Lorna Hatch is a Senior Research Associate in Public Health, with particular interest and expertise in young people’s health and wellbeing.

Within her field, Lorna has developed extensive experience in mixed-methods school-based research. She has undertaken research into the acute and chronic effects of physical activity on young people’s cognitive function, and has examined the effects of a novel psychosensory therapy on distress, mood, brain function and psychological health. Lorna has also been involved in creating and evaluating a School Health Research Network in South West of England (SW-SHRN), which provides evidence to schools on how to improve the health and wellbeing of their pupils.

Lorna’s current research focuses on developing best practice guidance for the effective and sustainable delivery of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, a government funded initiative to support young people and families experiencing food insecurity in the UK. 

Lorna is a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR) early-career research network (ResNet).