Scope Articles

Mother and baby homes: not just the church was to blame

30 Sep 2022

This week more evidence emerged as to why it is so important for there to be a full public inquiry into the operation of mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland.

Civic society can bring communities together in lots of different ways

28 Sep 2022

Housing Association Clanmil put on a play for Good Relations week. Scope takes a look at an interesting and creative way to get communities to discuss social issues.

A reckless gamble doomed to fail

22 Sep 2022

This past week it seems as if everything stopped, on hold, waiting for the period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Social media is an illusion, and a trap

21 Sep 2022

Lots of people distrust social media and its effects on political discussions. Several different studies indicate different ways that Twitter, Facebook and the rest shape discourse - and some ways they maybe don’t.

The Protocol: a good moment to do a deal?

16 Sep 2022

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has dominated news channels to such an extent that two important developments this week did not get all the attention they deserved.

NI’s fiscal powers – the coming storm

14 Sep 2022

The Fiscal Council has published its first report into NI’s spending abilities. If you think the current status quo of failing healthcare, over-budget schools and sparse cost-of-living interventions is bad, wait till you see what’s next.

A poisoned chalice

9 Sep 2022

Heavy hitters Penny Mordant, Iain Duncan Smith and Sajid Javid were all offered the post Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. All turned it down, which is why we now have Chris Heaton-Harris at the helm.

It isn’t easy to leave abuse behind

7 Sep 2022

People in abusive relationships need the confidence to know that, if they leave, they can do so safely – and with plenty of support.

One out, all out: The return of industrial action

1 Sep 2022

Good journalists go where the action is. There are still a few working who are old enough to remember the days when the most sought-after job in the business was that of industrial correspondent.

Improving the care system: a massive task that’s worth the effort

1 Sep 2022

There is no single way to maximise the outcomes for children in care. Big improvements are possible, but reform will take time.

Funding: what works, and what does not

26 Aug 2022

Charities, by definition, exist to provide a benefit to society. The more effective they are, the greater the benefit.

Our towns and cities can be whatever we want them to be

Commercial Court, just off Hill Street, in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter (photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash)

24 Aug 2022

Northern Ireland’s urban spaces are designed to suit cars. We could tinker with this – or transform it entirely.

How to explain why fixing health goes beyond the health service

18 Aug 2022

Poverty kills. If we want a health society we need the right building blocks in place, including good quality jobs, housing and education.

The public wants a Stormont that works

17 Aug 2022

Northern Ireland’s fractured politics come with risks. The current system mitigates against dangers, like majority rule, but is failing to deliver basic governance. Other options are available.

Poverty: why local politicians need to get back to work

11 Aug 2022

Northern Ireland is supposed to have a strategy “to tackle poverty, social exclusion and patterns of deprivation based on objective need.”

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