Liverpool Hope University is hosting the SPA 2026 conference, taking place from 1st to 3rd July. Registration is now open, and the deadline for abstract and symposia submissions is Monday, 16th March 2026. Vew all information on our conference webpage ⬇️⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

The 2026 Social Policy Association annual conference ‘Hope in Dark Times: Resistance and Radical Change’ will take place from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd July at Liverpool Hope University. Join us in envisioning a brighter tomorrow! @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAsj...

New on the Social Policy Blog: "Rethinking vulnerability in climate adaptation" by Nasar Meer (@nasarmeer.bsky.social). @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org @alessiodangelo.bsky.social @enricoreuter.bsky.social socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2025/11/27/r...

📣Contribute to a Social Policy masterclass with PhD students! The SPA and the ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership are looking for social policy experts to talk about their use of research methods in a 2026 masterclass. Read how to get involved ⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/events/news-...

New on the Social Policy Blog: “Understanding the Disparities in Formal Childcare Uptake Among Migrants in Europe and Australia” by Jonas Wood. @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org @academiclee.bsky.social @v-yilmaz.bsky.social socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2025/11/25/u...

It's great to see the @socialpolicyblog.bsky.social is now on BlueSky! Follow for insightful #SocialPolicy analysis from @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social authors and more!

📣New blog: "Making a Contribution: Reflections on my role as a UC Claimant Survivor advocating for co-designed welfare reform" By Lisa Holden - part of the series 'Critical Perspectives on lived experience in Social Security Policy Research'. ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-ma...

📣New blog: "Promoting Students’ Engagement with Formative Essays through Reflexive Learning" By Arvind Kumar (University of Hertfordshire and Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London) ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-pr...

📣Call for Papers: Sustainable Welfare Workshop. This one-day workshop in Glasgow explores how welfare institutions, labour markets, and systems of care can be re-imagined to ensure equity and wellbeing within ecological limits. 📅Deadline: 12 December 2025 ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/events/call-...

📣New blog: "Skills in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities for Boosting Economic Growth and Achieving Net Zero" By Elke Heins (University of Edinburgh) and Steven Ballantyne (Freie Universität Berlin). ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

Come and work with us in #Sociology at University of Glasgow! #Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities, LTS 2 year post. Teach to change societies! #SocialJustice #Inequalities @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social

Looking forward to speaking here:

Delighted to share my contribution to the SPA blog, featuring my reflections on attending the EASP–SPA Conference in July 2025. Many thanks once again to the organisers of the SPA Pensions Policy Group (Hayley James, Ellie Suh, Liam Foster) and @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social for generous support!

📣New blog: "Attending the Social Policy Association annual conference – reports from early career researchers from the Pensions Policy Group" By Kun Lee and Emefa Awuku ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

📣Upcoming event: "Immigration, Citizenship, and Social Policy in the UK" Hybrid, University of Edinburgh. Wednesday 29 October, 09:30 – 15:30. A one-day workshop on how immigration status shapes access to work, education, healthcare, housing, and safety. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spa-worksh...

📣New blog: "Afternoon Tea and Policy in Renfrewshire" Hartwig Pautz, Greig Inglis, Colin Clark and Julie Clark report on six workshops discussing five different social policy problems. ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

Centre for Care Director, Kate Hamblin, has contributed to a new House of Commons Library briefing entitled 'The implications of population ageing for social policy'. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri... @houseofcommons.parliament.uk @commonshealth.bsky.social @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social

🔊The SPA Opportunity Grants scheme for Autumn 2025 closes this Friday 10th October! 💷Up to £1K or £5K available to support social policy events. Details here: ▶️https://social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-grants/

📣New blog: "Tax Expenditures: Challenges and Opportunities in the UK and Beyond" By Agustin Redonda (Council on Economic Policies) and Adrian Sinfield (University of Edinburgh). ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

🔊The SPA Opportunity Grants scheme is now open for its autumn 2025 round! 💷Up to >£1K or <£5K available to support social policy events. Deadline 10 October. Details here: ▶️https://social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-grants/

The ever-fruitful @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social Opportunity Grants scheme is now open for its autumn 2025 round. As always, applications are warmly welcomed. Deadline 10 October. Details here: social-policy.org.uk/opportunity-...

📣New blog: "Who are working people and why is growth good?" By Neil Small, Emeritus Professor of Health Research at the University of Bradford (@neilsmall.bsky.social) ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-wh...

📣New blog: "autism education in Wales and Northern Ireland: why promises still fall short" By Elliw Siân Williams, the blog draws on a recent undergraduate dissertation comparing autism education policies and practices in Wales and Northern Ireland. ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

At Social Policy and Society (SPS) we are looking for a new Co-Editor, to work alongside me for the next few years. Deadline for applications: 20th October. SPS is a journal of the SPA (@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social). See requirements at application process on: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

📣Upcoming SPA-supported workshop on skills and the green transition in the UK at the University of Edinburgh. 13:00 - 17:15, Thursday 18 September Organised by Dr. Steven Ballantyne (Freie Universitat Berlin) and Dr. Elke Heins (University of Edinburgh). ▶️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaborat...

Social Policy and Society (SPS) are looking for a new Co-Editor! Deadline for applications: 20th October. Read all information here: social-policy.org.uk/news/call-fo...

Research briefing launch event: "Successfully engaging paid care workers in organising: Challenges, opportunities, and what works". 12pm to 1pm, 18th September 2025 via Zoom w/ Duncan Fisher( @duncfsh.bsky.social) and Liam Foster, Uni of Sheffield. Info ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/events/resea...

📣 New blog: 'How media amplification shapes Britain’s view of asylum — and why ‘hotels’ keep eclipsing everything else' By Prof. Nasar Meer (@nasarmeer.bsky.social) Read on the SPA website here ➡️ social-policy.org.uk/uncategorize...

How can research help to rebuild solidarity for a better future? Our senior researcher Lauren Wilks has a great new blog about her first time at the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social annual conference. www.povertyalliance.org/blog-researc...

📣 New blog! "Taking stock of Welfare State Determinants: A new approach to assessing robustness in quantitative comparative research". By Michael Ganslmeier (University of Exeter) and Tim Vlandas (University of Oxford). Read on the SPA website here: social-policy.org.uk/spa-blog/blo...

📣 Call for new SPA Policy Groups (and Groups Extension) The SPA has launched a call to our members to apply to form new policy groups or register interest in joining an existing group. The deadline to apply for a new group is Monday 13th October 2025. ➡️ social-policy.org.uk/news/call-fo...

Great to see this blog from Lauren Wilks of @povertyalliance.org about her experience of the joint SPA-EASP conference in York earlier this month! ⬇️

New blog from group members @sionedps.bsky.social and @haylesben.bsky.social asking some questions about the potential future of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland

📣 New blog: 'The future of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland: Multi-level messiness or a window of opportunity?' By Dr Hayley Bennett (@haylesben.bsky.social) and Dr Sioned Pearce (@sionedps.bsky.social). Read on the SPA website here ➡️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-th...

📣 A new blog on the SPA website reflects on the recent East Asian Social Policy Research Network (EASP) and Social Policy Association (SPA) Joint Annual Conference at the University of York. Read key highlights and images of the conference here: ⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/events/blog-...

📣New blog: 'Will “banning” zero-hours contracts impact on those who are in them?' By Dr Sarah Hadfield (@drsarahhadfield.bsky.social), it draws on research of childfree young women’s experiences of employment insecurity and financial autonomy. social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-wi...

Many thanks to @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social for the award. I was delighted to receive it!

I’m touched to win the Public Understanding Award from the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social - given to the journalist facilitating public understanding of social policy. As an ex-academic now in the murky waters of the British media, I know ideas about poverty and inequality are more needed than ever.

Our own @drantoniasimon.bsky.social just received the Cambridge University Press Award for Excellence in Social Policy Scholarship. Read her article on financialisation and private equity in early childhood care and education: doi.org/10.1017/S004...

Blog: Will “banning” zero-hours contracts impact on those who are in them? social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-wi... #employmentrightsbill @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social

Delighted to be joining the Exec Committee of the Social Policy Association @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social I've been lucky enough to benefit from involvement in the SPA over the years and excited to get into the work of supporting our great Social Policy community.

New blog on our website: "Finding an antidote for anti-social politics and policy" By Peter Beresford (@peterberesford.bsky.social), Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia and Co-Chair of the disabled people’s organization, Shaping Our Lives. ▶️ social-policy.org.uk/news/finding...

Last week @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social we presented our 2025 @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social award winners. Some fabulous winners this year includ: @drantoniasimon.bsky.social @francesryan.bsky.social @philiprathgeb.bsky.social Zoe Irving, John Mckendrick, @edithengland.bsky.social Anna Baillie & more!

Excellence in social policy teaching, research and impact has been recognised by the 2025 Social Policy Association awards. Many congratulations to the winners! View the list of winners for each category in this thread and our story on the awards here: lnkd.in/eqN2PeVs (Images: Elizabeth Bailey)

I am honoured and delighted to join the Journal of Social Policy Editorial Board for a second term. @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @academiclee.bsky.social @v-yilmaz.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social @scadrdata.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social

There have been some extremely interesting discussions on the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social blog during 2025. Recommend making a cuppa tea and spending sometime on them when you get chance: social-policy.org.uk/category/spa... #socialpolicy #welfarestate

Great honour to receive the Richard Titmuss Book Award @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social alongside a set of impressive scholars recognised for their social policy teaching, research and impact. Many thanks to the jury @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social! social-policy.org.uk/awards/socia...

Hats off! 3️⃣ of our team just got elected at the Social Policy Association @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social AGM 2025 💪 @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social was elected as Exec Committee Member 👏 @serena-pattaro.bsky.social & @markwong.bsky.social as Editorial Board Members for the Journal of Social Policy 🙌

Our own @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social - elected as Executive Committee Member of @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social - is Research Fellow & examines the role of citizens & lived experience in policymaking. Clementine's eager to strengthen & expand the SPA’s existing connections with policy & practice 🤓

It was great to present at the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social Policy Association (UK) conference in York last week! We are delighted to host the next year’s conference at Liverpool Hope University! We warmly welcome national and international delegates to our beautiful city! youtu.be/FAsjZKl_-rw