Dr Hannah Siân Hammond
Pronouns: She / Her
About
Biography
Dr Hannah Hammond is a researcher and lecturer whose work focuses on promoting healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour, particularly among marginalised populations. Her research addresses the health and social inequalities faced by individuals in contact with the criminal justice system and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Dr Hammond holds a PhD in Psychology and Criminology from Royal Holloway, University of London, where her thesis explored male prisoners’ motivation to engage in exercise for physical and mental well-being. She also holds an MSc in Forensic Psychology from the University of Surrey and a BSc in Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University.
Dr Hammond is a passionate advocate for the role of sport in tackling health and social inequalities and continues to collaborate with academic, policy, and grassroots partners to drive forward inclusive, evidence-based public health initiatives.
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ResearchResearch interests
Dr Hannah Hammond’s research centres on promoting healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour, with a particular focus on marginalised populations—including individuals in contact with the criminal justice system and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Her work addresses the significant health and social inequalities faced by these groups, who remain underrepresented in public health research and policy.
Grounded in psychological theory, Dr Hammond develops and evaluates sport-based interventions in both prison and community settings. She employs participatory methods to ensure that programmes are culturally responsive, contextually relevant, and impactful. Her research has highlighted critical gaps in local-level data, particularly concerning which groups are most inactive and disproportionately affected by justice system contact—insights that are vital for shaping targeted and effective policy.
Dr Hammond has produced strategic recommendations adopted by the Youth Justice Board and contributed policy-relevant outputs for organisations such as Sport England and Sport Wales.
Her research interests include:
- The use of sport in prisons as a tool for health promotion and rehabilitation
- Sport-based approaches to promoting desistance from crime among children and young people
- Motivation for prisoners in sport
- Healthy prison cultures and sporting masculinities
- The role of sport in enhancing well-being and reducing recidivism
Dr Hammond recently led the monitoring and evaluation of Levelling the Playing Field (LtPF), a four-year pilot project aimed at addressing disproportionality in sport and the justice system among children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds. A passionate advocate for the power of sport to tackle health and social inequalities, she has shared her findings in parliamentary forums, helping to shape national conversations around equity, inclusion, and public health.
Research interests
Dr Hannah Hammond’s research centres on promoting healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour, with a particular focus on marginalised populations—including individuals in contact with the criminal justice system and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Her work addresses the significant health and social inequalities faced by these groups, who remain underrepresented in public health research and policy.
Grounded in psychological theory, Dr Hammond develops and evaluates sport-based interventions in both prison and community settings. She employs participatory methods to ensure that programmes are culturally responsive, contextually relevant, and impactful. Her research has highlighted critical gaps in local-level data, particularly concerning which groups are most inactive and disproportionately affected by justice system contact—insights that are vital for shaping targeted and effective policy.
Dr Hammond has produced strategic recommendations adopted by the Youth Justice Board and contributed policy-relevant outputs for organisations such as Sport England and Sport Wales.
Her research interests include:
- The use of sport in prisons as a tool for health promotion and rehabilitation
- Sport-based approaches to promoting desistance from crime among children and young people
- Motivation for prisoners in sport
- Healthy prison cultures and sporting masculinities
- The role of sport in enhancing well-being and reducing recidivism
Dr Hammond recently led the monitoring and evaluation of Levelling the Playing Field (LtPF), a four-year pilot project aimed at addressing disproportionality in sport and the justice system among children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds. A passionate advocate for the power of sport to tackle health and social inequalities, she has shared her findings in parliamentary forums, helping to shape national conversations around equity, inclusion, and public health.