The SPA is delighted to congratulate our members who have been recognised by the Academy of Social Sciences for their outstanding contribution. They are: Professors Tania Burchardt, Sin Yi Cheung and Charlotte Pearson. Full story: social-policy.org.uk/news/spa-mem...

Getting access to parenting leave is difficult for some families. In June, I met a brilliant group of mums in East London to talk about how they juggle with work and family and what this means for their wellbeing.

Social Policy Association@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 2w ago

📣New blog: Staying Well Through Parenting Leave Discusses research on access to parenting leave in the UK, and the wellbeing impacts of this. By Kathryn Hartley, Jessica Hobbs, Emily Humphreys, Clare Matysova social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-st...

📣New blog: Staying Well Through Parenting Leave Discusses research on access to parenting leave in the UK, and the wellbeing impacts of this. By Kathryn Hartley, Jessica Hobbs, Emily Humphreys, Clare Matysova social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-st...

Blog: Staying Well Through Parenting Leave - Social Policy Association

Kathryn Hartley, Jessica Hobbs, Emily Humphreys, Clare Matysova Imagine life as a mum of young children on a low income: you might be juggling two [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📣New blog: Nationalism and the Changing Politics of Immigration in Scotland and Catalonia Examines stateless nationalism, belonging, and implications for the provision of social benefits and services. By Dean Ross, PhD Researcher, University of Glasgow. social-policy.org.uk/news/nationa...

Blog: Nationalism and the Changing Politics of Immigration in Scotland and Catalonia - Social Policy Association

By Dean Ross, Doctoral Researcher in Politics and International Relations at the University of Glasgow. [Image: Dean Ross, Edinburgh, 2023.] Over the last two decades, [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📣New blog: ‘Beyond Integration: Everyday Belonging' Examines how Iranian women in Glasgow experience belonging, and possible implications for policy and practice. By Paria Goodarzi, social art practitioner and PhD researcher at the University of Glasgow. social-policy.org.uk/news/beyond-...

Beyond Integration: Everyday Belonging - Social Policy Association

By Paria Goodarzi (see author bio at bottom). This blog is based on work presented at the Unbordered Futures conference at the University of Edinburgh [...]

social-policy.org.uk

New on the Social Policy Blog: “Basic Income Experiments: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why Politics Still Matters" by Enrico Nichelatti, Heikki Hiilamo, and Olavi Kangas. socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/08/12/b...

Basic Income Experiments: What Works and Why Politics Matters

Comparing four basic income pilots, the study finds strong well-being gains but shows political and institutional factors decide reform outcomes.

socialpolicyblog.co.uk

Watch highlights of this year’s Social Policy Association conference! Thank you to Liverpool Hope University for hosting us and to Steven Hargraves for producing this video. Read more about our work and annual conferences here: social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/c... youtu.be/6T0CTAPhKyY?...

SPA Conference 2026

YouTube video by liverpoolhopeuni1

youtu.be

📣New blog: ‘Signs and Symbols: Assessing the UK Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness' By members of the SPA Housing Policy Group @spahousingpolicy.bsky.social. social-policy.org.uk/news/signs-a...

Signs and Symbols: Assessing the UK Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness - Social Policy Association

The UK Government’s homelessness strategy represents a welcome shift in national conversations about homelessness, but its strengths may be more symbolic than structural. By Colin Clark, [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📣New blog: ‘Space’ and ‘Place’: from Conspirators in Sovereignty, to Comrades in Solidarity? Examines erratic and hostile spatial governance of people seeking safety. By Phoebe Malone, PhD Researcher in Social Anthropology and Migration, University of Glasgow. social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/spa...

‘Space’ and ‘Place’: from Conspirators in Sovereignty, to Comrades in Solidarity? - Social Policy Association

By Phoebe Malone, PhD Researcher, University of Glasgow. [Image: Phoebe Malone, Dunkerque, 2023.] Keywords: Space, Place, Spatial Governance, Migration, Asylum, Borders, Solidarity, Resistance, Abolit...

social-policy.org.uk

📣New blog: 'Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Recognise, Refer, Reach' Does it offer a substantive plan for carers that is more than re-badging existing commitments? By Melanie Henwood, independent Health and Social Care Research Consultant. social-policy.org.uk/news/unpaid-...

Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Recognise, Refer, Reach - Social Policy Association

By Melanie Henwood. [Photo by Dominik Lange on Unsplash]. An Action Plan for unpaid carers was published in the final days of the Starmer Labour [...]

social-policy.org.uk

1/ What has devolution changed for race equality across Britain? Our new @nuffieldfoundation.org funded Policy Briefing we map the strategies, duties, action plans and accountability mechanisms developed since devolution. bsky.app/profile/uofg...

UofG Centre for Public Policy@uofgpolicy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

How has race equality policy developed differently across England, Scotland and Wales during the three decades of devolution? ❓ Read new insights from @nasarmeer.bsky.social and Dr Mahnoz Illias: www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

30 salaried doctoral researcher positions - in wonderful Helsinki! Please repost - great opportunity professorpositions.com/researcher-i... @europeangroup.bsky.social @britishcriminology.bsky.social @bjsociology.bsky.social @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @timnewburn.bsky.social @waylon18.bsky.social

Congratulations to our co-lead @profkatsmith.bsky.social, @profbambra.bsky.social and Julia Lynch, on winning the Richard Titmuss Book Award for their Policy Press book "Getting Better: The Policies and Politics of Reducing Health Inequalities" at last week’s @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social Conference!

Thank you @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social for organizing another successful conference! It was wonderful to attend all the insightful presentations and meet new colleagues. Liverpool Hope University (Creative Campus) is absolutely lovely. Thx again!

I’m delighted to share that my sole authored article “Conceptualising the Relationship Between Formal and Informal Social Protection”, has been awarded the Cambridge University Press Award for Excellence in Social Policy Scholarship by the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social

Hooray! Getting Better* has received the Richard Titmuss Book Prize from @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social. We are so pleased! *available open access at Policy Press: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/getting-better @profbambra.bsky.social @profkatsmith.bsky.social @premnsikka.bsky.social

𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐏𝐀 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 Excellence in social policy research and impact has been recognised by the 2026 Social Policy Association awards. The list of winners is available in the next posts. Full story here: social-policy.org.uk/awards/socia...

Social Policy Research and Impact Celebrated at 2026 SPA Awards - Social Policy Association

Excellence in social policy research and impact has been recognised by the 2026 Social Policy Association awards. The list of winners for each category and [...]

social-policy.org.uk

If you liked Lee Gregory’s session on poverty at #SPA2026, you might also want to read his latest piece on Transforming Society 👉 @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social

Defence vs welfare: Why this is a false choice in UK politics  - Transforming Society

Lee Gregory suggest that the next Labour leader should reject the false choice between welfare and defence by arguing that reducing poverty is an essential investment in national security, economic st...

transformingsociety.co.uk

Bristol University Press@brisunipress.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Lee Gregory (he/him) 🏳️‍🌈 suggests that the next #Labour leader should reject the false choice between welfare and defence by arguing that reducing poverty is an essential investment in national security, economic strength, and long-term prosperity. https://ow.ly/hAAR50Zjb90

This week is the Social Policy Association Conference From 1-3 July we welcome delegates to Liverpool Hope University. All conference information including programme link here: social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

SPA Annual Conference 2026 - Social Policy Association

Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce that Liverpool will host our 2026 conference, [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📣Research grant funding for ECRs in social policy! The SPA Career Launch Grant offers max £1000 to ECRs: deadline 27 July 2026. You must be an SPA member to apply. Info here: social-policy.org.uk/career-launc...

About to head to #Liverpool for the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social conference. If you're there, come along tomorrow morning to hear the session below about #SocialScience and #devolution in the Liverpool City Region, which promises to be interesting. #SPAconf #devolution

Exciting news! The SPA Annual Conference has secured its first ever charity partner: Asylum Link Merseyside - and we hope this will be the start of an important new tradition! 🧡 Find out more about Asylum Link Merseyside and the work they do: www.asylumlink.org.uk @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social

Asylum Link Merseyside — Support, Dignity, Community

Asylum Link Merseyside supports people seeking asylum in Liverpool through casework, English classes, hot meals, wellbeing activities and community.

asylumlink.org.uk

🚨 Call for Nominations for the SPA Elections - Deadline 15th June 🚨 This is a fantastic opportunity for SPA members to get involved in the work of the SPA directly or of our associated journals. Information on each category can be accessed here: social-policy.org.uk/category/spa...

📢 Application deadline extended! Fantastic opportunity to be a co-editor of the Journal of Social Policy (JSP). Apply by 5pm, Friday 12 June. Full information: social-policy.org.uk/editorial-bo...

Vacancy: Journal of Social Policy (JSP) seeks to appoint a Fourth Co-Editor - Social Policy Association

Update: deadline extended to Friday, 12th June 2026 The Journal of Social Policy (JSP) is a highly impactful UK and international journal which is going from strength [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📢 Application deadline extended! Chair of the Editorial Board, Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy. Apply by 5pm, Friday 19 June. Full information: social-policy.org.uk/editorial-bo...

Chair of Editorial Board, Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy: Call for applications - Social Policy Association

Update: deadline extended to 5pm, Friday 19 June 2026. The Social Policy Association (SPA) invites applications for the Chair of the Editorial Board of the [...]

social-policy.org.uk

📢 Calling all Early Career Researchers & Postgraduate Students attending #SPA2026 at Liverpool Hope University We invite you to two dedicated pre-conference events! Please find details and sign-up via our conference webpage, under early career events: social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

SPA Annual Conference 2026 - Social Policy Association

Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce that Liverpool will host our 2026 conference, [...]

social-policy.org.uk

Thanks to @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social for funding, @profellenstu.bsky.social for idea to run witness seminars to mark 25 yrs of health policy devolution in Scotland, @lisagarnham.bsky.social & others for event support, & to all participants. LinkedIn summary here: www.linkedin.com/posts/kather...

Smokefree public places policy in Scotland: rethinking policy work in multiple streams and Punctuated Equilibrium Theory | Katherine Smith

A couple of years ago, inspired & supported by Ellen Stewart, I ran my first 'witness seminar' (a form of group oral history). Marking 25 years of devolved health policy in Scotland, we discussed how...

linkedin.com

📣Social Harm Student Essay Competition 2026🏆 The SPA Social Harm Policy Group welcomes submissions from undergraduate and taught masters students enrolled at universities worldwide to submit an essay on the topic of social harm. Deadline: 19th of June 2026. social-policy.org.uk/news/social-...

Are you interested in how the 4 UK nations are approaching health policy? Watch the recording of our recent webinar, in association with @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social, where our expert panel explored just that. Watch now🎥 ➡️ acss.org.uk/news/watch-w...

The Social Policy Association Employment Policy Group held a book panel event this week hosted by the Resolution Foundation and chaired by Nye Cominetti. The panel was composed of authors of several new books on employment and welfare policy in the UK and internationally.