January 24, 2017 Leave a Comment
Our Director Professor Peter Dwyer presented a summary of the project’s first wave research findings today at the National Housing Federation’s Welfare Reform conference. Professor Dwyer outlined the negative experiences of study respondents who had been sanctioned, some limited evidence of positive experiences of support, and issues of improving implementation in the system. View his presentation here
October 19, 2015 Leave a Comment
Our PhD research student Helen Stinson has used an internship with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to consider fundamental questions about what fairness means. Her blog highlights the debate on whether welfare should be organised for all, or to benefit those in most need. Read the full story here.
October 19, 2015 Leave a Comment
PhD research student Helen Stinson considers fundamental questions about the welfare safety net, prompted by her time working with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Three months ago I started my internship at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. As co-funders to my PhD, they offered me this opportunity to complement my academic studies and enhance my understanding of the role that evidence based research has in influencing policy and practice.
On my first day I was set the task to review a number of current welfare benefits to find out if there were any recommended policy changes that could reduce levels of poverty in Britain. With more than 31 different welfare benefits to review, this was initially quite a daunting assignment! But, with the support of the anti-poverty campaign team, my initial apprehension developed into a deepened appreciation for the importance of exploring the origins and history of different welfare benefits. Through this valuable experience, I have gained further insight into current political debates. I’ve learnt that it is critical to recognise the tensions that underlie political debates on the different policy reforms. Read More
October 5, 2015 Leave a Comment
Our new blog post by guest writer Deven Ghelani finds that local conditionality is becoming increasingly prevalent. The Policy in Practice director draws on his experience of working with local authorities to set out some ideas on what makes a good scheme. Read the full story here.
September 21, 2015 Leave a Comment
Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, summarise four research reports they have published on the effects of welfare reform in Scotland
Welfare reform is a Westminster Government policy that affects all parts of Britain, but the impact of the reforms varies a great deal from place to place. The research undertaken at Sheffield Hallam University over the last three years has led the way in documenting the financial losses at the national, regional, local authority and neighbourhood level. Significant parts of this research have focussed on Scotland, where four reports have been commissioned by the Scottish Parliament.
In a special seminar in Glasgow on 21 September, convened in collaboration with Policy Scotland, the Sheffield Hallam team is laying out the findings of the four Scottish reports. This is the first time all four reports have been considered together. Read More
September 21, 2015 Leave a Comment
In this new blog, Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, summarise four research reports they have published on the effects of welfare reform in Scotland. They find that to date, there is no evidence of positive labour market impacts in that country. Read the full story
