Scope Articles

There is no single fix for poverty

Launch of the Scaffolding Project's briefing paper

3 Nov 2021

New research highlights the many things that make poverty persist in East Belfast. Problems are not limited to the expense of food or electricity – a lack of digital access is a problem, even in such an urban area.

Can failing children’s services be the spark that ignites NI’s health transformation?

21 Oct 2021

A new report from the Children’s Commissioner highlights the ongoing collapse of Health and Social Care. Could the implications for children finally push Stormont into reform?

The pandemic, women, and Building Back Better

16 Sep 2021

The Women’s Policy Group NI has relaunched its Covid-19 Feminist Recovery Plan. Scope looks at why this is important.

Stormont’s back – and everyone’s inbox is full

Stormont’s return has left the NIHRC annual statement out of date, sort of - but it’s also more relevant than when it was published.

16 Jan 2020

The Assembly’s return is a big deal and surely better than the past three years. However, the list of issues MLAs face is enormous. Scope looks at human rights in NI.

More than a good start

9 Jan 2020

Sure Start is two decades old but still going strong. Scope takes a look at a long-running programme that has managed to stay fresh.

Reductive politics is on collision course with reality

18 Dec 2019

It wasn’t just election week, it was Brexit election week. Or was it? And what about the Stormont talks? Voters are more subtle than politicians and we stand at a policy crossroads. Without fixes there could be enormous public anger.

How is NI performing? (Part two)

NI - it's a beautiful place (photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash)

8 Oct 2019

The second in our trio of articles taking an accessible look at how our public sector is doing, by its own measure.

How is Northern Ireland performing? (part one)

3 Oct 2019

The Executive Office recently published its year-end report looking at progress against outcomes in the draft Programme for Government. Scope takes a look at the bottom line.

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.

Poverty is bad for you

Photo by Anton Darius | @theSollers on Unsplash

1 Aug 2019

Northern Ireland has startling gaps in life expectancy between rich and poor areas. Scope looks at the latest figures from the Department of Health.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quality of life is easy to understand but difficult to pin down

8 Feb 2019

Reform is possible in NI, even without a government. Officials last week published a paper seeking to understand what is meant by “quality of life” – with the ultimate aim of improving the lot of adults and children with disabilities.

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