“Joined-up services” can sound simple. In practice, it means social workers, health professionals, police, schools and early help teams having the time and trust to make decisions together. That’s often where support either works or falls through.

“You don’t have to want to know.” A line that stays with us from last night’s #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture, reflecting on donor conception, identity & the space people need to make sense of their own story in their own time. Thank you to everyone who joined us. #DonorConception #FamilyPolicy

A great turnout for our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture. An important conversation ahead on different family forms, identity, belonging and lived experience. #DonorConception #FamilyPolicy @wearecoram.bsky.social @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

Join us tomorrow for our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture Dr Sophie Zadeh will be joined by Naomi Angell, Zoe Lambert, Duncan Fisher and chair Carol Homden for a discussion on donor conception, identity and belonging. Book now: bit.ly/4cGgpE9 #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception @wearecoram.bsky.social

Who gets to be seen as a “good Muslim” and who doesn’t? This TCRU seminar explores how queer and feminist Muslim voices are recognised or sidelined - and what this reveals about power and belonging. 12–1pm, Gordon Sq. #Sociology #Belonging bit.ly/4tDxtC4 @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

Our research on Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs shows that effective safeguarding depends on more than sharing information. It also depends on how agencies make sense of that information together. Explore the case study: bit.ly/4mUkJEA

TCRU’s Peter Moss and @andreadoucet.bsky.social argue that care leave should go beyond maternity and paternity leave and be rethought as time to care – for children, older relatives and ourselves. Read more: bit.ly/3Qy4QYi @ioe.bsky.social @brockufoss.bsky.social

How do we better understand identity, belonging and family in a changing policy landscape? Last few days to join us on 28 Apr for the 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture with Dr Sophie Zadeh, followed by panel discussion bringing legal and lived experience perspectives into conversation. bit.ly/4cGgpE9

What does it actually look like when research connects with policy? Through work with DWP, colleagues are contributing to areas like parental leave reform and child poverty – where evidence meets real systems, constraints and timelines. Explore here bit.ly/4tnPowp

We’re pleased to confirm Duncan Fisher, a donor conceived person connected to the Donor Conception Network, as the final panellist for our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture. We look forward to him bringing his lived experience to the discussion. Book now: bit.ly/4cGgpE9 #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception

Whether fathers take parental leave isn’t just a personal choice. It depends on how policy is designed - including how leave is structured and paid. The case studies on our Policy & Expertise Hub show how research speaks to real policy questions. bit.ly/4sOhSyr

How do people navigate identity and belonging across families, cultures and countries? Zoe Lambert joins our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture panel sharing her personal & professional insights on complex identity and adoption practice. Register here: bit.ly/47lBG42 #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception

We spend a lot of time thinking about what “good research” actually means. Not just rigour, but whether it reflects real lives, reaches the right people and makes a difference beyond academia. We’ve brought this work together so it’s easier to access and use. Explore here: tinyurl.com/yc3rz3cy

⭐ Are you non-binary, 18+ and living in the UK? We'd love to hear from you! ⭐ V excited to launch the Family Beyond the Binary survey! It takes approx 30 mins and covers different aspects of family life. Link in bio ⬆️ @genderedintelligence.co.uk @fiercemum.bsky.social Please share widely! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

At our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture, Naomi Angell brings a legal and policy perspective on adoption, surrogacy and fertility. Book your place: tinyurl.com/49bwb4ez #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception

Looking for research that speaks directly to policy and practice? We’ve brought together TCRU’s work on children, families and public services in one place - including case studies and areas of expertise. Explore here: tinyurl.com/yc3rz3cy

The cost of living continues to shape pressures on families. Research shows how financial hardship affects everyday life and access to support. Our work explores how embedding welfare advice helps families access what they’re entitled to. Explore our Policy & Expertise Hub: tinyurl.com/yc3rz3cy

New panel announced for our 2026 #TCRU_Coram_AnnualLecture. Naomi Angell (family law) & Zoe Lambert (lived experience), will explore, alongside Sophie Zadeh, how policy & family forms shape identity & belonging. 28 Apr 2026 Book now: bit.ly/47lBG42 #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception @ioe.bsky.social

Interesting analysis from @re-state.bsky.social on the challenges facing public services and the importance of delivery. Research on children, families and social policy often highlights how policy decisions are experienced through everyday services and support systems.

How have people lived with difference in everyday life? This TCRU seminar looks at working-class housing in East London to explore what past experiences reveal about diversity today. 26 Mar, 12–1pm, Gordon Sq. #Sociology #Belonging tinyurl.com/mr258wa9 @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

UCL Climate Crisis–funded project captures students’ views on higher education in a climate‑impacted world—calling for stronger leadership, better access to opportunities and more support for wellbeing. Read the report: https://osf.io/jyu67/overview

Evidence is most useful when it moves beyond academic papers. Our work often connects research with policymakers, practitioners and third sector organisations working directly with children and families. These conversations help ensure evidence is relevant to real policy and service challenges.

New research: how has advice to new mothers changed over the past 50 years? Join TCRU's Charlotte Faircloth to hear early insights from the ‘50 Years of Becoming a Mother’ study, revisiting women first interviewed in the 1970s. Book here: bit.ly/4uMkn6y #ParentingResearch #MotherhoodStudies

How does expert knowledge shape asylum decisions? This week's seminar explores the role of expert witnesses in the UK asylum system & the ethical challenges of translating knowledge into legal evidence. 12–1pm, Gordon Sq bit.ly/3Nkp9Hy #MigrationResearch #Asylum @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

Important work from @local.gov.uk on integrated early years services and child development. Research across children and family policy consistently highlights the importance of joined-up support across health, education and family services.

Much of our research focuses on how policy shapes the lives of children and families.

What if leave wasn’t just time away from work, but time to care? This week’s TCRU seminar explores the future of care leave and how welfare states might rethink support. 12 Mar, 12–1pm, Gordon Sq. #SocialPolicy #CareEconomy bit.ly/40ollrB @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

🌍 How does space shape inequalities & how can global strategies work locally? Join Lauren Andres (PVP Inequalities theme) & experts discussing links between climate, migration, urban marginalisation & gendered vulnerabilities. 📆 18 March, 17:30–20:30 👉https://bit.ly/4roHykx

Research on children & families highlights how complex everyday life can be. Policies are designed around systems & services. But families experience them through housing, childcare, migration status, income & relationships – all at once. Research helps bring that reality into policy thinking.

These themes cut across our work on early years, migration, inequality and public services. Connecting evidence to lived experience leads to better decisions.

Policy & practice on donor conception in the UK have shifted dramatically. How do these changes shape identity, belonging & lived experience? Join us for the TCRU/Coram Annual Lecture with Dr Sophie Zadeh & panellists. Register: bit.ly/47lBG42 #FamilyPolicy #DonorConception @uclpolicylab.bsky.social

Are large families being overlooked in today’s social policy debates? This Thursday's seminar explores why families with three or more children still matter, and how welfare systems shape their lives. 12-1pm bit.ly/4l6Y9aS #SocialPolicy #FamilyCommunitiesSociety @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

Important framing from @centreformh.bsky.social on prevention and early support for families. Evidence from early years and family wellbeing research consistently shows that early investment can reduce longer-term pressures on services and support better outcomes.

How do faith and sexuality shape asylum journeys? Our seminar this week explores the experiences of LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum in the UK and examines how religious belief can both complicate claims and provide strength and community. #LGBTQResearch #Asylum bit.ly/4rXDdFi @ioe.bsky.social

We’re the Thomas Coram Research Unit. Our work focuses on children, families and the social changes shaping their lives. We connect high-quality evidence to policy and practice. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share how our work supports decision-making across key policy areas.

Whose stories remain unheard? Join TCRU's Bianca Parry this week where she'll look at women’s experiences in South African communities and what feminist research can teach us about listening, ethics and power. #SocialResearch #GenderAndSociety bit.ly/4ttqhbO @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

Thursday’s seminar asks why caregiving is central to understanding empire & today’s world. New research traces how paid & unpaid care shaped labour, migration & political change across South Asia & beyond. 5 Feb, 12–1pm, Gordon Sq #SocialResearch #socialInclusion bit.ly/3ZH6AQe @ioe.bsky.social

How can arts-based participation reshape research, and its impact? This week’s TCRU seminar explores creative, participatory methods in projects on health inequalities in Tower Hamlets. 29 Jan, 12–1pm, Gordon Sq bit.ly/3YUCqIX #ArtsInResearch #SocialResearch @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

What does volunteering really mean for young people in the Global South? Dr Chris Millora looks beyond familiar narratives of volunteering & explores how youth social action can both challenge & reinforce inequality 12:00-13:00, Gordon Sq bit.ly/3LC0T2M #SocialResearch #Inequalities @ioe.bsky.social

In the Telegraph, @ktwamley.bsky.social reflects on how Covid lockdowns disrupted young people’s transition into intimacy - with anxiety and missed social experiences shaping longer-term changes in relationships. bit.ly/3ZcVh1Q #intimacyAndCare @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

We’re starting 2026 with a big question: why has truth lost its grip? Our first seminar (15 Jan) explores how finance shapes misinformation, credibility, political narratives & democratic life. 12:00-13:00, Gordon Sq. bit.ly/4qPmsf6 #Sociology #SocialResearch @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

And that’s a wrap! This terms Seminar Series closed with Prof. Eva Lloyd - a brilliant session. We've an exciting line-up for next term, including sessions on truth & finance, youth volunteering, arts-based research, caregiving & expert witness practice. More details in Jan! #ResearchThatMatters

Great to see TCRU colleagues featured in UCL’s Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality Impact Report! @ktwamley.bsky.social, Prof Ann Phoenix, Mette Berg & Eve Dickson contributed to key case studies tackling inequality and justice. #TCRUResearch bit.ly/3XD8IaR bit.ly/4pTLhWL bit.ly/4amr9Iv

🎙️ New ep: Asylum, Housing & Community Host Ethne James Souch talks with Mette Louise Berg, Judith Spirig, Faith Nyamakanga & Nelson Gomez about asylum housing in the UK—how policy, privatised systems & ideas of “deservingness” shape everyday lives. 🎧 https://bit.ly/4p2aIFA

Working with creative or participatory methods? If you use creative, community-led or participatory methods, our toolkit offers methods, case studies & tips for work with migrants & underserved communities. Featured as a @ucl-global.bsky.social case study. tinyurl.com/2p9kd5rf tinyurl.com/2r6aufrj

TCRU's joint Healthier Wealthier Families in East London project was recently nominated for @events.hsj.co.uk Reducing inequalities & improving outcomes for children & young people Award. Fantastic recognition of work with partners across East London. Congrats to the whole team! tinyurl.com/stw95bvb

Ahead of the UK budget announcement @tcru-ucl.bsky.social research is illuminating children’s lived experiences of poverty to better inform policy and practice. "By listening to children and families... we can help shape fairer, more supportive environments" blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2025/11/...

For many Bangladeshi asylum seekers, the UK system makes proving credibility difficult - creating long-term uncertainty that infiltrates every aspect of daily life. Hear Ashraf Hoque discuss this on 27 Nov. tinyurl.com/2f2b96wb #BelongingAndIdentity #Asylum @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

What does it mean to raise a mixed-heritage family? Join Professor Miri Song on 20 Nov, 12–1pm, as she explores racial identity, partner choice and childrearing across generations. bit.ly/3JTrlnp #BelongingAndIdentity #ResearchThatMatters @sriucl.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social

TCRU's Charlotte Faircloth’s point @bbc5live.bsky.social : gentle parenting isn’t breaking marriages - it’s the shift to recognising children’s emotional needs & modern parental pressure. And, yes we’re animals, but copying primates is maybe… methodologically unsound. 38mins in tinyurl.com/2zrwnnwc