Trustee

Gary Evans lectures at Bournemouth University Business School, UK.  He is an emerging thought leader in community operational research (Community OR) and medical sociology.

He has undertaken qualitative research into physical activity, health, and well-being interventions for inactive people since 2004. He has been Principal Investigator for a Fusion-funded project examining the effectiveness of physical activity, health, and well-being interventions for people living with cancer in southwest England. The study engaged a variety of healthcare professionals, policymakers, deliverers, and patients. It highlighted the fragmented state of cancer support services in southwest England and the need for charities to support those rehabilitating following their cancer diagnosis to achieve well-being and a new quality of life. Furthermore, the participants co-created new models to improve the situation in response to the results.

More recently, he was the Principal Investigator for the funded Active Ageing Programme evaluation, in collaboration with Active Dorset, on behalf of Sport England. The evaluation lasted 4 years, and over sixty healthcare, community, and policy participants contributed, resulting in systems change to embed physical activity in many NHS Pathways.

He is currently leading a narrative inquiry investigation into the relationship between illness experience and physical activity in Devon-based charities.