Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Declan Ryan is an Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health. His area of research focusses on public health approaches to physical activity promotion.
Get Research Support:
Declan and his team offer research support to external organisations who are using physical activity to improve health. They can support with:
- Evaluation of funded programmes, interventions, or strategies
- Developing evaluation frameworks
- Providing evidence reviews
If your organisation would benefit from research support from Declan's team, then please contact him by email.
Case Studies - Declan's current research portfolio is broken down into three areas:
Greenspaces: Declan has explored approaches to promote physical activity within public parks, such as green social prescribing and wayfinding interventions. His team offers evaluations of greenspace interventions and community programmes. For example, Declan and colleagues evaluated Delapré Abbey's Wellbeing Hub programme, which was funded by Arts Council England and the National Academy of Social Prescribing's Thriving Communities programme. Furthermore, his team has carried out observations of park footfall and intercept surveys as part of natural experimental studies to determine the effectiveness of Department for Transport funded upgrades to park footpaths.
Declan is the co-founder of the Active Quarter, a collective of land managers and owners aiming to enhance the use of local greenspaces as a Public Health asset. Declan and his team provide evidence and insight to the partnership to facilitate their decision-making. The partnership received recognition and support from West Northamptonshire Council, who resolved the Active Quarter Cabinet Paper in January 2023.
Holiday Activities and Food Programme: Since 2021, Declan and his team have evaluated the summer six-week implementation of the Government funded Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme within Northamptonshire. From October 2024, Declan and his PhD candidate, Alex Turtle, will focus on the implementation of Nutritional Education within the HAF Northants programme. They'll be working with the funder, Northamptonshire Sport, Holiday Club Providers, Parents, and Children to develop solutions to improve the quality and consistency of nutritional education delivery across HAF Northants.
Public Health Partnerships: Declan has worked with several health and care organisations to deliver partnership workshops for county-wide strategy development and evaluation. Notably, Declan worked with Integrated Care Northamptonshire to co-develop a logic model of the change to achieve the aims of their new Research and Innovation Strategy. The workshop was attended by 50 partners from the health and care sector in Northamptonshire who shared their voice on what outputs, activities, and resources were needed to meet the aims of the new strategy. Furthermore, Declan has held partnership events with West and North Northamptonshire Public Health to facilitate collaborative working between officers and academics, as well as evaluation framework workshops with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough OPCC for their new Serious Violence Duty Strategy.
Secondment to the Institute of Public Safety, Crime and Justice: Between February and July 2024, Declan will provide a public health approach to evaluations within the IPSCJ team at the University of Northampton. Their work mainly supports police and crime commissioners and local authorities to evaluate their crime prevention interventions.
Representation on Groups and Boards
- Advisor - HAF-DEFINE Advisory Group. National evaluation of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, led by the University of Bristol and funded by NIHR.
- Member - Northamptonshire Physical Activity Network.
- Member - Integrated Care Northamptonshire Research Operational Committee.
- Member - Northampton Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Stakeholder Workshops.
PhD Supervision:
- Brett Baxter - Eccentric training in older adults.
- Alex Turtle - Implementing nutritional education into HAF Northants.
Although Declan cannot Director of Studies, he is open to supervision requests.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, The modulatory effects of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on older adults' cardiovascular/metabolic profiles, Manchester Metropolitan University
16 Oct 2015 → 1 May 2018
Award Date: 1 May 2018
Bachelor, Exercise and Sports Science
16 Sept 2011 → 17 Jun 2015
Award Date: 17 Jun 2015
Keywords
- QP Physiology
- RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
- QM Human anatomy
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
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A qualitative exploration of green space users and implications for health and well-being
Hardwicke, J., Ryan, D. & Hill, K.
Project: Internal Fund › Small Grants Scheme for Early Career Researchers
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Promoting physical activity participation within green and blue spaces in a COVID-19 era.
1/12/20 → 31/03/21
Project: Internal Fund › QR Strategic Priorities Fund 2020/21
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Effect of different patterns in sitting breaks on older adults’ post-load glucose profiles
3/06/19 → 30/07/19
Project: Research › Charitable Funding
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Finding your way: exploring urban park users’ engagement with a wayfinding intervention through intercept go-along interviews
Hardwicke, J., Ryan, D. & Hill, K., 7 Mar 2024, In: Cities and Health.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Policy Brief – February 2024: Using wayfinding to increase access to public parks
Ryan, D., 13 Feb 2024, University of Northampton. 2 p.Research output: Book/Report › Technical Report
Open AccessFile -
Delapré Walk Project: Are signposted walking routes an effective intervention to increase engagement in urban parks? –Natural experimental study
Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J. & Hill, K., 3 Jun 2023, In: Health and Place. 83, 103049.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review
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Developing directional walking route signage for your local community: a toolbox guide.
Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J., Hill, K., Browne, J. & Clinton, R., 10 May 2023Research output: Book/Report › Technical Report
Open AccessFile -
Developing research and evaluation opportunities through partnerships Toolkit
Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J., Baxter, B. A., La Penna, T., Lehner, A., Banga, S., Redwood, T., Baross, A., Parkes, J., Horton, J., Kay, T., Kayij, B. & Jones, P., 12 May 2023, University of Northampton. 55 p.Research output: Book/Report › Technical Report
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O.2.2-8 Delapré Walk Project: are signposted walking routes an effective intervention to increase engagement in urban parks? – Natural experimental study
Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J. & Hill, K., 11 Sept 2023, In: The European Journal of Public Health. 33, Supplement 1Research output: Contribution to Journal › Conference Article/Conference Proceedings › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Summary Report for Student Health and Wellbeing Project
Roberts, C., Ryan, D., Campbell, J. & Hardwicke, J., 25 Jul 2023, Northampton: University of Northampton. 19 p.Research output: Book/Report › Technical Report
Open AccessFile -
The acute and repeated bout effects of multi-joint eccentric exercise on physical function and balance in older adults
Baxter, B. A., Baross, A., Ryan, D., Wright, B. & Kay, T., 1 Oct 2023, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 123, 10, p. 2131–2143 13 p.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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Supplementary Manual Count Data for Intercept Go-Along Interviews within Delapre Park, Hunsbury Hill, and Upton Country Park,
Ryan, D. (Creator), Hardwicke, J. (Contributor) & Hill, K. (Contributor), University of Northampton, 31 Dec 2024
DOI: 10.24339/4689cd3d-f36f-470a-aa70-ed38503a3871
Dataset
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Strava Metro Data for the Baseline Phase (March 2022) of the DfT Active Travel Fund Social Prescription Pilot Feasibility Study - Delapre Park, Hunsbury Hill, St Crispins Park
Ryan, D. (Data Manager), Hardwicke, J. (Data Manager) & Holland, N. (Creator), University of Northampton, 2030
Dataset
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Baseline March 2022 Manual and Automated Count Data - Delapre Park, Hunsbury Hill, St. Crispins Park
Ryan, D. (Creator) & Hardwicke, J. (Creator), University of Northampton, 2030
Dataset
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Using automated active infrared counters to estimate footfall on urban park footpaths: reliability and validity testing - Supporting Dataset
Ryan, D. (Creator) & Benton, J. (Creator), University of Northampton, 1 Feb 2023
DOI: 10.24339/3ef61812-75c7-4431-8423-7358d0c296f2
Dataset
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Online survey responses from Parents and Providers of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme Summer 2021 evaluation
Ryan, D. (Creator), Northampton, U. (Data Collector), Bayes, N. (Creator), Bradley, S. (Contributor), Jones, P. (Creator) & Kay, T. (Contributor), University of Northampton, 2023
DOI: 10.24339/16fc3b12-9df4-4785-a429-1411960ea69e
Dataset
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Delapre Cycling and Walking Social Prescription Feasibility Study - Community Survey Data
Hardwicke, J. (Creator) & Ryan, D. (Creator), University of Northampton, 20 Jul 2022
DOI: 10.24339/cdf4db22-fc07-4a9a-8946-5ccbffb87702
Dataset
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Supplementary Data File for Delapre Walk Project: Are signposted walking routes an effective intervention to increase physical activity in urban parks? – Natural experimental study
Ryan, D. (Creator), Hill, K. (Contributor) & Hardwicke, J. (Contributor), University of Northampton, 30 Jul 2023
DOI: 10.24339/a73353dd-9acc-4c4e-98d4-9ad86c5479ef
Dataset
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The acute and repeated bout effects of multi-joint eccentric exercise on physical function and balance in older adults
Baxter, B. (Creator), Baross, A. (Creator), Ryan, D. (Creator), Wright, B. (Creator) & Kay, T. (Creator), University of Northampton, 14 Nov 2022
DOI: 10.24339/3cf619ad-ca74-4a3e-91f1-8d52a8cc6d04
Dataset
File
Activities
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University of Bristol
Declan Ryan (Academic)
Jan 2024 → Jun 2025Activity: Public Engagement and Outreach › Work on advisory panels for social, community, cultural and industry engagement › Research
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Anything but being sedentary
Declan Ryan (Invited speaker)
21 Feb 2024Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Invited talk › Research
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Overview of the Active Quarter to Northampton South Local Area Partnership
Declan Ryan (Invited speaker)
6 Feb 2024Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Invited talk › Research
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Integrated Care Board Research and Innovation Plan Away Day
Declan Ryan (Author), John Horton (Speaker), Jackie Campbell (Speaker), Jacqueline Parkes (Speaker), Tracey Redwood (Speaker) & Pauline Bain (Author)
2 Nov 2023Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Seminar/Workshop › Research
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Community of Practice: Role of Research to Deliver Local Authority Projects
Declan Ryan (Organiser), Jack Hardwicke (Organiser), Deborah Mbofana (Organiser) & Sadie Beishon (Organiser)
25 Jul 2023Activity: Organising a conference or workshop › Research
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Delapré Walk Project: Are signposted walking routes an effective intervention to increase engagement in urban parks? – Natural experimental study
Declan Ryan (Speaker), Jack Hardwicke (Author) & Kimberley Hill (Author)
11 Sept 2023Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Conference Presentation
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Public Health - UON Partnership Away Day
Declan Ryan (Organiser), Jack Hardwicke (Organiser), Brett Baxter (Organiser), Tracy La Penna (Organiser), Alexander Lehner (Organiser), Sindy Banga (Organiser), Tracey Redwood (Organiser), Anthony Baross (Organiser), Jacqueline Parkes (Organiser), John Horton (Organiser), Tony Kay (Organiser), Bien Kayij (Organiser) & Peter Jones (Organiser)
22 Mar 2023Activity: Organising a conference or workshop › Research
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Effects of once- versus twice-weekly multi-joint eccentric exercise on lower-limb muscle function and structure in older adults
Brett Baxter (Author), Anthony Baross (Author), Declan Ryan (Author), Stepan Tkadlec (Author) & Tony Kay (Author)
7 Jul 2023Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Conference Presentation
Press/Media
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Campaigners call for popular Northampton footpath to reopen
2/10/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Information Sheet for Participants - Walking and Cycling Social Prescription
23/02/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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Bike recycling and coaching project receives funding boost
4/02/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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West Northamptonshire Council encouraging people to lead healthier lives through cycling and walking with £93,000 grant
Declan Ryan & Jack Hardwicke
4/02/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Northampton cycling plan gets government funding boost
Declan Ryan & Jack Hardwicke
4/02/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Bike recycling and coaching project receives funding boost
Declan Ryan & Jack Hardwicke
4/02/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Collaborative working to increase walking in local parks - International Society for Physical Activity and Health
16/11/21 → 15/12/21
2 Media contributions
Press/Media
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New scenic walking route is opened with ribbon-cutting ceremony at Delapre Park in Northampton
2/09/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
Impacts
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Contribution of Evidence Regarding Bone Density and Physical Activity for the UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines
Declan Ryan (Co-Investigator), Gladys Onambele-Pearson (Principal Investigator), Conor Doody (Co-Investigator), Christopher Morse (Co-Investigator), Hans Deagens (Co-Investigator) & Jorgen Wullems (Co-Investigator)
Impact: Health and Well-Being impacts, Public policy impacts, 03: Good Health and Well-Being (UN SDG)
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