Scope Articles

The neglected miracle cure: walking

19 Jul 2019

There is one thing almost everyone can do, every day and at no cost, that would simultaneously improve their health, fitness, mental wellbeing and reduce pollution. Walking.

What can’t we afford? How economic inequality is about more than paying bills

19 Jun 2019

If wealth, rather than ability, drives educational achievement, we have to think hard about how we structure society to compensate for this.

Northern Ireland in no position to take a one-two-three punch

13 Jun 2019

Brexit, Welfare Reform and the health service – each is at a major moment for NI policy. But these are not independent issues. Any failures will compound. This could be disastrous.

Crime and mental illness

7 Jun 2019

The announcement that all police custody suites are to get full-time nurses is an important and welcome development.

Volunteering is good for you

Reuben volunteers in Age NI's shop in Coleraine

6 Jun 2019

It’s Volunteers’ Week. Scope takes a look at how people sacrifice their time for a good cause, why this is important – and also rewarding.

Global goals lack local focus

23 May 2019

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are nearly four years old. High-level strategies for the world (or 193 UN member nations) to build a “better and more sustainable future”. Too few people know what they are.

Autism: mysteries and myths and the need for research

17 May 2019

Autism NI warned last week that autism services are at breaking point in Northern Ireland, after the latest prevalence statistics were published by the Department of Health.

Loneliness: an underappreciated problem

17 May 2019

A huge number of people in NI frequently feel lonely. It is a problem for people of all ages and in all sorts of situations. The impact on health and wellbeing is enormous.

If you want to improve the benefits system, speak up

Prof. Eileen Evason (centre) along with Barry McVeigh (left) and Kevin Higgins (right), both members of her team that produced the Welfare Reform mitigation report, and the then First and deputy First Ministers

2 May 2019

The IFS says Universal Credit will lower the incomes of millions of people and that the welfare reform “hits the persistently poor the hardest on average.” But change is possible.

Back to the drawing board for sustainable transport to school

Chris Hazzard MLA, then Minister for Infrastructure, with pupils from St Colmcille's Primary School in Downpatrick on Bike to School Day in June 2016

21 Mar 2019

Efforts are underway to change transport habits in Northern Ireland – but they might not be working. Scope looks at the annual school transport figures.

Fighting cancer together, why we need a strategy

15 Mar 2019

The Department of Health has announced that it is to commission a new cancer strategy for Northern Ireland.

The Justice Department wants your views on how best to beat internet grooming and child abuse

28 Feb 2019

How justice agencies and the law tackle online child sexual exploitation is evolving. Common availability of the internet is only about 20 years old – while the reach and nature of usage has changed massively in the last decade.

Have your say on making the health service more open

22 Feb 2019

The Department of Health is currently working through its response to the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths.

Reform of stroke services could lead the way for health transformation

Stroke survivor Rosemary Brown and her partner Martin

21 Feb 2019

A new report from the Stroke Association proves services have significant shortcomings. Officials have planned sweeping changes - which they want to show how our entire Health and Social Care system can be reformed.

Childcare provision is good but there are problems with affordability and sustainability

14 Feb 2019

Last month, Employers for Childcare released their ninth annual NI Childcare Cost Survey. The burden on families is enormous - but providers are also under huge strain. Reform (financial assistance and restructuring) is required.

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