Sleeping on it: using history to understand and address today’s ‘sleep crisis’

Impact: Attitudes and behaviours, Awareness and understanding, Economic, Health and wellbeing, Society and culture

Narrative

Handley's research on sleep's history established the importance of humanities perspectives within debates about today's global sleep crisis. It provided the basis for collaborations with The National Trust (NT), The Children's Sleep Charity, and The British Academy. At NT, the research: (1) delivered approximately GBP255,000 economic benefit; (2) changed the working practices of NT staff and volunteers; (3) increased NT visitor numbers and diversified audiences; (4) changed the visitor engagement strategies of two NT properties to prioritise research-led programming focused on health and wellbeing, with impact on programming for visitors at a third property; and (5) contributed to NT's successful award of Independent Research Organisation status. The research achieved further impact by raising public awareness of the importance of sleep quality to physical and mental health, and improving the sleep routines of school children and members of the public.
Impact dateAug 2013 → 2020
Category of impactAttitudes and behaviours, Awareness and understanding, Economic, Health and wellbeing, Society and culture

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