Trys Burke
After completing a degree in sport, health, and physical education, and a PGCE in outdoor education and information technology at Bangor, I began teaching in a local residential outdoor education centre. I later switched to teaching adults and became a coach educator, training and assessing coaches and leaders across the UK and abroad on behalf of British Canoeing and Canoe Wales, which I did for the next 20+ years. I have always had an interest in physical activity and health and wellbeing, but my interest in peer support and the role it plays in mental health and involvement in physical activity, was sparked during my MSc studies. On examining levels of continued adherence to physical activity following the completion of an exercise referral programme, I was struck by the overwhelming sadness felt by participants due to their loss of newly formed social networks. These social networks, it seemed, had been the glue that helped participants stick to their physical activity programme. This led me to consider whether programmes would benefit from delivery instructors building in an exit strategy to prepare and support peer groups once the programme ended. This would help maintain the social support network and potentially increase the chances of continued physical activity, through the peer group. With the help of a European funded Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS2) I was able to undertake a PhD and explore this idea further. Together with outdoor activity delivery instructors from local outdoor organisations and voluntary community clubs, a train the trainer intervention was co-designed and developed. The intervention aimed to create an ongoing programme of peer supported outdoor activities that would promote the wellbeing of all group members and improve the group’s ability to become self-sustaining, in preparation for the delivery instructor’s withdrawal.
Appointments
Research Assistant, School of Health Sciences, Bangor University
Module lead Outdoor and Adventure Therapy, School of Psychology and Sport Science, Bangor University. Previously I taught the water-based modules for their BSc in Adventure Sport Science
Book Chapters
- Burke (Morris), T. Sea kayaking. Ferrero, F. Sea kayaking, The British Canoe Union Coaching Handbook. Pesdapress.com: Pesda Press; 2006. p. 251-284.
Papers
- Masterson-Algar, P., Jenkins, S. R., Windle, G., Morris-Webb, E., Takahashi, C. K., Burke, T., ... & Christofoletti, R. A. . When One Health Meets the United Nations Ocean Decade: Global Agendas as a Pathway to Promote Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Nature Relationships. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022. Volume 13, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.809009