Meet Dr David Patton
Criminologist & Researcher
Speaker & Writer
Life Coach
MBTI and Belbin Consultant
Interpersonal Conflict Mediator
About
I grew up in the north-east of England during the 1980's and had an abundance of opportunities to observe how social policies impact and shape the everyday lived experiences of people.
My hometown of Middlesbrough was characterised by high unemployment, low health and life expectancy outcomes, high crime rates and was at the centre of a new heroin epidemic in the 1990's. It has consistently been found to be one of the worst places to live in England and more recently as one of the most dangerous places to live.
In many respects I should be another statistic of how poverty and a range of personal, social and economic factors negatively affected a young person.
A pedgagogy of liberation
The word 'education' comes from the Latin word ‘educere’, meaning 'to draw out' of the student. As an educator my focus is not on the content I share but more upon the nature of the spaces that I co-create with them that allows what is inside them to emerge from within. As a result, I have won and been nominated for numerous student nominated teaching awards during my career. Education should not just be focussed on disseminating information or how to pass an assessment. I believe that education is transformative, and over the past twenty years I have developed a pedagogy of liberation within my practice to help the person release their authentic strengths and potential whilst also dismantling unhelpful narratives and identity forms about themselves.
Defying the status Quo
One sunny morning during the summer of 1988 at the age of 13, I stood daydreaming from my bedroom window. In that moment, I somehow knew that the only way to the life I envisioned was through education. In the words of Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I know this to be true and I have used it to change my world.
As I progressed through my education, I discovered a love of learning, and I know I will always be a lifelong learner. I also possess a love for teaching, and I have two teaching qualifications. The education system in England has become polluted with an overemphasis on metrics, league tables and administration. I have been privileged to teach a diverse range of people from those at Russell group and post 1992 universities, to those engaged in the youth justice system, and members of the general public. In all of these contexts I have always known that the typical approach used in education does not work.
Shifting the centre of power
Regardless of the type of project: research, training or consultancy, the projects I get involved in, the approaches and methodologies used often seek to place ‘marginalised, vulnerable or excluded population groups’ at the centre of knowledge and power.
I am currently working on NIHR, ESRC and Big Lottery-funded projects exploring drug addiction recovery. I have also conducted research for the Home Office, Cambridge University, local authorities and the third sector. The projects I have worked on have helped create drug legislation and informed government drug strategies. I have also been Director of a Home Office-funded Drugs Education Project at Sheffield Youth Justice Service and worked as a Life Coach for the Youth Justice Board to promote desistance and help young people reintegrate into education and employment. My research findings have been presented nationally and internationally to leaders of drug policy and practice.
My research interests include using the often-marginalised voices of those with lived experiences of crime and drug use to formulate utopian visions of how the criminal justice system and society can be radically transformed to promote human flourishing. So that, in time there will be little need to support those in desistance and drug recovery, as these have become largely relegated to history.
Community
Community
Culture
Culture
Change
Change
Academic
David has conducted research for Cambridge University, the Home Office, local authorities and the third sector.
His research for the Home Office influenced part of the creation of the Drugs Act 2005 allowing arrestees to be fast tracked to drug treatment.
He has secured funding from the Home Office for a Communities Against Drugs fund as a Director of a Drugs Education Project based at Sheffield Youth Justice Service.
Life Coach
He was hired as a Life Coach by the Youth Justice board to help young people reintegrate into education and employment.
He has also worked as a consultant for various organisations from a number of local education authorities, the NHS as well as numerous small businesses.
Research
His research interests include using the often marginalised voices of those with lived experience of crime and drug use to formulate utopian visions of how the criminal justice system and society can be radically transformed to promote human flourishing. So that, in time there will be little need to to support those in desistance and drug recovery, as these have become largely relegated to history.
He is also a qualified Life Coach, MBTI consultant, Belbin Team Roles consultant and Interpersonal Conflict Mediator.
Dr David Patton is available for speaking engagments, events, to discuss research opportunities, policy and opportunities in academia.