Staff profile

Dr Vicky Butterby

I joined Durham University’s Sociology Department as a Research Associate after completing my PhD in 2019, which focused on loss in the lives of young people known to youth justice services. Since then, I have worked on several different research projects, in the Sociology Department, for Durham Law School, and as an independent researcher, including work on image-based abuse, economic abuse, policing in schools and young people's experiences of their consent education.

I am a qualified teacher and have worked with young people in different contexts and settings since 2005, including in secondary education and in youth justice services. I have also worked as a teacher-educator, supporting Further Education practitioners to explore and develop their practice through participatory and action research as part of the Education and Training Foundation’s Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment Programme.

I have been part of the Sociology Department's Contextual Safeguarding Team since 2025 and I am currently working on a project with Dr Cait Jobson, Dr Rachael Owens and Professor Carlene Firmin called Everybody’s Business, which explores contextual safeguarding within the hospitality sector. I am also working on a project with Dr Nicole Renehan; we are working collaboratively with specialists from neurodivergent-led organisations and domestic abuse specialists to develop practitioner guidance on supporting neurodivergent men attending domestic abuse perpetrator programmes. Additionally, I work part time with Durham Law School, supporting their impact and engagement work and providing research assistance. 

Research Groups

I am a member of CRiVA, Durham’s centre for research into violence and abuse.