By Dr David White, Lecturer in Political Science School of Government, University of Birmingham. “The UK’s music festival industry not only fosters artistic talent, provides opportunities for people to gain experience in a range of roles, and creates a much-needed sense of wellbeing for those that attend, it also makes significant contributions to the British … Continue reading “Festivals cancelled: the substantial impact on local people and communities”
Category: Society
Building a fairer country after the pandemic? It’s time for the return of the council house
By Liam O’Farrell, Research Associate, City-REDI, University of Birmingham “We are now in a situation where many young people can no longer get onto the housing ladder… [and] those in low paid jobs, doing what is now more widely recognised as essential work, often can’t even afford to live near the places they work.” Even … Continue reading “Building a fairer country after the pandemic? It’s time for the return of the council house”
Culturally competent? What does the pandemic tell us?
By Zhu Hua, FAcSS, Professor of Educational Linguistics & Director of the Mosaic Group for Research on Multilingualism, School of Education, University of Birmingham “Seeing cultural competence as a responsibility of those providing health and education programmes is certainly a step in the right direction.” Public Health England’s recent report, Beyond the data: Understanding the … Continue reading “Culturally competent? What does the pandemic tell us?”
Carers and COVID-19: Hunger and mental health
By Dr Matthew Bennett, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham “We’ve been clapping for carers throughout the pandemic. The profile of carers has risen. Yet a number of them are silently facing unthinkable hardships.” Did you clap for our carers? Despite their recently raised profile, our … Continue reading “Carers and COVID-19: Hunger and mental health”
How long will we comply with COVID lockdown? 3 tests for legitimate rules
By Dr Claire Mcloughlin & Professor David Hudson International Development Department, University of Birmingham “People are more likely to comply with rules that don’t benefit them if they have some basis in shared values and beliefs and fairness.” Across the world, citizens are facing extraordinary limits on their livelihoods and freedom of association. But as … Continue reading “How long will we comply with COVID lockdown? 3 tests for legitimate rules”
Leadership – Reflections on a Crisis
By Steve Gulati, Director of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham “There are decades when nothing happens. And there are weeks when decades happen” – Vladimir Lenin If ever the importance and significance of leadership needed underlining, COVID-19 provides definitive evidence. Economic and political measures that were so recently unthinkable … Continue reading “Leadership – Reflections on a Crisis”
Escape the room, take the facts!
By Chris Roche, Senior Research Partner of the Developmental Leadership Program School of Government, University of Birmingham Back in June 2019, the DLP team participated in a team-building exercise in Birmingham – an escape room in which the team had to escape the Lab. After we had successfully saved the world, we wondered if we … Continue reading “Escape the room, take the facts!”
Governing Renewable Natural Resources: How can governance improve the environment and people’s lives in the Global South?
By Professor Fiona Nunan, International Development Department School of Government, University of Birmingham Governance matters for natural resources because it affects how they are used and managed and who gets to benefit. In low-income countries, governance often aims to improve people’s lives as well as the environment, but achieving these ‘win-win’ outcomes has proved elusive. … Continue reading “Governing Renewable Natural Resources: How can governance improve the environment and people’s lives in the Global South?”
Generation Equality: The changing experience of women
By Professor Jane Martin, Director of Domus Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Histories of Education, Executive Editor of Educational Review School of Education, University of Birmingham On the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for the empowerment of girls and women everywhere, the theme for International Women’s Day for 2020 is … Continue reading “Generation Equality: The changing experience of women”
Social Work Leadership – New Decade, New Agenda
By Simon Haworth, Professor Robin Miller and Dr Jason Schaub School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham We often hear of social work’s mistakes, crises and failings. It is therefore easy to forget its strengths and examples of good, even great, practice. Leadership, or certainly lack of it, can be at the heart of the … Continue reading “Social Work Leadership – New Decade, New Agenda”