SASS Staff
Dr Andrew Orton
Lecturer in the School of Applied Social Sciences
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41502
Room number: Elvet Riverside 2: Room 236
Biography
Andrew has a professional background in community and youth work as practitioner, manager, trustee and consultant. He has worked with a wide range of organisations in voluntary, public and faith-based sectors in these roles and through his research.
Research Projects
Research projects have included:
- A two year project (2009-2011) with the Methodist Church of Great Britain exploring Deacons' perspectives on 'Good Practice in Diaconal Ministry', in partnership with the Wesley Study Centre.
- A co-authored AHRC/ESRC-funded literature review (2011) which critically explored connections between localism and community empowerment.
- Work with the Council of Europe (2010) exploring improved approaches to building migrants' belonging within local communities, which led to a recommendation to member states being adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 2011.
- Work with the Department for Communities and Local Government (2009) exploring cross-community interactions.
Teaching
Andrew is Programme Director for the MA Community and Youth Work, MA/PGDip/PGCert Managing Community Practice and MA/PGDip/PGCert Managing Youth Work Practice, including teaching management within these programmes. He also supervises a range of PhD students within his research areas.
Publications
Books: edited
- Banks, S., Butcher, H., Orton, A. & Robertson, J. (2013). Managing Community Practice: Principles, Policies and Programmes. Bristol: Policy Press.
Books: online
- Orton, Andrew (2012). Building Migrants' Belonging through Positive Interactions: A Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
Books: sections
- Orton, Andrew (2013). Conclusion: Sustaining Community Practice for the Future. In Managing Community Practice: Principles, Policies and Programmes. Banks, Sarah, Butcher, Hugh, Orton, Andrew & Robertson, Jim Bristol: Policy Press. 191-203.
- Orton, A. (2011). "Giving it Away", "Selling Out" or "Creative Spaces"? Why Changing Organisational Geographies Matter in English Christian Community Work. In Emerging Geographies of Belief. Brace, C., Bailey, A., Carter, S., Harvey, D. & Thomas, N. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 272-292.
Journal papers: academic
- Orton, Andrew (2012). The Diverse and Contested Diaconate: Why Understanding this Ministry is Crucial to the Future of the Church. International Journal of Practical Theology 16(2): 260-284.
- Banks, S. & Orton, A. (2007). The grit in the oyster: community development workers in a modernizing local authority. Community Development Journal 42(1): 97-113.
Journal papers: online
- Orton, A. (2007). Contesting “Good Practice” in Faith-Based Action for Social Change: Diversity, Dialogue & Dilemmas in Christian Community Work. The Journal for Faith, Spirituality and Social Change 1(1): 20-33.
Other publications: research
- Painter, J., Orton, A., MacLeod, D.G., Dominelli, L. & Pande, R. (2011). Connecting localism and community empowerment: research review and critical synthesis for the AHRC Connected Community Programme. Durham University, Department of Geography and School of Applied Social Sciences.
- Orton, A. (2008). Evaluating Cross-Community Work in Holme Wood: Making Connections?. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Reports: official
- Orton, A. (2010). Exploring Interactions in Migrant Integration: Connecting Policy, Research and Practice Perspectives on Recognition, Empowerment, Participation and Belonging. Strasbourg, Council of Europe, European Committee on Migration (CDMG).
- Orton, A. (2009). What Works in Enabling Cross-Community Interactions? Perspectives on Good Policy and Practice. London, National Community Forum / Department for Communities and Local Government.
Research Interests
- Andrew's research interests focus on issues of faith, dialogue and diversity in professional practice, with a particular interest in how practitioners and others decide what is 'good practice' within related work.
- His work is often interdisciplinary in nature, including particular collaborations with practical theology to explore forms of Christian community and youth work.
- He is also interested in a range of related issues, including professional community work practice, community and voluntary organisation management, and social exclusion, especially in relation to public policy and faith-based social action in these field
- Whether working with practitioners, policy-makers, or others, Andrew's research builds in impact from the outset by actively involving people within the research process.
Research Groups
- Policy, Professions and Communities
Research Projects
Supervises
- Mrs Victoria Armstrong
- Miss Stephanie Rich
- Ms Helen Gatenby
- Mr Peter Hart
- Miss Jennifer Wingate
- Mrs Elizabeth Hackney