Scope Articles

The battle to be the next PM

4 Aug 2022

At Scope we write about public policy rather than politics. Yet the two are co-dependent. And there are times you just cannot address one without the other.

Food banks are charities that don’t want to exist

The front page of last week's Newtonards Chronicle

4 Aug 2022

Demand for food banks is soaring but, as the cost of living increases, people are less able to donate. However, helping food banks does not fix any fundamental problems – something the Trussell Trust is determined to make clear.

What happens when facts don't matter

28 Jul 2022

The phrase “alternative facts” first got an airing on 22 January 2017.

The cost of living is creating a poverty sinkhole

27 Jul 2022

A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that, while poverty in general has waxed and waned over the past 20 years, the number of people and families living in destitution has increased significantly.

The £14.5 billion nightmare

22 Jul 2022

In politics, as in so much of life, nothing is quite what it seems.

Youth justice: on the cusp of modernity?

18 Jul 2022

NI is behind the times when it comes to children and the justice system. Plans for change have been announced – and not before time – but still need to be realised.

Levelling up, what it means and why it won't happen

8 Jul 2022

As the UK government drifts further into farce and chaos it seems increasingly unlikely that anything will be done about the greatest challenge of our time: levelling up.

The fundamental weaknesses of any UBI pilot scheme

Devolved governments have the ability to make bold choices - but they have little room for error (photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash)

5 Jul 2022

The Welsh Government has announced a trial of universal basic income. That’s what they’re calling it, anyway. It’s a bold move by a devolved government and Stormont should pay attention. However, some issues remain.

How to help shape future Lottery grants

30 Jun 2022

Paul Sweeney, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Northern Ireland Committee and UK Board member talks about the organisation’s plans to develop their grant making in the future and how you can get involved.

We urgently need political leadership if we are to reduce or prevent homelessness

30 Jun 2022

Following deaths of six people who were sleeping on the streets of Belfast over just two weeks, Homeless Connect CEO Nicola McCrudden writes for Scope about how we can best address the complex set of issues that can lead to such tragedies.

Why your health really is your wealth

23 Jun 2022

Whenever we discuss how to improve health we invariably neglect the biggest factor of all in making us ill: poverty.

Measuring the impact of Northern Ireland’s charities: a work in progress

22 Jun 2022

Best practice has moved from counting outputs to measuring outcomes. However, change takes time. The local third sector is moving in the right direction but more needs to be done.

Doctors' Orders: the crisis in our GP service

17 Jun 2022

Anyone who has tried to book an appointment with their GP since the pandemic will be all too aware of how difficult that has become.

The Rwanda asylum policy is working perfectly for Boris Johnson

15 Jun 2022

With no good ideas to improve people’s lives, the Westminster government has nothing left except its ability to fabricate arguments and make people angry.

Who cares for the carers?

10 Jun 2022

Our health care system is completely dependent on a vast unpaid army of carers.

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