Uncategorized Building the foundations of a healthier democracy in Wales A new Wales Centre for Public Policy report recommends ways to improve the measurement of democratic health in Wales. The research, commissioned by the Counsel General, goes beyond examining levels of electoral registration and turnout. It sets out to answer three questions to support efforts to expand participation in the democratic process, especially among under-represented […] Read more »
Uncategorized Defining, Measuring and Monitoring Democratic Health in Wales In Wales, concerns over the health of democracy have long focused on low voter turnout in elections and a lack of political awareness and understanding among the population. However, the issue of democratic health goes wider than this. Are citizens engaged in political issues? Do they have the sources of education and information to allow […] Read more »
Uncategorized How can councils support their communities through the cost-of-living crisis? October 10, 2023 by cuwpadmin 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 »
Uncategorized Investment in councils, investment in communities October 9, 2023 by cuwpadmin 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 »
Uncategorized Blending online and face-to-face provision in community wellbeing services Following often rapid shifts ‘online’ during the coronavirus lockdowns and subsequent returns to in-person activity, community-based wellbeing services across Wales are facing the challenge of how to ‘blend’ digital and face-to-face provision beyond the pandemic. Our research, delivered in collaboration with Frame CIC, aimed to find out more from organisations and practitioners about this, to […] Read more »
Uncategorized Multi-agency working in Cwm Taf Morgannwg 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 »
Uncategorized New approach needed to tackle loneliness A Wales Centre for Public Policy review into loneliness inequalities, conducted by some of the UK’s leading scholars in the field, highlights key social and societal factors that lead to loneliness inequalities. Significantly, this departure from viewing loneliness as an individual problem to be treated by interventions such as befriending services or behavioural therapy suggests that […] Read more »
Uncategorized Loneliness Inequalities Evidence Review Research evidence shows overwhelmingly that loneliness affects some groups in society more than others and is particularly acute for those who face multiple forms of disadvantage. This suggests that loneliness may be unevenly distributed in society in ways that reflect and interact with broader structural inequalities. Yet the dominant approaches to loneliness in research, policy […] Read more »
Uncategorized Food for thought The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) has published its response to the Wales Net Zero 2035 Group’s first challenge question ‘How could Wales feed itself in 2035?’ recommending urgent and open debate around Wales’ food system, one of the sectors that is currently a major contributor to Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions. This WCPP report […] Read more »
Uncategorized How could Wales feed itself in 2035? To achieve the Welsh Government’s net zero ambitions, Wales needs to reduce its agricultural emissions through changes to farming practices and increased carbon sequestration, while also sustaining rural livelihoods. The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) has been given funding by the Welsh Government to provide independent support to the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge […] Read more »
