Blog Posts Research and Impact How to lead an evidence centre In the last ten years, a range of countries have invested in organisations designed to bridge the gap between researchers and policy makers. In the United Kingdom alone, we now have 12 What Works Centres, 30 Health Determinants Research Collaborations, three Local Policy Innovations Partnerships, several regional evidence centres, and dozens of policy engagement teams […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches The role of KBOs November 3, 2025
Blog Posts From Evidence to Action: Co-creating a resource to strengthen multisector collaboration in Wales We have launched a tender to develop a tool/resource that supports multisector collaborations aimed at improving community wellbeing. Read more July 30, 2025
Blog Posts Research and Impact Four Lessons from What Works Centres on Understanding Impact Eleanor Mackillop shares four lessons in planning, generating and evaluating impact that could benefit all organisations that broker evidence into policy. Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches The role of KBOs July 30, 2025
Blog Posts Research and Impact What does it take to lead an evidence intermediary organisation? Professor Steve Martin, Director of the Wales Centre for Public Policy for the centre’s first ten years, sheds some early light on his research into what it takes to lead these organisations – and how this learning could be used to help future leaders of academic-policy engagement initiatives. There is growing recognition of the key […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs December 16, 2024
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Overcoming the challenges of financing retrofit in the UK: A pathway to net zero Wales and the UK face a significant challenge in ramping up retrofit delivery to meet net zero, fuel poverty and health goals. Currently, across the UK, we retrofit around 250,000 homes per year, but to meet our targets, we need to increase this to 1.5 million homes annually by 2035. This sixfold increase is critical […] Read more Topics: Economy Energy Net Zero December 12, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities More data and earlier focus key to tackling post-16 tertiary education inequalities The creation of Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, represents a step change in the organisation of post-16 education and training in Wales. This blog discusses some of the main challenges facing policy makers on post-16 education and training in Wales. This includes relatively low levels of higher education participation, lower levels of […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities Poverty and social exclusion November 6, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Widening participation and transforming lives: What works? The wicked problem of widening participation. Despite years of increasing and widening participation strategies, there is evidence of widening inequality gaps and growing divergences in educational opportunities and outcomes across countries. In every country where data is available, participation in higher levels of education continues to be unequal from a social background perspective. A recent […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities November 5, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Equity in Tertiary Education in Wales - an adult perspective Understanding inequity in tertiary education. Here, Joshua Miles, of the Learning and Work Institute, gives his perspective on the data analysis undertaken by ADR Wales and the findings of WCPP's evidence review. A key role and opportunity for Medr The introduction of Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research has the potential to dramatically […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities November 4, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Tackling inequity in tertiary education Responding to WCPP’s latest publications on Understanding Inequity in Tertiary Education, in a series of thinkpieces, leading education experts have called for action to reduce inequalities during compulsory education; further assessment of the potential of contextualised admissions; and for Medr to take a whole sector leadership role in valuing all facets of tertiary education including […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities October 25, 2024
Blog Posts Research and Impact Understanding impact across the UK's What Works Network All What Works Centres (WWCs) aim to have impact by getting evidence into policy and/or practice. However, because every Centre has different aims, practices, audiences, funding models, staffing levels and size, their understanding of impact, and how they measure and communicate their impact, can differ. Our preliminary research based on interviews with WWCs and their […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches The role of KBOs October 7, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Working together to tackle poverty stigma in Wales – five key insights Over the last 12 months, the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) has been exploring what poverty stigma is, where it comes from, why it matters, what works to address it and, what we at WCPP can do to enable decision makers to access evidence that informs their actions to prevent and address poverty stigma, […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Local government Poverty and social exclusion September 10, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Shining a light on poverty stigma The devastating impact of the stigma of poverty has been long established. It is known to worsen people’s mental health, leads to people not claiming all the benefits they are entitled to and increases the risk of children being absent from school. Until recently, relatively little was known about the prevalence of the stigma in […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Poverty and social exclusion September 4, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities 'Framing' not blaming I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1991 and worked with children and their families for the next 16 years. I became increasingly frustrated at the daily challenges of making a sufficient impact with the little time and resources I had. When the opportunity came to apply for the post of Flying Start […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion August 14, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing A shared sense of purpose drives successful multisector collaboration – lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary and community sector organisations became more visible than ever before. With deep roots into the communities they serve, these organisations were able to draw on local knowledge and existing infrastructure to reach those who needed help the most. A report by Locality (2020) highlighted the role of community organisations as […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration August 5, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Why Wales needs a new approach to tackling loneliness Loneliness is bad for us. It’s so detrimental that in 2023 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared loneliness a pressing global health threat because of the growing, and startling, body of evidence demonstrating just how bad loneliness is for human health and wellbeing. Research has associated loneliness with increased risks of dementia by 50%, stroke […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Loneliness June 13, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Environment and Net Zero The Cardiff Capital Region, Cars and Transit Oriented Development The problem Our planning and development eco-system has resulted in us building ‘all the wrong stuff in all the wrong places’ for over 50 years. Homes, hospitals, shops, offices, cinemas, leisure centres, etc are all designed and located around car access. This car based eco-system now means that many new houses are located in places […] Read more Topics: Local government Net Zero Transport June 10, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Tackling Inequalities Hidden poverty in Welsh communities Poverty is sometimes depicted as a primarily urban phenomenon but there is financial hardship in all regions and geographies in Wales. One in five (21%) of the Welsh population are living in relative income poverty; an even greater proportion are going without essentials. Three in ten people (31%) are struggling to heat their homes, and […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion June 3, 2024
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Tackling Inequalities Navigating farming futures How can farmers go ‘Green’ if they are in the ‘Red’? Following Brexit and the introduction of the UK Domestic Agricultural Policy, the UK farming sector faces substantial uncertainty. This blog explores some economic, social, and environmental impacts of these changes in Wales, with a particular emphasis on the emerging issue of poverty among farming […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero May 31, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Less resilient communities around Wales face extra challenges New research identifies additional challenges faced by communities at the margins. Following the publication of the Wales Community Assets Index and the Wales Community Resilience Index, Building Communities Trust’s (BCT) Policy Officer, Eleri Williams, explores what these linked but separate indexes tell us about the challenges faced by ‘Less Resilient’ communities in Wales and where […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Poverty and social exclusion May 30, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Recognising and addressing rural poverty in Wales When we think about poverty in Wales the uplands of Eryri, coastal villages in Pembrokeshire, or the rolling farmlands of Powys do not tend to be the first places that come to mind. Yet, there is growing evidence that poverty is a persistent and increasing problem for many people living in rural Wales. Researchers have […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion May 28, 2024
Blog Posts Research and Impact What has devolution delivered for Wales? The day after marking its 25th birthday, the Welsh Senedd voted to increase its size by more than 50%. In 2026 the Welsh public will therefore elect 96 members in place of the current 60. Advocates of this change hailed it as a historic investment in democracy which reflected the significant strengthening of the Senedd’s […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Impact May 24, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Together Creating Communities Young Leaders: Our Campaign Journey In this guest blog, TCC (Together Creating Communities) Young Leaders from St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School in Wrexham talk about their campaign to eradicate school hunger and their experiences of attending WCPP’s stakeholder workshop on tackling poverty stigma. Just over one year ago, as part of Together Creating Communities (TCC) we – a […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion May 16, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities All voices must be heard in the struggle against poverty We’ve all heard the headlines; the weight of which we all carry. The Swansea Poverty Truth Commission is the first in Wales. Being part of this project as community commissioners provides an opportunity that allows us to reflect on the power of people coming together. Those with the lived experience of the struggle against poverty […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Poverty and social exclusion May 16, 2024
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Towards a green economy: building on Wales’ legislative foundation There is much talk about the scale and pace of change that is needed to move towards net zero in Wales. The changes are equally important for a prosperous economy as well as a green economy, as we discussed in our evidence paper for the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. There are important […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero May 13, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing How healthy is democracy in Wales and how can we best measure it? With ‘democratic backsliding’ a concern in national and international politics, along with an eroding trust in government, this blog by Greg Notman and Professor James Downe builds on a recent WCPP report which highlights the need to think about more than just elections when assessing the democratic health of our democracy, and looks at successes […] Read more Topics: Governance Local government May 6, 2024
Blog Posts Research and Impact How to improve regional productivity levers in England and Wales How to improve regional productivity levers in England and Wales As winners of the 2024 Award for the Best Paper published in Regional Studies Policy Debates, Helen Tilley, Jack Newman, Charlotte Hoole, Andrew Connell, and Ananya Mukherjee discuss the winning paper. They argue that UK regions lack the policy levers they need to improve productivity […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Methods and approaches April 17, 2024
Blog Posts Research and Impact Q and A with Kathryn Williams, PhD intern We caught up with Kathryn Williams who has recently spent three months as a PhD intern with WCPP. Kathryn is an ESRC funded PhD student in the School of Social Science at Cardiff University. 1. Overall, how have you found your time at the Centre? I have enjoyed working in the Centre and have been […] Read more Research and Impact: PhD interns March 7, 2024
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Exploring and enhancing the role of lived experience The Wales Centre for Public Policy is delighted to be hosting an 18-month collaborative UKRI Innovation Policy Fellowship to explore and enhance the role of lived experience expertise at WCPP, in the What Works Network and in policy making more broadly. The WCPP Fellow, Dr Rounaq Nayak, from Bournemouth University, is one of 44 policy […] Read more Topics: Lived experience March 1, 2024
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Let's talk about poverty stigma Poverty stigma – what is it, where does it come from and why are we working on it? “Having no money, having no food, it goes onto your mental health then makes that bad because you’re always constantly worrying about whether you’re going to get your gas and electric”. "I was mortified when I had […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Poverty and social exclusion November 8, 2023
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Tackling Inequalities How can Wales feed itself in the biodiverse, carbon-neutral world of the future? WWF Cymru Policy and Advocacy Manager Alexander Phillips has responded to our recent report: How could Wales feed itself by 2035? As the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss become increasingly apparent around the globe, the question of ‘how could Wales feed itself in 2035’ and beyond is easily one of the most important […] Read more Topics: Economy Energy Net Zero October 16, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities How might anti-smoking policies affect the rise in vaping? The increasing number of people using e-cigarettes, presents a significant policy challenge to governments in Wales, the UK, and elsewhere. We look at the differing measures governments around the world are putting in place. In the UK, 9.1% of adults reported using e-cigarettes in 2023, equal to around 4.7 million adults. Some see this as […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities October 13, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Fair's fair? Equality, equity and access to tertiary education As the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER) gears up, Jack Price explores what more can be done to create a fairer system for learners in Wales. Here at the Wales Centre for Public Policy we have been looking at ways to promote greater fairness in the tertiary education system. Our analysis considers which […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities October 11, 2023
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Tackling Inequalities How can councils support their communities through the cost-of-living crisis? Five key takeaways from the Welsh Local Government Association Annual Conference The cost-of-living crisis is a major challenge for our communities and is hitting the poorest in society particularly hard. The need for help with basics such as food, fuel and clothing has never been higher. We know that this is rightly a high priority […] Read more Topics: Local government Poverty and social exclusion October 10, 2023
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Investment in councils, investment in communities I was invited to speak to the WLGA conference about “investment in councils, investment in communities”, and what follows is a very slightly abridged version of my comments on that topic; outlining how evidence can support councils in navigating the challenging situation they face. The multiple challenges facing councils The theme of this session is […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Economy Local government October 9, 2023
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Tackling Inequalities Complex partnership arrangements are a barrier to effective support for children and families It has long been recognised that for the most vulnerable children, those at risk of going into care, the services that offer support must be provided in a coordinated and ‘joined-up’ way. This is both because of overlapping problems and needs, with the most frequently cited being the ‘trigger trio’ of substance misuse, domestic abuse, […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration August 12, 2023
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero The benefits of Welsh diet change for our health, climate and pockets Reducing emissions from agriculture remains one of the biggest barriers on Wales’ pathway to net zero. Progress has been limited in recent years and while ‘supply-side’ changes to farming practices are necessary, these alone will not be sufficient to achieve significant falls in agricultural emissions. There needs to be ‘demand-side’ change in the behaviour of […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero July 24, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities A Revolution by Stealth? Basic Income Experiments Proliferate In this guest blog on basic income, Professor Guy Standing looks at the growing number of basic income trials and pilots around the world, and the evidence gained from them. At the moment, pioneered by the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Government is piloting a basic income for all those leaving care at age […] Read more Topics: Economy Poverty and social exclusion July 19, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Basic income: What is it and what it isn’t In this guest blog, Dr Francine Mestrum looks at three different forms of basic income - a universal basic income, a basic income for those who need it, and a universal dividend – and assesses their potential to achieve social justice. When starting a discussion on ‘basic income’ it is crucial to first clear the […] Read more Topics: Economy Poverty and social exclusion July 17, 2023
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Using evidence to accelerate action on climate change 'What scope is there for Welsh Government to do more, to change its approach, or to deliver its existing net zero ambitions more effectively?' In its latest progress report, the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) concludes that while Wales has achieved emissions targets for the First Carbon Budget (2016-2020), the country is currently not on […] Read more Topics: Net Zero June 28, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Not everybody wants a goat! Five takeaways from our conference on Wales' basic income pilot. There is much hope and enthusiasm for the idea of a basic income around the world and, close to home, the Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales Pilot is supporting 500 young people leaving care with an income of £1280 (after tax) per month […] Read more Topics: Economy Poverty and social exclusion June 19, 2023
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Tackling Inequalities It's time to talk about loneliness inequalities In this blog, Josh Coles-Riley explains why the Wales Centre for Public Policy has commissioned a major new review of research on loneliness inequalities – and why WCPP is now planning an event to bring together policymakers, practitioners, researchers and lived experience experts to explore what policy and practice changes are needed to tackle these. […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government Loneliness June 16, 2023
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Working together to tackle loneliness and isolation In February 2020, the Welsh Government published its first ever strategy to tackle loneliness and social isolation - “Connected Communities”. We have probably all experienced these feelings at some point in our lives, but when they become long-term and entrenched, they can have a huge impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. And 'although loneliness […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Loneliness June 12, 2023
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities What works to tackle poverty? Experimenting with a Basic Income in Wales The current ‘cost of living crisis’ has highlighted the urgency of identifying and developing effective approaches to tackling poverty, an objective which underpinned the poverty review which we delivered for the Welsh Government in September 2022. Over the last year, there has been a 69% rise in the number of people experiencing food insecurity in […] Read more Topics: Economy Poverty and social exclusion December 15, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Tackling poverty and mental health together: a multi-agency approach The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) has recommended four areas of focus for Welsh Government action on poverty and social exclusion. One of these is about mental load and mental health: “Addressing the emotional and psychological burden carried by people living in poverty and social exclusion through tackling stigma, (re)humanising ‘the system’ and treating […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Health inequalities Poverty and social exclusion December 2, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing The state of democracy in Wales: What is it and how can we measure it? Concerns over democratic health are a global phenomenon, often triggered by crises or events that result in public pressure for reform. Iceland’s near-economic destruction after the Global Financial Crisis, for instance, instigated wide-ranging reforms to their democratic system. In Wales (and the wider UK) discussions around the health of our democracy have traditionally focussed narrowly […] Read more Topics: Governance Local government November 17, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing What does 'blended' digital and face-to-face provision mean for access to services during the cost-of-living crisis? The cost-of-living crisis is making access to community-based wellbeing services ever more important for an increasing number of people. These services – from advice, advocacy and support services to leisure and cultural organisations – are critical in supporting our immediate and long-term wellbeing. As highlighted during the pandemic, they save lives in times of crisis. […] Read more Topics: Local government Poverty and social exclusion November 8, 2022
Blog Posts Research and Impact Understanding organisations that provide evidence for policy This blog post is based on the Evidence & Policy article, ‘Knowledge brokering organisations: a new way of governing evidence’. New organisations have emerged in different countries to help inform policymaking. Different from think tanks and academic research centres, these Knowledge Brokering Organisations (KBOs) attempt to influence policy by mobilising evidence. Our research examines how […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs November 1, 2022
Blog Posts National Milestones – Using evidence and expertise to tell a ‘status story’ The ‘second wave’ of Welsh Government consultation on its National Milestones ended last month. The Milestones relate to a set of National Indicators, articulated under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which enable the measurement of progress towards the seven Well-being Goals for Wales. These National Milestones deliberately align with milestones operating at […] Read more October 25, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Waiting for care Waiting for care arises from the mismatch between the need for care, and the capacity of NHS services to meet those needs and can lead to adverse outcomes. The report from the Wales Centre for Public Policy highlights how the time spent waiting for referral-to-treatment (RTT) has been increasing since before the pandemic, which further […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities October 20, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities What does the Welsh health and social care system look like? Our previous blog, Is healthcare in Wales really that different?, sets out some of the key features of the Welsh health and social care system, and key differences from other parts of the UK. Like other developed healthcare systems, the structure of the NHS in Wales has developed and evolved in response to population needs […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities October 12, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Are the Welsh Government’s plans for the Welsh NHS Executive a missed opportunity? With so much of the focus on the NHS being given to waiting times, it was easy to miss the Welsh Government’s update on the NHS Executive for Wales. This may seem like a bureaucratic distraction from more important issues, but establishing an NHS Executive has long been seen as an essential reform to the […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Local government October 12, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Social care workforce crisis in Wales: what is causing it and what is being done to fix it? The consistent message in recent submissions to the Senedd enquiry on the Health and Social Care workforce strategy was that the social care workforce is in ‘crisis’. Services are struggling to find or retain staff. And, of course, the provision of high quality care is dependent upon the social care professionals who have the skills, […] Read more Topics: Employment Health inequalities work and skills October 11, 2022
Blog Posts Research and Impact Taking stock of our Research Apprentice scheme The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) introduced the Research Apprenticeship scheme in 2017. The scheme aims to build the capacity of early-career researchers to engage with policymakers and public services to respond to key challenges in Wales. It has attracted hundreds of applications annually from excellent candidates who wish to gain first-hand experience of […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches PhD interns October 6, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Evidence and An Anti-Racist Wales On 7 June, the Welsh Government launched its new Action Plan to forge An Anti-Racist Wales by 2030. The work will involve identifying and eradicating the systems, structures and processes that contribute to unequal outcomes for people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities. The launch was described by the Minister for Social Justice, Jane […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion October 4, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Promoting pathways out of poverty – and preventing the pitfalls of poverty entry Enabling ‘pathways’ out of poverty must be a fundamental goal of any anti-poverty strategy. But how should such a strategy seek to achieve this? And how can we ensure that these ‘pathways’ translate into meaningful reductions in levels of poverty across Wales? Across European nations, the promotion of paid work has become central to anti-poverty […] Read more Topics: Employment Poverty and social exclusion work and skills September 30, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Being poor in Wales – why where you live matters Several of the challenges faced by people living in poverty or social exclusion in Wales relate to where they live. Local costs of living, affordability of good quality housing, levels of crime, adequate infrastructure, and access to services, green spaces, quality employment, education and training, all affect people’s quality of life, can entrench social exclusion […] Read more Topics: Housing and homes Poverty and social exclusion September 29, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Running on empty: why we need reform in the cost-of-living crisis During the initial months of the pandemic, when various protections were in place – such as the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit – the number of people who sought help from Citizens Advice on debt problems dropped significantly. Since October 2021, however, when many of these protections came to an end and energy […] Read more Topics: Economy Poverty and social exclusion September 27, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities A matter of costs For decades, poverty has been measured by a household’s income relative to that of others. Although adjustments are made for housing costs and household size, the key metric is the amount of cash coming into a household. Public policy on poverty has followed this focus on household incomes. At UK level, the key levers for […] Read more Topics: Economy September 27, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities What makes for an effective anti-poverty strategy? The lack of an anti-poverty strategy did not stop the Welsh Government from taking action during the pandemic to address poverty in Wales. From the provision of money, vouchers or packed lunches during the school holidays to children entitled to free school meals, to allowing eligible families to claim a pupil development grant every year […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion September 26, 2022
Blog Posts Research and Impact Has devolution delivered? The last 25 years have seen a significant and sustained increase in public support for devolution in Wales. The 1997 referendum produced only a wafer thin majority in favour of creating a Welsh Assembly. Now fewer than 1 in 5 of the adult population say that they would vote to reverse that decision, whilst a […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Impact September 23, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing ‘Blending’ online and offline provision in community wellbeing services: what does it mean and why does it matter? Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, public and third sector organisations supporting community wellbeing have relied on a mixture of remote and face-to-face methods for delivering services and engaging with the people they support. These have been delivered in different combinations at different times, in response to a rapidly shifting landscape of restrictions on physical contact and […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Local government August 30, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Finding a path to university as a mature student It wasn’t until I came to the conclusion that I was miserable in my job that I first heard the monkey on my back screaming. Browsing through open vacancies online, I’d find a role I felt I’d be perfect for. Reading the job description would confirm it: yes, I can do all of that. More […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities August 18, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Expanding post-compulsory education: what we’ve learned On the 5th of May, we hosted our first in-person event since March 2020, and our first in our new home in sbarc|spark. We were delighted to welcome guests and speakers to an afternoon thinking through policy interventions that could support increased participation in post-compulsory education and training, building on our recent reports on Raising […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities June 13, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Integrating wellbeing objectives into long-term infrastructure planning Integrating wellbeing objectives into long-term infrastructure planning is a necessary condition for ensuring the Wellbeing of Future Generations. From empowering citizens to make decisions affecting their local communities to creating new jobs and building resilience to social, economic, and environmental shocks, public infrastructure helps attract businesses and determines the productive capacity of communities and nations. […] Read more May 26, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Environment and Net Zero Infrastructure and Wellbeing in Wales Transport infrastructure and wellbeing objectives Transport infrastructure is most directly relevant to the following of the Welsh Government’s ‘wellbeing objectives’(Wellbeing of Wales: 2021 | GOV.WALES ) for 2021-2026: Providing effective, high quality and sustainable healthcare – by prioritising and ensuring fast, convenient, affordable and safe public transport to/from facilities for staff, patients and visitors with, […] Read more May 25, 2022
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Tackling Inequalities Infrastructure requirements for Wales to transition to a prosperous, sustainable economy Understanding wealth and wellbeing The twenty-first century will not be like the twentieth. Most obviously, the economy of the future will be low-carbon, more efficient, less reliant on fossil fuels and highly digitised. It will need to forgo dangerous depletion of natural resources, in particular the renewable kind, such as forests, fisheries and ecosystems that […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero May 24, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Environment and Net Zero The impact of infrastructure on wellbeing in Wales Infrastructure is inextricably linked to well-being. Good infrastructure, well-designed and well-located, developed according to sound principles and in collaboration with the end-users, will likely produce outstanding results for a long period of time. The converse is also true. The upcoming report from the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) - “Infrastructure and long-term wellbeing” - […] Read more May 23, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing ‘Levelling Up’: continuing the conversation ‘Levelling Up’ - used here to refer to the wider UK Government policy agenda rather than the specific Levelling Up funding stream - is predominantly about tackling place-based economic inequality, economic development, and productivity. As set out in our previous WCPP blog, this is a conversation that is critical for Wales. Whilst ‘Levelling Up’ seeks […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government March 14, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing ‘Levelling Up’: a critical conversation for Wales What does ‘levelling up’ mean in practice for Wales? While debate around the definition continues, the long awaited White Paper has now been published. However, questions remain around how results will be achieved. At the IWA Economy Summit in November Vaughan Gething MS, the Welsh Minister for Economy, commented that levelling up might be framed […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government March 1, 2022
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Should the age of participation in education or training be raised to 18 in Wales? Dr Matt Dickson is Reader in Public Policy at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at the University of Bath. Sue Maguire is an Honorary Professor at the IPR at the University of Bath. Their research on raising the age of participation to 18 has recently been published by the Wales Centre for Public Policy. […] Read more Topics: Education inequalities Employment work and skills February 3, 2022
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing New insight into loneliness in Wales New analysis by the Wales Centre for Public Policy gives important new insights into how different characteristics can multiply people’s risk of loneliness. Until now, we have had a good understanding of how one characteristic or another, such as disability, poverty or age, influenced the chances of someone being lonely. We can now see how […] Read more Topics: Loneliness October 11, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing A pandemic called loneliness When I was asked to attend the event on ‘Tackling loneliness in Wales through the pandemic and beyond’ as a representative for my organisation (Carmarthenshire County Council), I thought it was because I was a care home manager for older adults, and when we hear the word ‘loneliness’ we automatically think of the older generation […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Loneliness September 2, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Volunteering and wellbeing in the pandemic: Learning from practice We’ve heard a lot about the valuable role of volunteering in supporting communities through the pandemic. But when we looked at the evidence base on how volunteering has supported wellbeing during the crisis, we found it mostly focuses on volunteers’ wellbeing, with much less on those being helped or on community wellbeing. And yet we […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Local government August 18, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Why go back to the office? The Coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly catalysed one of the most rapid transformations in many people’s working lives for decades. UK data suggests that while 5% of workers worked from home prior to March 2020, this increased to approximately 43% at the beginning of the first lockdown in 2020. The same study suggests that around half […] Read more Topics: Employment Lived experience work and skills August 4, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing What I’d tell the Beatles about loneliness To be honest, I’m not really a big Beatles fan. But oddly, when it comes to singing songs in the shower, “Eleanor Rigby” with “all the lonely people”, is high up on my top 10 list. I’ve no idea why; perhaps it’s because I can remember all the words. The song is the same age […] Read more Topics: Loneliness July 13, 2021
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero The future of Wales’ farming policy The Welsh Government is currently developing agricultural policy proposals which aim to support farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices. Their intentions for primary legislation can be found in the Agriculture (Wales) White Paper, for which consultations closed in March 2021. Their intention is for the Bill to ‘be informed by the best available evidence’ from […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero June 30, 2021
Blog Posts Research and Impact Five years on from the Brexit referendum Five years ago today the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU), a process which culminated in the beginning of a new trade relationship with the EU from January 1st of this year. WCPP and our predecessor organisation PPIW have been engaged with understanding the implications of Brexit for Wales throughout this period. We […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Impact June 23, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Implementing the Socio-economic Duty: learning from experience On 31st March 2021, the Welsh Government commenced section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, known as the socio-economic duty. It requires that public bodies, when making strategic decisions, have “due regard to the need to reduce the inequalities of outcome resulting from socio-economic disadvantage”. This signals the most recent attempt from the Welsh Government […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion June 9, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Volunteering lessons from the pandemic Amanda Carr, Director of Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS), reflects on how new research into volunteering and wellbeing during the pandemic matches up with her own experiences. I wanted to start by taking the opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Volunteers’ Week and to say a huge thank you to all those volunteers […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Local government June 7, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Creating an anti-racist Wales The Coronavirus pandemic has increased the urgency of actions to eliminate racial disparities in Wales. Analysis shows that the risk of deaths involving COVID-19 among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of White ethnicity in Wales. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees are also more likely to work […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion May 25, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Zoomshock: Is remote working the future of the Welsh economy? The Welsh Government has recently announced a ‘long-term ambition to see around 30% of Welsh workers working from home or near from home, including after the threat of Covid-19 lessens’. The shift to remote working during the Coronavirus pandemic has led to what some experts are describing as a ‘Zoomshock’, whereby economic activity moves from […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills May 14, 2021
Blog Posts Research and Impact PhD Internships – Learning by doing In January 2021, the Wales Centre for Public Policy welcomed two doctoral students on three-month ESRC funded internships. Aimee Morse from the University of Gloucestershire studied a local evidence ecosystem - a case-study of a farmer group in North Wales, and Findlay Smith from Aberystwyth University worked with us to study the Welsh Government’s use […] Read more Research and Impact: PhD interns April 29, 2021
Blog Posts Research and Impact It ain’t what you (can) do it’s the way that you do it How can devolved governments deliver distinctive policies? Just because a government has the power to do something, it doesn’t always mean that it can actually do it. So what makes the difference? We explored this question in a recently published article which we wrote with Steve Martin. The question matters because making policy and law […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches April 14, 2021
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Climate Change: Making the Transition Happen in Wales Recent developments give reasons to be ambitious about what Wales can do to tackle climate change. In December 2020, the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommended that Wales move to target Net Zero emissions by 2050, above its previous recommendation of a 95% reduction. Environment Minister Lesley Griffiths has committed to putting this target in […] Read more Topics: Just Transition Net Zero April 7, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Embedding Black and minority ethnic history, identity and culture into Welsh education “Black history is Welsh history, and Welsh history is Black history” Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales (October 2020) The new Curriculum for Wales 2022 presents an interesting challenge for progressing the ambition to see the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic perspectives, histories and contributions embedded in the educational diet of every […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities March 17, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Domiciliary Care: what it’s really like? My Name is Lucy and I currently work as a Policy Officer for the National Commissioning Board, (NCB). The NCB is made up of representatives from Health & Social Care organisations in Wales. The aim of the board is to support and promote the integration of Health & Social Care through commissioning, policy and practice. […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Lived experience February 17, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Fairer Futures: Understanding Inequality in the Our Future Wales consultation The Welsh Government launched the Our Future Wales consultation in May 2020 with the aim of identifying ideas and solutions for rebuilding Wales following the Coronavirus pandemic. The public consultation drew more than 2,000 responses from individuals, groups, and organisations across the country and gathered a range of opinions - from ideas about public spaces […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion February 1, 2021
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Post-Brexit Migration and Wales: Potential impacts of the new system and recommendations on the priorities for influencing UK immigration policy. Following the end of free movement on 31st December 2020, thinking turns not only to the impacts of the new immigration system, but also to how devolved nations can seek to respond to these changes. A recent report by Dr Eve Hepburn and Professor David Bell for the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) provides […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Economy January 15, 2021
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Using fishing opportunities to support mental health and wellbeing in the Welsh fishing industry As the UK leaves the European Union, much has been made of the post-Brexit opportunities for new governing legislation. In few industries is this more acutely felt than in the fishing industry, where there have been calls for a “sea of opportunity” as the UK becomes an independent coastal state with control over its waters. […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Health inequalities December 15, 2020
Blog Posts Research and Impact What might implementation science and knowledge mobilisation mean for What Works Centres? Implementation science (IS) and knowledge mobilisation (KMb) are just two concepts in the plethora of ideas and terms developed over the last decades in narrowing the gap between knowledge being produced and knowledge being used in policy and practice. Other terms include knowledge brokering, knowledge transfer, co-production, dissemination science, and knowledge exchange. Most of them […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs December 8, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Caring for the Care Sector: How Can We Support New Models of Home Care Social care needs help. We can only describe a service as in “crisis” for so long until that becomes the norm, and the very name “domiciliary care” makes it sound like a chore that needs to be completed. In our drive to “fix” the social care system we have begun to speak about it as […] Read more Topics: Employment Health inequalities work and skills December 3, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Gradually and then all at once – The UK’s new points-based migration system and small and medium enterprises Responding to the Wales Centre for Public Policy’s (WCPP) report on the impact of a new post-Brexit migration system, in this blog Dr Llyr ap Gareth, Senior Policy Adviser at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), outlines the practical issues it raises for smaller firms. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make up 62.3% of private […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Economy November 30, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Supporting mental health and wellbeing in fishermen and fishing communities In September 2020 the Centre published it’s report Policy options for Welsh fishing opportunities, which explores the potential fishing opportunities open to Wales after the European Transition. Equally as important as the financial implications for the sector is the mental impact the uncertainty of the Brexit situation is having on those who work within the […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Health inequalities November 12, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Why diversity in public appointments matters Owing to the lack of diversity in board membership, many boards in Wales do not reflect the communities they serve, with Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidates and disabled candidates being currently underrepresented. The Wales Centre for Public Policy recently published two reports on improving recruitment practices in public appointments and how underrepresented groups could […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government November 10, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Building on strong foundations: the volunteer response to the pandemic in Wales Emma Taylor-Collins and Hannah Durrant from Wales Centre for Public Policy, and WCVA’s Helpforce Cymru Manager Fiona Liddell look for a pattern in recent volunteering success stories from across Wales. Over the past few months, we’ve heard a lot about the significant volunteer response to the pandemic. As in the rest of the UK, volunteers […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Lived experience November 6, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Research and Impact A Conversation on Wales' Future On 18th September 2020 we, along with our colleagues at WISERD (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data), hosted a webinar in which Carwyn Jones MS (former First Minister of Wales), Auriol Miller (Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs), and Rachel Minto (Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University) analysed the trajectories and priorities […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches November 3, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities What does Brexit mean for the Welsh health and social care workforce? Regardless of what happens on the broader Brexit negotiations, change is coming on January 1; free movement will end, and the new “points-based system” will be introduced. In new research for the Wales Centre for Public Policy, Craig Johnson, Elsa Oommen and I looked at what this will mean for the health workforce in Wales; […] Read more Topics: Employment Health inequalities work and skills October 29, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities The Vital Role of Tertiary Education Post-16 education and training are vital to individual opportunity and to the green economic growth Wales needs if it is to match the ambition of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Wales has a proud tradition of valuing learning and knowledge for what they are, not just for what they contribute. The target of 50% […] Read more Topics: Education inequalities Employment work and skills August 14, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Devolution and the Coronavirus pandemic in Wales: doing things differently, doing things together? In a Senedd debate in May both First Minister Mark Drakeford and Welsh Brexit Party Leader Mark Reckless found themselves agreeing that the Coronavirus pandemic had raised the profile of devolution more than anything else in the last 20 years. Unsurprisingly, they drew rather different conclusions from this common observation. But it underlines how in […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Local government July 3, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities How are we going to fund social care? The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted, more than ever, the importance of funding social care. Local authorities are concerned about meeting their statutory duties, paying care workers a fair wage and ensuring a stable care market in their current budget constraints. Responding to the Coronavirus pandemic has placed additional cost pressures on social care, placing further […] Read more Topics: Economy Health inequalities July 1, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities The Coronavirus pandemic and the cost of health The current Coronavirus pandemic has brought healthcare and science experts to the centre of public debate. Questions about rationing resources such as access to specialist healthcare, testing, and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) are being discussed daily. There has been talk of rationing access to beds and treatment, with Italian and Spanish frontline healthcare […] Read more Topics: Economy Health inequalities June 26, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Financial vulnerability in the pandemic: a dilemma for local authorities The Coronavirus pandemic has necessitated a shift in the way in which we, as a society, think about vulnerability. Historically, we have tended towards a moral definition of vulnerability, which gives rise to a set of obligations and duties which have been enshrined in legislation such as the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act, 2014 […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government June 24, 2020
Blog Posts Research and Impact The Coronavirus pandemic – an opportunity for policy entrepreneurs? It has become something of a mantra that ‘things cannot be the same’ after the Coronavirus pandemic. This is partly because of a growing sense that if, as seems likely, the Coronavirus pandemic will be with us for some time, we won’t be able to work, shop, learn and socialise as we used to, even […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches June 19, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Building back better: the importance of a green stimulus The Coronavirus pandemic-driven lockdown imposed across the UK has upended most aspects of day-to-day life. Whilst the economic cost of the lockdown is severe, one noticeable side-effect has been the impact of lockdown on the environment. Globally, CO2 emissions have reduced more as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic than from any other world event. […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero June 17, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing The role of Welsh local government in a post-Coronavirus world The role that local government plays in the frontline provision of public services is highlighted and accentuated at times of crisis. Councils across Wales have co-ordinated and delivered a range of actions in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, including distributing over £500m in grants to businesses and supporting a wide range of vulnerable people and […] Read more Topics: Local government June 12, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Recovering from the Coronavirus pandemic: maintaining a legacy of volunteering One of the few positive side effects of the pandemic has been the apparent eruption in volunteering we’ve seen across Welsh communities – both in terms of the grassroots groups that have sprung up all over the country and the thousands of volunteers who have signed up with Volunteer Wales and local councils. We’ve heard […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration June 10, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Clapping after Coronavirus: The implications of the Coronavirus pandemic for health and social care workers The Coronavirus pandemic has turned the world’s attention to the work of our carers. Each week, many of us have been clapping to recognise and show our appreciation for the difficult jobs that those in health and social care, as well as other key workers, are doing. The pandemic highlights, more than ever, the challenges […] Read more Topics: Employment Health inequalities work and skills June 3, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Research and Impact The implications of the Coronavirus pandemic for the Welsh economy The Coronavirus pandemic is having a profound and unprecedented impact on the Welsh economy – an economy already weakened by retrenchment and austerity in the public sector following the 2008 financial crisis, in addition to the challenges posed by leaving the European Union. The Coronavirus pandemic adds to these challenges and exposes existing vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Impact May 27, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Research and Impact When this is all over: Recovering from Coronavirus ‘When this is all over’ has to be one of the most over-used phrases of the Coronavirus pandemic. But will it, in fact, ever be over? Maybe this is a very sudden but quite short-lived shock. But it seems much more likely that Coronavirus will have lasting long-term effects that leave our economy and society […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Research and Impact: Impact May 20, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Research and Impact Can Research Apprenticeships open the door to a policy career? The Wales Centre for Public Policy introduced the Research Apprenticeship scheme in 2017. The aim was to build the capacity of researchers to engage with policymakers and public services to address key challenges in Wales. Each year, we provide an opportunity for an outstanding graduate to gain first-hand experience of providing evidence for policymaking. The […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches PhD interns May 12, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Loneliness in Lockdown Prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 16% of the Welsh population identified as lonely, and it is known that loneliness and social isolation present significant challenges to public health and well-being. Several Public Service Boards have identified reducing them as a priority for their areas and the Welsh Government released its own Loneliness Strategy in […] Read more Topics: Loneliness April 30, 2020
Blog Posts Research and Impact How might lower-ranking officials have a greater impact on policy development than previously assumed? How can small-territory, subnational governments make the most of their position? Subnational governments like the devolved governments in the UK combine some of the opportunities and limitations of the national and the local governments between which they sit. They have some ‘national government’-type responsibilities and resources, like legislative authority and funding powers, although those resources […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches April 20, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Youth Homelessness: Moving Towards Prevention WCPP’s reports on Preventing Youth Homelessness were published in 2018. Since then, we have been working with a range of stakeholders to communicate our key findings and to assist in the move towards a preventative system in Wales. Together with End Youth Homelessness Cymru, we convened an event on the 9th of March to provide […] Read more Topics: Housing and homes Poverty and social exclusion April 9, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Governing the Just Transition In previous blog posts, we’ve considered what a just transition is and what such a transition might look like in Wales. In the final blog post of this series, we consider the potential role of governance in realising a Just Transition in Wales. Government is typically seen as the major authority in directing policy action. […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero April 3, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities What we do and don’t know about ageing better in Wales Recently the Centre invited Dr Anna Dixon, Chief Executive of the What Works Centre for Ageing Better, to visit us and exchange knowledge on ageing better with key stakeholders here in Wales at a roundtable and a public event. In this blog, Dr Martin Hyde, Associate Professor of Gerontology at the Centre for Innovative Ageing, […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Housing and homes March 30, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Towards a resilient economy In times of economic uncertainty attention often turns to the resilience of economies to shocks and downturns. As we grapple with the likely economic consequences of coronavirus, not to mention the longer-term implications of leaving the European Union, it is no wonder that thoughts turn to how to ensure our economy is resilient to any […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition March 25, 2020
Blog Posts Research and Impact Increasing the reach of the What Works network At Wales Centre for Public Policy we’re part of the UK’s What Works network. It’s a group of 13 (and counting) Centres aiming to improve the use of evidence in decision-making in various policy areas from education, to policing, to wellbeing. We think we’ve got a lot to share with the rest of the What […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs March 10, 2020
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Delivering a Just Transition: What would it look like? In our previous blog we looked at why a just transition could be an equitable means of decarbonising the economy. This post looks in more detail at what this might look like in the Welsh context, and how different approaches to justice can facilitate a just transition. We have argued that a just transition should […] Read more Topics: Economy Just Transition Net Zero February 26, 2020
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Engaging matters: making sure the public have a voice in the future of Welsh health and social care This blog draws on a recent Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) report Public engagement and ‘A Healthier Wales’, co-authored by Paul Worthington, Sarah Quarmby and Dan Bristow from WCPP. The report considers how the commitments to public engagement in A Healthier Wales might be translated into an evidence-informed programme of activity. A Healthier Wales […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Lived experience February 5, 2020
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Environment and Net Zero Tackling Inequalities 2019 – In Review As another tumultuous year draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting on some of the key achievements of the Wales Centre for Public Policy in 2019. We are living in very interesting times, but the political uncertainties of the last year have made it all the more important that we can provide policy makers and […] Read more December 17, 2019
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Why a ‘Just Transition’? Decarbonisation and economic justice This is the first in a series of 3 blogs posts on achieving a just transition.This first blog considers what a just transition is, our second what such a transition might look like in Wales, and final blog post considers the potential role of governance in realising a just transition in Wales. Commitments to a net-zero carbon society raise questions […] Read more Topics: Just Transition Net Zero December 16, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact 5 things we learned about procurement The Wales Centre for Public Policy has been exploring the case for a more strategic approach to public procurement for nearly two years. In July 2018 we hosted an event that considered the lessons from the collapse of Carillion. Earlier this year we published reports on contracting, stewardship and public value and on sustainable public […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Methods and approaches December 5, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Mobilising Meaningful Connections between Evidence and Practice At the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP), we are continually reflecting upon our role as a ‘knowledge brokerage organisation’ (KBO). We see ‘knowledge brokerage’ as the practice of connecting researchers and decision makers to help inform public policy and professional practice. Although knowledge brokerage has great potential, we also recognise the complexity inherent in […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs November 29, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact What works in getting evidence used? One of the Early Intervention Foundation's (EIF) core functions is to see that evidence on early intervention is actually being used in policy, decision-making and practice. Jo Casebourne and Donna Molloy summarise some of the varied approaches we have taken to tackling this particular challenge, and our commitment to making ongoing improvements in how we […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs November 26, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Researching the Use of Evidence in Policy Making What does it mean to be a ‘knowledge broker’? What impact does knowledge brokerage have on government policymaking? Why might evidence use at the local level require different approaches, and how would this be implemented? Here at the Wales Centre for Public Policy we recognise that the relationship between evidence and policy is complex and […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs November 18, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities No Fault Evictions: Striking a Good Balance Should landlords be able to evict their tenants without giving a reason? It is a question that is attracting increasing attention in Wales. At the moment, a landlord can break contract with their tenant at any time, provided they give 2 months notice. This is commonly referred to as a ‘no-fault eviction’ or as a […] Read more Topics: Housing and homes November 8, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing The Preston Model: A panacea for Wales? Procurement is moving up the agenda. In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has advocated reforming procurement and procurement has been suggested as a way to bolster the foundational economy by Deputy Minister Lee Waters. The ‘Preston model’ has frequently been cited as an example of using public procurement for social good. But what is the […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government November 5, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Unleashing the power of public procurement Understandably given the pressure on budgets, the focus is often on procuring public services at the lowest possible cost. But there is a growing recognition of the potential to use public procurement more imaginatively to promote innovation and promote a range of broader social purposes. In Wales we spend around £6 billion pounds annually on […] Read more Topics: Economy October 30, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Is healthcare in Wales really that different? Whenever the UK media discusses the NHS, more often than not it is talking about the NHS in England, rather than all four nations, although it rarely makes that distinction. As the Welsh Government develops plans to change the way that the NHS is governed, we thought it may be timely to reflect on how […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities October 21, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Tackling Inequalities through Gender Budgeting With the opportunity provided by the Gender Equality Review and the commitment to feminist principles by the Welsh Government, the time is ripe for the Government to step fully into a gender analysis of its budget process. With the framework of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the implementation of integrated impact assessments, that […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Economy October 21, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Male Suicide – A Silent Epidemic 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day. This annual event aims to raise the awareness of suicide, educate about the causes and warning signs of suicide and reduce the stigma associated with suicide, suicidal behaviour and other mental health problems. According to the World Health Organisation close to 800,000 people die each year as a […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities September 10, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact How did we get here and how can we build on it? Across Wales a lively debate surrounds both the health of the Welsh economy and its future prospects. It is widely accepted that the performance of the Welsh economy lags behind the UK average and a range of comparator regions in other parts of Europe. There is some good news. In recent years unemployment has been […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches August 21, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Responding to those in difficulty with council tax debt in Wales: what does the evidence show? This blog draws on a recent Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) report ‘Responding to citizens in debt to public services: A rapid evidence review’ co-authored by Sharon Collard from the University of Bristol with Helen Hodges and Paul Worthington from WCPP. It looks at how local authorities and housing associations in Wales might better […] Read more Topics: Local government Poverty and social exclusion July 23, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Welsh Policy and Politics in Unprecedented Times On 24th May 2019, the Wales Centre for Public Policy and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) organised a conference called ‘Welsh Policy and Politics in Unprecedented Times’ which brought together 45 academics, practitioners and policy-makers to discuss present and future challenges facing Wales, notably in relation to Brexit […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches July 8, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Our Theory of Change There is widespread agreement across diverse policy and research communities that evidence can play a vital role in processes of democratic deliberation on the aims, design and implementation of public policy interventions. The challenge for everyone working at the interface of policy and research is how to assess the value (impact) of what we do. […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches June 25, 2019
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Research and Impact Evidence, practice and philosophy: How can we undertake effective evidence-informed practice in Wales? Wales is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of educational reform. Along with a distinctive approach to curriculum development comes an emphasis on transforming schools into professional learning organisations (PLOs). This results in stakeholders not only debating curricular concerns about what knowledge pupils need to know and how, but also what teachers need to know and […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs June 6, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Powers and Policy Levers - What works in delivering Welsh Government policies? As Wales marks twenty years of devolution, our latest report, Powers and Policy Levers: What works in delivering Welsh Government policies? presents the findings of a research project into the way that the Welsh Government has used the powers and policy levers available to it. Having outlined the policy context in Wales over the last […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches May 17, 2019
Blog Posts Introducing our Advisory Board Members The group brings together a stellar cast of more than 20 eminent individuals with experience of having worked at the highest levels in government, public services, academia, think tanks and independent research organisations. It includes members with experience as national and local politicians, political advisers, senior civil servants, senior managers in local government, health, the […] Read more May 15, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact How can governments improve cross-cutting working? Cross cutting working - making sure that different departments and services work effectively with each other - is a constant challenge for all governments, even when they are as comparatively small as the Welsh Government. Last year, we were commissioned by the First Minister to synthesise the evidence on cross-cutting working, and our latest report, […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches April 17, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact The role of behaviour change in shaping public policy decisions Behaviour change is an increasingly common theme in public policy. Peter John goes as far to claim that ‘many of the greatest challenges in public policy can only be fully addressed by changing the behaviour of citizens’. Previously, public policy interventions in behaviour change worked from the assumption that behaviours were rational processes, and that […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact Methods and approaches March 27, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Tackling Inequalities How can governments engage with the public about healthcare? One of the projects that the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) currently has on the go looks at ways that governments can engage with the public about healthcare. The Welsh Government’s plan for health and social care “A Healthier Wales” sets out public engagement as a core part of its healthcare approach going forward, […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities March 11, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing How do we Tackle Loneliness? Evidence on Deprivation and Different Communities This is the third in a three-part blog series on loneliness and isolation in Wales. Part one is here, and part two is here. Here, Suzanna Nesom discusses how loneliness might be tackled for materially deprived people and in different communities, given the available evidence. This series of blogs has been exploring what is known […] Read more Topics: Local government Loneliness March 7, 2019
Blog Posts Research and Impact Managing diverse relationships in cross-cutting government This ‘think piece’ builds on my recent presentation to a seminar for senior officials hosted by the Wales Centre for Public Policy which looked at the thorny issue of cross-government working. It isn’t an academic review, and I have deliberately not burdened it with lots of academic references. Instead I’m drawing on practical, interesting and […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches March 5, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities We need to talk about procurement On 4th February we published a major new report on procurement. Beyond contracting: public service stewardship to maximise public value argues that politicians and chief executives need to use procurement strategically to maximise economic, social and environmental outcomes for their local communities, rather than just going for the lowest cost option. The launch event with […] Read more Topics: Economy February 26, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing How do we tackle loneliness? Evidence on supporting younger and older people This is the second in a three-part blog series on loneliness and isolation in Wales. The first article can be read here, and the third here. Here, we discuss possible ways to tackle loneliness in younger and older people, given the available evidence. With the Welsh Government planning to launch its Loneliness Strategy by the […] Read more Topics: Local government Loneliness February 19, 2019
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Is the future of the economy threatening local taxation? This is the second of our guest blogs expanding on some of the wider tax policy questions that couldn’t all be fully explored within the parameters of our Welsh tax base research last year. Here, Hugo Bessis of the Centre for Cities considers the impact of the rise of automation and high street retail closures […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government February 14, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Growing the Welsh tax base through business rates: risks, rewards and trade-offs It has been six months since we published our report examining the risks and opportunities of fiscal devolution to the Welsh tax base. Our discussions with tax policy colleagues in the Welsh Government and experts and academics from across the UK threw up plenty of issues which couldn’t all be fully explored within the parameters […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government February 7, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Beyond contracting: public service stewardship to maximise public value In this blog, John Tizard, co-author of our latest report Beyond contracting: public service stewardship to maximise public value, introduces some key issues and arguments. This is part of our series on public procurement – find out more here. The public sector in Wales spends over £6bn per year on the procurement of services, works […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government February 5, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing What does the evidence say about loneliness in Wales? This is the first blog in a three-part series on loneliness and isolation in Wales. Part two is available here, and part three is available here. In this blog, Suzanna Nesom discusses what we know about loneliness as a concept, and what the evidence says about loneliness in Wales. The Welsh Government has committed to […] Read more Topics: Local government Loneliness January 31, 2019
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Preventing youth homelessness in Wales To help develop our knowledge about what is currently being done in Wales on the prevention of youth homelessness, I was commissioned by the Wales Centre for Public Policy to carry out an initial mapping exercise of what interventions are in place in each of the 22 Welsh local authorities. In order to structure the […] Read more Topics: Housing and homes Poverty and social exclusion January 11, 2019
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Collaborative procurement in Wales: Pulling together… but in what direction? Here at the Centre, we’re examining the evidence on public procurement, and aiming to publish some succinct reports in early 2019. Collaborating on procurement – joining forces to pool and strengthen in-house expertise or to access economies of scale – is an emerging theme. So, as part of our research process, we’ve been building a […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Economy Local government December 20, 2018
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero What’s being done across the world to tackle air pollution? This blog draws on the Wales Centre for Public Policy report, Air quality strategies and technologies: A rapid review of the international evidence, co-authored by Sarah Quarmby, Georgina Santos and Megan Mathias and explores what we know about different ways of cleaning up the air we breathe. What is air quality? Air quality is measured […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Net Zero December 10, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities 5 Things You Should Know About Gender Equality in Wales The Wales Centre for Public Policy is currently contributing to the Welsh Government’s Gender Equality Review, announced by the First Minister earlier this year with the aim of making Wales a world leader in gender equality Following our report in the summer on International Policy and Practice, we recently held a seminar for members of […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion December 5, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Fair work must be about more than who keeps the tips A new law announced by UK prime minister Theresa May will see restaurants in Britain being banned from unfairly taking tips from staff. Ensuring staff keep their tips is certainly a positive move to promote fairness. However, as tips are often used by employees to supplement their low pay, shouldn’t improving quality of work be […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills October 3, 2018
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Working in partnership In this blog, our Senior Research Fellow, Megan Mathias discusses how the Centre draws in expertise to work on Wales’ public policy challenges At the Wales Centre for Public Policy, we’re privileged to work across a vast array of policy areas. For example, right now we’re working on issues as diverse as Wales’ tax base, […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration August 23, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities How can we enable job progression in low paid sectors? The value that sectors such as care, retail and food add to Wales’ economy, is not widely recognised in the pay packets of the vast majority of their respective workforces. Many employees struggle to make ends meet and gaining experience and training to progress beyond entry level jobs to better paid positions can be particularly […] Read more Topics: Employment Poverty and social exclusion work and skills August 10, 2018
Blog Posts Learning the lessons from Carillion – thoughts from our panel discussion Many are still struggling to assess what caused Carillion’s spectacular demise, and how it could be prevented in future. It was with this in mind that on Wednesday 4th July the WCPP hosted an expert panel to discuss the lessons to be learnt in Wales from Carillion’s collapse and consider the future of outsourcing in […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills July 26, 2018
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing The income tax base in Wales – who’ll pay what to the Welsh Government? Drawing on the report he co-authored for the Wales Centre for Public Policy, The Welsh Tax Base: Risks and Opportunities after Fiscal Devolution, Guto Ifan of the Wales Governance Centre explores the income tax base in Wales. From next April, the income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will be partially devolved to the Welsh Government. UK government […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government July 23, 2018
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Rural poverty: the case of Powys As part of our Rural Poverty series, Dr Greg Thomas (Powys County Council) uses Powys as a case study to explore the issues surrounding rural poverty. Rural poverty is often hidden from public view and belies stereotypical images of rural areas as rolling hillsides and chocolate-box villages. Powys is one such area that experiences […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion June 26, 2018
Blog Posts Research and Impact Evidence-informed policymaking: does knowledge brokering work? Sarah Quarmby takes a look inside the Wales Centre for Public Policy to see how its day-to-day workings tally with the body of knowledge about evidence use in policymaking. This article originally appeared on the LSE British Politics and Policy blog. There’s widespread and sustained interest in the role of evidence in policymaking. But because policymaking […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs June 18, 2018
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero How community-based solutions can improve rural transport in Wales In a guest blog as part of our rural poverty series, Wales Community Transport Association Director Christine Boston explores how community-based solutions could be the key to improving transport in rural Wales. Now the sun is shining, it is hard to remember the extreme bad weather we experienced in the first part of 2018. However, […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Just Transition June 18, 2018
Blog Posts Community Wellbeing Public Service Boards and wellbeing Public Service Boards (PSBs) across Wales last month published their wellbeing plans, outlining how public services and national bodies intend to work together to improve social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing in localities across Wales. Established under the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act, the PSBs are now putting their plans into action and developing […] Read more Topics: Local government June 12, 2018
Blog Posts Research and Impact Strengthening the Links Between Academic Research and the National Assembly for Wales It is widely accepted that academic research has an important role to play in policy formation and scrutiny, but there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ way of making this happen. The National Assembly for Wales (aka the Welsh Assembly) is involved with some exciting initiatives to make sure that evidence gets to the politicians who need it […] Read more Research and Impact: Methods and approaches The role of KBOs May 16, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Our part in the Welsh Government Gender Equality Review In a speech on International Women’s Day, 8th March, the First Minister announced a review of "gender and equality policies [to] bring new impetus to our work". The review will consider what is and isn’t working well in Wales, provide a review of international best practice, and recommend how the Welsh Government can better promote […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion May 15, 2018
Blog Posts Brexit, Immigration and Wales: Professor Jonathan Portes Vlog Professor Jonathan Portes (King's College London) discusses the implications that Brexit will have on immigration, and what this will mean for Wales. This video was recorded for our event - "What about Wales? The Implications of Brexit for Wales", which took place in London on Tuesday 20th March, 2018. Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Economy March 21, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Co-production is Key to Designing Successful Health and Employment interventions I was very pleased to read the report from the WCPP and the Institute for Employment Studies which examined how health and employability outcomes could be improved by changing the way in which organisations work together. This is a very timely report as health problems are one of the most significant reasons for people not […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Employment Health inequalities work and skills March 20, 2018
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Brexit and Wales - Land and Sea: Griffin Carpenter Vlog Griffin Carpenter, from the New Economics Foundation, gives a brief overview of his report for the Wales Centre for Public Policy which looked at the implications of Brexit on fishing opportunities in Wales. Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero February 20, 2018
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Brexit and Wales - Land and Sea: Professor Janet Dwyer Vlog Professor Janet Dwyer, from the Countryside and Community Research Institute, gives a brief overview of her report for the Wales Centre for Public Policy which looked at the implications of Brexit on agriculture, rural areas and land use in Wales. Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero February 20, 2018
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Stijn Broecke discusses the OECD’s research into the Future of Work Stijn Broecke, Senior Economist in Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), talks about the OECD’s programme of research into the future of work, at our Future of Work in Wales event, held on 1st November 2017. Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills November 1, 2017
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Matthew Taylor talks about the Future of Work Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), discusses the RSA's programme for the Future of Work, at our Future of Work in Wales event, on 1st November 2017. Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills November 1, 2017
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities First Minister Opens the Future of Work in Wales Event The First Minister of Wales, The Right Honourable Carwyn Jones AM, delivers the opening remarks at the inaugural event of the Wales Centre for Public Policy - The Future of Work in Wales. The event took place on 1st November 2017, with speaker including Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts, and […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment work and skills November 1, 2017
Blog Posts Research and Impact Brexit and Wales: Understanding the Reasons Behind the Welsh Vote On Thursday 30th March, 2017, the PPIW and Knowledge and Analytical Services welcomed colleagues to an evidence symposium which aimed to understand the reasons behind the Welsh vote in 2016's referendum on EU membership. The event featured expert speakers from UK universities and research centres, providing a mix of short presentations with a broader discussion with […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Methods and approaches April 6, 2017
Blog Posts Research and Impact How Wales is Understood in the UK is a Problem It was recently announced that a new BBC TV channel will broadcast in Scotland from 2018. It will have a budget of £30m, roughly equivalent to that of BBC Four. Alongside that, Scotland will receive more money to make UK-wide programmes. Perhaps the most interesting development is that, included in the new channel’s scheduling is an hour-long […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and approaches March 23, 2017
Blog Posts Research and Impact What will Brexit mean for Wales? On 23 June, the UK voted to leave the European Union. The process for leaving and the implications for Wales are uncertain, but broadly speaking there are three forms that Brexit could take: Soft Brexit: Retain membership of the single market through the European Economic Area (EEA). The closest type of relationship the UK could have with […] Read more Topics: Economy Research and Impact: Impact July 28, 2016
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Tackling Rural Poverty – Identifying the Causes On a visit to Beijing in 2015 I met the Chinese Vice-Minister for Rural Development. A jovial man, who looked back fondly on the two years he had spent living in Cardiff, he seemed unperturbed by his charge of lifting 36 million Chinese rural residents out of extreme poverty. In comparison, the challenge of addressing […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion July 21, 2016
Blog Posts Environment and Net Zero Rethinking Food Policy as Public Policy in Wales – Now Needed More Than Ever with ‘Brexeat’? It's hard to focus after a political earthquake. The vote to leave the European Union is a political earthquake of the highest magnitude. We are still in a period of many after-shocks. So what to make of this report about Welsh food policy from the Public Policy Institute for Wales that was published just after […] Read more Topics: Economy Health inequalities Net Zero July 19, 2016
Blog Posts Tackling Inequalities Why We Need Evidence on Poverty Poverty is a long-standing and apparently intractable problem in Wales. Around 23% of population, some 700,000 people, live on household incomes of less than 60% of the median. Poverty casts a long shadow over educational attainment, relationships, employment, health, and life expectancy to name but a few, and it is also a significant cost to […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion March 24, 2016
