Beth’s career began in community-based recovery services and criminal legal settings across England, where she developed an interest in how communities can support long-term recovery from substance use and desistance from crime. This became the focus of her PhD, which explored the role of meaningful activities and community engagement in supporting these change processes. Her research led to the development of the Asset-Based Community Engagement (ABCE) framework, which has since been adopted by organizations internationally.

Prior to joining The Phoenix, Beth was part of the national research and evaluation team for the UK’s multi-million-pound Fulfilling Lives initiative, evaluating its impact on people experiencing multiple disadvantage, including substance use, mental health challenges, homelessness, and involvement in the criminal legal system. Today, she leads Phoenix and NewForm’s research team, with a particular focus on research strategy and partnerships, ensuring that evidence and learning inform organizational strategy, programs, and technology, while contributing to broader research, policy, and practice.