In 2022, Europe, the US, and Canada experienced widespread community transmission of mpox, constituting a health emergency. Previously, mpox had been endemic to Central and Western Africa. In the UK, a wide response involving multiple stakeholders was developed. In this article, Dr Maurice Nagington, Dr Jeremy Williams, and Dr Jaime Garcia-Iglesias discuss the findings of […]
LGBT+ inequalities in adolescent wellbeing
Improving wellbeing in every area of the UK is the overarching ambition of the Levelling Up White Paper, and government has said it will undertake further work to supplement existing wellbeing data at a subnational level. In Greater Manchester, a community-led, hyper-local project is underway to understand and improve children and young people’s wellbeing, and […]
What we need to know next about loneliness
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the UK’s mental health, particularly loneliness. Data from spring 2021 found a million more adults were feeling lonely “often” or “always” compared to spring 2020. Now, a recent evidence review for DCMS, led by Professor Pamela Qualter, has set out what we know – and don’t […]
LGBTIQ+ people in Brazil left to support themselves during COVID-19: vulnerabilities, coping strategies, and recommendations for more inclusive crisis policies
A version of this blog is available to read in Portuguese here. COVID-19 has brought huge change to society. However, the impacts have been different and disproportionate for different groups including LGBTIQ+ populations. As University of Manchester research has reported, there have been gaps in government and transnational responses in recognising and addressing those inequalities. […]
LGBTIQ+ experiences of COVID-19 in the UK and the need for more inclusive crisis policies
The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging effects for people across the UK. However, some groups have felt the effects of the pandemic and its associated lockdowns more than others. In this blog, Dr Billy Haworth, from the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, shares their recent research into the experiences of LGBTIQ+ populations during COVID-19. They […]
Rise to the top: Socially responsible public procurement
Amidst the social and economic challenges of a post-Brexit, post-COVID landscape, public procurement is gaining increased visibility and legitimacy as a policy tool. Effective 1 January 2021, the UK is positioned to become the first nation in the world to mandate that taxpayer-funded contracts are fully leveraged to maximise social value. A minimum 10% weighting […]
How inequalities are affecting the response to COVID-19
In a recent clip widely shared on social media, Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis highlighted the inequalities at the heart of the current COVID-19 emergency, describing it as “a public health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare and a social welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health”. Here, Dr Bella Starling, Professor Arpana Verma and […]
Lesbian and gay foster care and adoption: what’s changed over the last 20 years?
For LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week 2019, Dr Stephen Hicks, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, discusses the changes in policy over the last 20 years and the impact they have had on LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers. Only 18 years ago, same-sex couples were not legally able jointly to adopt, and Section 28 of the […]
Improving Sexual Health Awareness in Education
As Sexual Health Awareness Week 2018 draws to a close, Dr Debbie Fallon blogs for us on the current state of sexual health issues, education, and services in the UK. Sexual health awareness and education campaigns are of great importance, especially for young people who are navigating their independence for the first time. Rates of […]
Bugchasing: The importance of desire and fantasy in HIV-prevention policies
Today in the UK, due to early diagnosis and early, effective treatments, life has greatly improved for people living with the HIV virus. But HIV has not gone away and there are new concerns in a world of increasing sexual experimentation and online communication. In Sexual Health Week 2018, Jaime García-Iglesias explains why policies to […]