​I'm Gavin Bailey and I am a social researcher, working on social solidarity and the threats to solidarity. My work is largely on extremism and counter-extremism, social cohesion, migrant 'integration' and young people. Since 2002, I've worked for social research companies, think-tanks, government agencies and universities. Since completing my doctorate on far-right and radical Islamist activists in the context of the wider community, I continued in academic work at the University of Leicester and University of Northampton. I now work in Manchester Metropolitan University's Sociology department, as part of the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit.

After a Maths and Natural Sciences degree at Cambridge University, I ran a small chain of record shops for a few years before returning to education, doing an MA at Goldsmiths College's Centre for Urban and Community Research. I did my PhD at Keele University, examining al-Muhajiroun and the BNP, and their engagement with wider society. Between and alongside this, I also worked for the Future Foundation, Vision 21, the Community Development Foundation and the Young Foundation.

Outside my research work, I am the chair of a school governing body and a director of a housing co-operative. I also enjoy playing and watching football (preferring playing). Listening to, and reading about, music is my other passion: favourites and new finds may appear in my twitter feed under #nowplaying.