What Works Scotland will share and discuss key learning from the overall WWS programme, offering an overview of findings from eight areas of research and practice.
Exploring perceived opportunities and challenges of Participation Requests in Scotland
This research explores how key stakeholders and potential users of the Participation Request mechanism articulate and frame the associated challenges and opportunities. The Scottish Government introduced a new process for community engagement, known as Part 3 (Participation Requests) of the
Collaborative Action Research and public services – insights into methods, findings and implications for public service reform
A working paper examining the findings of four What Works Scotland researchers during a three-year programme to explore collaborative action research with four community planning partnerships.
Blog: Can we tackle poverty by changing how we talk about it?
Dr Hayley Bennett from What Works Scotland, discusses the Poverty Alliance’s Stick Your Labels campaign (May 2015) to address the stigma of poverty.
Blog: Understanding and utilising social security sanctions data at the local level
This blog from January 2016 by Dr Hayley Bennett, What Works Scotland, Gary Smith and Coryn Barclay from Fife Council, explores the sanctions data available through the Department of Work and Pensions and how it can be used at a local level.
Blog: The future of joined-up working and integration in Scotland – Time to concentrate on collaborative practice?
What Works Scotland research fellow Dr Hayley Bennett outlines some key ideas from her February 2018 presentation on collaborative practice and public service reform in Scotland.
Blog: Digging deep and getting dirty hands! Doing collaborative action research with public services
Dr Hayley Bennett and Dr Richard Brunner share insights on the role of professional researchers in collaborative, participatory and action research approaches, and put forward recommendations for those thinking about initiating CAR processes.
Blog: Why Can’t We Trust the Word ‘Welfare’ in Policy Making?
Dr Hayley Bennett reflects on the complex nature of the relationship between citizens and the welfare state, and how can we make policy reforms and changes to public services to support those in need if decisions and reforms are based on inconsistent use of terms and data?
Participation Requests research
What Work Scotland researchers are undertaking a small research project into policy implementation and third sector-state relations focussing on the Scottish Government’s introduction of Participation Requests as part of the Community Empowerment Act.
Why Attitudes to Poverty Matter: What the Evidence Says
A policy seminar that explored how we can use evidence to challenge stereotypes and address poverty . The event was part of Challenge Poverty Week 2017.