Third sector governance in an era of austerity and public service contracting, Grant value (£): 1495. 2017
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), Festival of Social Science: Working together in times of Austerity, Grant value (£): 1000. 2017
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), Festival of Social Science: Social Policy and the Voluntary Sector, Grant value (£): 1170. 2013
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), Governance & public services: Trustees' experiences of the changing role and responsibilities of the voluntary sector, Grant value (£): Full PhD Studentship.
Fellowships:
Honorary Fellow, Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham. 2013
Doctoral Fellow, Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) - USA. 2009
Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA).
External committees:
Committee, Voluntary Action History Society, Member. 2012
Management Board, Interchange (Reg. charity), Hon. Secretary and Trustee. 2008
Board of Trustees, Sahir House (Registered Charity).
Membership of professional bodies:
Member, British Sociological Association (BSA).
Member, Drugs: North West - Research Network.
Member, European Group for the study of Deviance & Social Control.
Member, Voluntary Sector Studies Network.