News and Blog

Young men, masculinities, education and employment are gaining increasing societal attention. On 17 October in sbarcIspark, we launched an important new publication in this field of research by Dr Richard Gater, a research assistant at the Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) and previously a postdoctoral research fellow at WISERD. Dr Gater’s timely new…

It began with a few small projects—data cleaning, pilot surveys, and summer internships. But today, those pieces form part of a much bigger picture: a growing partnership and a movement with a royal seal of approval that is reshaping how we understand and prevent youth homelessness across the UK. For several years, Professor Pete Mackie…

ADR Wales and Shelter Cymru are delighted to announce a new and innovative secondment that sees Ffion Chant from Shelter Cymru join the ADR Wales Housing and Homelessness research team until 2026. This collaboration is momentous in being the first time someone from a third sector organisation has been seconded into ADR Wales with the aim of acquiring and…

As part of my research on the new Building social value and fair work in the construction industry in Wales UKRI ESRC-funded WISERD Project, I’m exploring how the construction sector can create real opportunities for people facing barriers to employment. One powerful example of this in action is SibiNet, an initiative that’s opening doors for people…

The construction industry in Wales delivers more than just buildings and infrastructure; it also provides training and employment opportunities for people facing barriers to achieving their full potential. I am Jemma, a researcher based at WISERD at Cardiff University, and my research examines how the construction industry in Wales creates social value. In 2023, Wales…

The ADR Wales team within the Welsh Government has been shortlisted for a Civil Service Award, one of the most respected honours recognising excellence across the UK Civil Service. The Civil Service Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across government showcasing inspirational individuals and innovative projects that deliver real benefits for citizens. ADR Wales has been recognised…

A new book by Professors Paul Chaney and Sarbeswar Sahoo was published on 26 September by Policy Press, an imprint of Bristol University Press. Civil Society Activism and Animal Welfare Rights provides a timely and in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of animal rights and governance. The new volume argues that despite increasing legal recognition…

When voters in Caerphilly in south Wales go to the polls later this month, it will be about far more than one seat in the Senedd, Wales’s devolved parliament. Caerphilly, a postindustrial town just north of Cardiff, has long been considered safe Labour territory. But in recent years, economic upheaval and social change have made…

A history of deprivation in the South Wales Valleys has shaped its young men’s aspirations and views of masculinity, Cardiff University research shows. Dr Richard Gater conducted in-depth interviews with young men aged 13-21 who were living in the Aber Valley, in the borough of Caerphilly. The study explored their transition from school to work…

Over recent years, successive parliamentary committees have recommended expansion of the devolved benefits system in Wales. In 2024, the Welsh Government confirmed that its goal was: ‘A person-centred, compassionate, and consistent approach to the design and delivery of Welsh benefits, underpinned by the Welsh Benefits Charter principles’ – including compassion, equality and human rights. There…