Scope Articles

Poverty, mental health and an unkind welfare state

27 May 2021

A proper debate about the links between mental ill health and poverty and what needs to be done about it is overdue.

Stormont should take on loneliness in 2021

14 Dec 2020

Covid-19 may have increased loneliness - but loneliness was an issue before the pandemic and, without reform, will remain one even as society returns to normal or something very like it.

Northern Ireland is failing children with special educational needs

2 Jul 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has drawn attention away from the ongoing crisis of SEN provision in the education system. There is no easy fix.

Childcare is infrastructure - investment is essential

25 Jun 2020

The Executive has plenty on its plate but now is the time to look at childcare in Northern Ireland.

Now is the time to take on loneliness

17 Jun 2020

Covid-19 risks an increase in loneliness. It also makes loneliness much more difficult to tackle. We have to think of ways to work against these problems – especially with Northern Ireland at risk of a coronavirus second wave.

To protect vulnerable people during the pandemic, massive change is possible

16 Apr 2020

Older people are perhaps affected more than any other group by Covid-19, directly and indirectly. Scope speaks with Age NI about the needs of our older population, and how they changed their service model almost overnight.

One of the worst consequences of lockdown is an increase in domestic abuse

7 Apr 2020

Frontline charity workers who work to tackle violence and other abusive behaviour in the home have been designated key workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Social security should be reasonable and sympathetic - but it is not

24 Mar 2020

Universal Credit administration takes a hard line, even with measures that are supposed to make allowances for people in difficulty. Work from Advice NI has exposed another fault line in the system, leaving vulnerable people in hardship.

Coronavirus and the third sector

18 Mar 2020

What should civil society do amidst the Covid-19 pandemic? This is a changing picture, any answers depend on the organisation, but immediate and practical steps are possible.

A changing world is daunting for parents

26 Feb 2020

We look at Parenting NI’s second annual Big Parenting Survey, which explored concerns about tech – and asked parents about their hopes for their children.

Time to crack down on the gambling industry

21 Feb 2020

A consultation on reforming Northern Ireland’s hopelessly outdated gambling laws has just closed.

Only the lonely

13 Feb 2020

In most respects our health is better than our ancestors and we can thank technology for that. But in one important health indicator, loneliness, it is not.

NI Health Survey points to difficult conversations

Dr Michael McBride - crafting his message with care

22 Jan 2020

If we save our health service, one key strut will be more personal responsibility for individuals. The latest annual Health Survey shows why encouraging healthier lifestyles can be tricky.

Suicides in NI: causes and prevention

9 Jan 2020

Scope examines the suicide crisis in Northern Ireland and looks at causes and solutions.

Autism petition approaches 10,000 signatures

29 Aug 2019

Autism NI is calling for mandatory autism training for all teachers in Northern Ireland –organising a petition they will present at Stormont next month. Scope speaks with CEO Kerry Boyd.

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