Blog Post 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: Local government May 6, 2024
Project Tackling Inequalities Diversity in Recruitment The Welsh Government has asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to support its work on increasing the proportion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled people who are appointed, in order to correct a current under-representation in the Welsh Government workforce. In particular, the Welsh Government is interested in the following areas […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government January 16, 2024
News Environment and Net Zero Partnership with WLGA to help public sector reach net zero The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) and Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) have joined forces to support the public sector transition to net zero. Net zero is a top priority for both organisations and the WLGA has asked us to review the policies and practices that local authorities in other small countries and devolved […] Read more Topics: Local government Net Zero December 7, 2023
Project Environment and Net Zero A local authority-led transition to net zero The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) is coordinating a climate change transition and recovery support programme to meet the overall target for the public sector to reach net zero by 2030 and the interim targets outlined in the Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2 (2021-25). Local government has a crucial role to play in leading […] Read more Topics: Energy Local government Net Zero December 7, 2023
Report Research and Impact Is your policy going to fail? Here’s how you can tell and what you can do about it Policies often fail to achieve their intentions. While much has been written about this, and how to avoid it, knowledge and insight is somewhat siloed. In collaboration with the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, we undertook a review to understand the latest thinking on the policy-implementation gap and identify how insights from implementation science can […] Read more Topics: Local government Research and Impact: Methods and Approaches November 13, 2023
Project Tackling Inequalities Poverty Stigma Our recent research on the lived experience of poverty and social exclusion in Wales highlighted the importance of tackling poverty stigma – both because poverty stigma harms the mental health of people in poverty, and because it can make it harder for them to get the support they need or participate in their communities. In response […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Local government Poverty and social exclusion October 20, 2023
News Community Wellbeing 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 Topics: Local government October 18, 2023
Report Community Wellbeing 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 Topics: Community collaboration Local government October 18, 2023
Blog Post 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 Post 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
