News and Blog

WISERD’s Civil Society Research Centre: Reflections on the official launch

On Thursday 5th February, 2015, WISERD celebrated the official launch of its flagship Civil Society Research Centre. WISERD’s Director Ian Rees Jones reflects upon a successful event. I spent a nervous few days prior to the WISERD Civil Society Research Centre launch. I wondered whether we would have an audience, hoped all the speakers would arrive safely, and fretted over…

Exposing the Welfare Myth of Them and Us

A new book by John Hills explores key issues in the current debate about ‘welfare’ and the welfare state. The debate contrasts a stagnant group of people benefiting from it all with the rest who pay in and get nothing back – ‘skivers’ against ‘strivers’. John explains how, because people’s lives and circumstances change, most…

WISERD Civil Society Research Centre Launch – In Pictures

On Thursday 5th February, 2015, WISERD’s flagship Civil Society Research Centre enjoyed its official launch. The event was attended by some of the world’s foremost academics, public and policy stakeholders, and civil society organisations. Speakers included: Ruth Marks (MBE), Chief Executive of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA); Rhodri Morgan, former First Minister for Wales;…

The Foundation Phase Evaluation – an update

Since the publication in mid-January of the second report on educational outcomes using national administrative data was published, the Foundation Phase has been under considerable media scrutiny. Over the past three years WISERD has undertaken an independent evaluation for the Welsh Government of the Foundation Phase for three to seven year olds in Wales, and will soon be making its…

High Class Discontent: Economic Insecurity and UKIP Support

This blog was originally featured on the British Election Study website. Academic analysis and media commentary have shifted the emphasis in explaining United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) support away from Tory voter defectors towards working class voters, and potential Labour supporters. This was a good corrective to earlier emphases. But has the new focus on…

‘Foundation Phase fails to reduce inequality, says report’ – BBC News

Preliminary results from the Evaluating the Foundation Phase second report for Welsh Government received significant online coverage from local media. ITV – http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-01-20/first-ministers-questions/ Wales Online – https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/foundation-phase-hoped-break-link-8409110 BBC News – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-30718293

Prof John Hills book launch ‘Good Times, Bad Times: the welfare myth of them and us’ jointly organised by WISERD

One of the UK’s leading social policy experts, Professor John Hills, headlines an impressive panel for a book launch organised by the Bevan Foundation and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD). Professor Hills, Director of the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics, will…