What Works Scotland PhD student Alex Wright has co-authored a paper about taxes on alcohol, tobacco and other unhealthy products. It contains a systematic review of the research on health taxes, and aims to generate insights into how such taxes can: reduce
Sharing our findings from new approach to police-community engagement
What Works Scotland is sharing its findings from a trial of a ‘mini-public’ process to enable communities and public services to interact more meaningfully. What Works Scotland joined forces with police, fire and council services in the North East of Scotland to experiment with a citizens’ jury .
WWS evidence about mini-publics used in parliamentary reform report
The Report on the Scottish Parliament, published this week by the Commission on Parliamentary Reform, includes ideas for democratic innovation based on research and evidence from What Works Scotland.
Spotlight on capabilities and health inequalities
The latest Maurice Bloch lecture at Glasgow University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing was given by Dr Sridhar Venkatapuram, who spoke on Why Health Capability? The necessity for conceptual clarity in pursuing health justice, and chaired by What Works Scotland research associate Richard Brunner.
New project on how communities receive offenders ‘coming home’ after punishment
What Works Scotland Co-director Oliver Escobar is contributing his expertise in participative and deliberative democracy to a new project that is challenging views of offender rehabilitation. The collaborative action research project is called Coming Home.
New centre for UK housing evidence set up by WWS Co-director
What Works Scotland co-director Ken Gibb, is setting up a new UK-wide collaborative research centre focused on using evidence to influence future housing policy.
Three internships with GCPH and WWS exploring a future healthier social protection system
Apply for one of three internships available with What Works Scotland and Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) to support the exchange of ideas, debate and fresh thinking among a diverse range of stakeholders engaged with the centres’ programmes of work, particularly the poverty, disadvantage and the economy work programme.
The Scottish approach to evidence – learnings from What Works Scotland
What Works Scotland has welcomed a new publication discussing whether there is a distinct ‘Scottish approach’ to evidence-based policy-making. Members of the What Works Scotland team took part in the debates at a roundtable discussion with stakeholders from academia, the
Learning from a theatre group that provides food with dignity – research published
Research findings about a dignified food provision programme operated by Centrestage, a community arts and theatre organisation, started as a result of the organisation’s commitment to fostering individual and community wellbeing. What Works Scotland research report highlights the key lessons from the Centrestage example that are valuable for developing future public services.
Scottish Parliament hears evidence from What Works Scotland
Two directors of What Works Scotland have recently shared their expertise and insights with the Scottish Parliament. Dr Oliver Escobar spoke to the Commission on Parliamentary Reform and Professor Ken Gibb gave evidence to the Local Government and Communities Committee and the Social Security Committee.