Natalie Dowling

Dr Natalie Dowling is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, where she has been employed since 2019. She serves as the Level 5 lead for the Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies and is based in the School of Social Work, Education, and Teacher Education.

Her academic qualifications include:

• BSc (Hons) in Applied Criminology and Social Science from Canterbury Christ Church University
• MA in Youth and Community Work (JNC accredited) from the University of East London
• PhD titled 'Detached Youth Work: A critical analysis of theory and practice' from the University of Gloucestershire

Dr Dowling's research integrates practical youth work experience with academic scholarship, focusing on detached youth interventions, community-based programs, and social care frameworks. Her expertise spans childhood development, criminology applications, and youth service delivery models, informed by over a decade of hands-on work in local authorities and third-sector organizations managing center-based, school-linked, and street-level projects.

At the university, she previously served as Employability Lead in Criminology, organizing career events and providing student guidance. She currently oversees academic progression for the Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies while maintaining external youth work commitments with her local authority in council initiatives, youth centers, and detached outreach projects.