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Article image - older couple on a bench in Manchester

Older people have something to say – ensuring voices are heard

Patty Doran author headshotMhorag GoffLinda Naughton author headshotPhilippa Winship author headshot By , , and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:

The population is ageing. Almost 40% of people in England are currently over 50, and almost 20% are over 65 (Census, 2021). In response to the ageing population, in 2010 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. They aspire to be places where people of all ages feel […]

The beach at Margate, in Kent, at sunset. In the background, a tower block stands behind the Dreamland theme park.

A landscape of need: mapping community resilience in England

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted:

Community resilience is a marker of how well communities can handle and recover from difficult events. It is referred to in various resilience framework policies; but how is it measured, and how can it be used to target support? Here, Christine Camacho and Dr Luke Munford outline their work in developing a new measure – […]

Child is served a nutritious school meal by smiling dinner ladies

Breaking down barriers with free school meals

By , and Filed Under: All posts Posted:

Child poverty in the UK is a pervasive problem, with the latest figures showing that 29% of children in the UK are growing up in poverty. This rises to nearly 50% in families with more than three children. Child poverty is not spread evenly across the UK. 23.8% of pupils are eligible for free school […]

Article image - teacher pointing at schoolchildren

Re-professionalising teaching: addressing authorisation, accountability and attrition

Andrew Howes By and Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Education Posted:

Teacher recruitment and retention is currently in a critical state – as outlined by The National Foundation for Educational Research’s (NFER) 2024 report on the teacher labour market in England. This puts at risk the quality of education that children and young people receive. In this article, Andrew Howes and Louisa Dawes acknowledge the Labour […]

Article image - Woman monitors dark office

A raised platform – regulating the digital economy

Luke Yates author image By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, UK economy, Urban Posted:

Digital economy businesses have grown rapidly in the last 10-15 years, transforming how we work, travel, consume, and contract workers. Some impacts have been problematic, with growth of short-term lettings platforms reducing access to housing, and gig economy platforms increasing the precariousness of work. In this article, Dr Luke Yates outlines research findings on how […]

Article image - offshore wind farm

Clean energy superpower – and climate action kryptonite

Prof Matthew Paterson By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Environment Posted:

The government have identified climate action as a core mission set out in their manifesto. Framing this in terms of Britain becoming a ‘clean energy superpower’ has generated considerable initiative around renewed climate action, but in this article, Professor Matthew Paterson outlines how this approach creates policy gaps – and potential political problems. Labour has […]

Article image - homeless shelter sleeping area

Women’s safety and the housing crisis

Isis Barei Guyot author headshotElizabeth Ackerley author headshot By , and Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Urban Posted:

Austerity measures along with other intersecting crises have resulted in challenges for individuals and organisations supporting the safety of women experiencing homelessness in Manchester and elsewhere. The public funding lost as a result of austerity policies has dealt a severe blow to deprived local authorities in the north of England, resulting in the stripping back […]

Green finance article image - trees in Canary Wharf

New governments bring new opportunities: a way forward for green finance?

James Jackson author headshot By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Cities and Environment, Environment, UK economy Posted:

Following the result of the general election in July 2024, the new Labour government is now responsible for ensuring the UK gets back on track with its Net Zero objectives. Green finance has become a burgeoning area of climate politics and financial markets, raising the question over how the new government might utilise it to […]

New trees planted, reforestation

Rooting for effective reforestation: landscape context and woodland cover

Author headshot Matt Dennis By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Environment Posted:

Woodland in the UK stands at 14.5% land-cover compared to 40% for Europe as a whole. Government targets aim to reach 17% by 2030 – a huge increase on the ground in a short space of time. In this article, Dr Matthew Dennis demonstrates how the question of where to create new woodland is key […]

two adults standing at the edge of a flooded road in UK countryside.

Climate Just: supporting equitable responses to climate change through social vulnerability maps

Headshot of Professor Sarah Lindley By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, Environment Posted:

Historical carbon emissions are already locked into the climate system. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that associated impacts now persist, through extreme weather, climate-related events like floods and wildfires, or longer-term changes to the environment and biosphere. We must give urgent attention to tackling current and future emissions, but it is also vital to ensure […]

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Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

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