SHAUN LIVERPOOL & EMILY LOVETT
From GROW to PeerNet
Shaun and Emily met on the 2023 cohort of the GROW programme. Together they discovered great development opportunities through peer support, friendship and shared learning and encouragement when they returned to their home institution.
Despite relatively different academic backgrounds and some differences in their research focus, Shaun focusing on young people’s mental health and digital solutions, and Emily working in the perinatal mental health space, the two were navigating the same internal processes around grant applications and fellowships. GROW created a safe and supportive environment that encouraged vulnerability in learning together. This formed the foundation to continue this learning and support for each other beyond the programme. Shaun has since joined the Incubator’s writing retreat, and Emily has attended a paper writing retreat and PeCo, their peer coaching skills programme.
The consistent theme of the incubator for developing safe, solutions focused peer support for capacity building among ECRs inspired us both. This was something that we wanted to bring back to our own institution on a wider scale.
The two have now developed PeerNet, an institution-wide peer network for early and mid-career researchers at Edge Hill University. This has been well supported by the institution and very well received by peers working through topics such as ‘building a supportive network’ and ‘finding my niche and raising my profile’ with topics like leadership, fellowship and grant writing support to come. The network is designed to build confidence, interdisciplinary exposure for supporting collaborative projects, and developing future leaders and accelerating research success. Rolling leadership has been built into the plans for PeerNet to provide sustainability and further leadership and capacity building opportunities for peers. We’re looking forward to seeing how this develops.
Participating in the coaching sessions associated with the GROW programme was also a turning point in shaping the development of PeerNet at EHU. Shaun and Emily expressed that the coaching sessions encouraged reflective practice, collaborative problem-solving, and a focus on meaningful impact, all of which strengthened their confidence as researchers. These insights also directly influenced the vision behind PeerNet, where fostering connection, shared learning, and mutual support became the central aims. The experience of PeerNet so far has already refined Shaun’s and Emily’s leadership approach and reinforced their commitment to building initiatives that empower researchers to learn from one another and develop resilience within a strong academic community.
About the authors
Dr Shaun Liverpool is a researcher in Evidence-Based Child & Adolescent Mental Health at Edge Hill University. His research interests include Shared Decision Making and the development and evaluation of digital interventions.
Dr Emily Lovett is a Senior External Engagement Fellow in Sport, Physical Activity and Health. Her research interests include: policy and evaluation; perinatal mental health, physical activity and parent support; and family leisure.
