Staff profile

Mark’s background is in Sociology, and he completed his PhD examining the impact of mixed martial arts on homelessness recovery. The research was inspired by Mark’s previous working experiences in homelessness support and his passion to make positive impacts on individuals and the community. This passion remains a driving force behind his ongoing research ambitions. Mark’s PhD received national recognition, featuring in The Big Issue and BBC Look North. He is Co-Director of Mind Body Connect, a charity which empowers marginalised individuals using physical exercise and sport as vehicles for change.

In October 2024, Mark joined the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences as a Postdoctoral Research Associate working on the funded, award-winning project ‘Moving Social Work’. Working in partnership with Disability Rights UK, Moving Social Work is a co-produced programme of research that aims to embed physical activity advocacy with and for disabled people into the education, training, and routine practice of social work. As part of this, Moving Social Work advances physical activity research on implementation science and knowledge translation, co-production, intersectionality, and multiagency working and integrated care. Mark leads the Physical Activity Champions work package, where he is co-producing training for social workers to train social work students and professionals in advocating physical activity to and with disabled people.

Research Interests

• Addiction, Recovery, Social Justice, and Rehabilitation.
• Exercise Interventions for Vulnerable Populations and the Social and Psychological Impacts of Sport and Physical Activity.
• Physical Activity Promotion in Social Work.
• Homelessness and Health.

LinkedIn: Mark Hollett