Beth Richardson

• MSc in Advanced Relationship Based Social Work Practice with Children and Families (University of Bedfordshire, September 2019): Distinction
• Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (University of Bedfordshire, September 2018): Distinction
• MA in Languages and Cultures (specialising in Russian Studies) (University of Manchester, August 2016): Distinction
• BA (Hons) in French and Russian Studies (University of Manchester, June 2015): Joint 1st Class Honours with Distinction in spoken French and spoken Russian

Beth’s research is informed by witnessing the profound consequences that being refused asylum has for torture survivors and their families. A social worker who has supported forced migrants since 2009, Beth developed particular expertise in working alongside torture survivors during her years at Freedom from Torture’s West Midlands Centre where she worked first as Care Coordinator before being promoted to Head of Clinical Services. In addition, she also has considerable experience of working with individuals who have experienced a range of harms including trafficking, SGBV, domestic abuse, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, criminal/sexual exploitation, as well as psychosis, self-harm and suicidal intent. 

Throughout her studies, Beth has received numerous academic awards. Most notably, these include an ESRC Doctoral Training Programme Studentship Award, as well as the prize for the highest scoring dissertation and highest overall score in her Social Work MSc, a full scholarship for her Russian Studies MA, and the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Humanities Dean’s Award for Achievement in recognition of graduating in the top 0.5% of her cohort. Alongside her doctoral studies, Beth is also a Director at Conversation Over Borders. She speaks French, Russian and basic Bulgarian. 

PhD title

Interview or Interrogation?: Exploring Torture Survivors’ Experiences of the UK Substantive Asylum Interview Process

Beth's research project explores how forced migrant torture survivors experience the UK substantive asylum interview. In doing so, it seeks to understand how elements of the interview process may contribute to the wrongful refusal of asylum claims, and to examine the racial-colonial logics which may underpin such refusals. More broadly, this research also investigates how key actors involved in the asylum system- particularly Home Office decisionmakers, policymakers, and practitioners supporting survivors to navigate the system- produce, sustain, and resist harmful, racialised asylum processes.

The meaningful inclusion of lived experience expertise sits at the centre of this research design, which will be guided by an Advisory Board comprising torture survivors and specialist practitioners experienced in supporting survivors through the asylum system. Grounded in a decolonial research philosophy and theoretical framework, this project draws on a range of qualitative methods to critically examining the ways in which the colonial foundations of bordering and asylum practices continue to shape survivors’ lived experiences of seeking safety in the (post)colonial present.

Supervisors for this project: Professor Jenny Phillimore and Professor Nando Sigona.