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Facemasks: the facts

17 Jul 2020

The controversy over facemasks is emblematic of the dangerously shambolic government response to Covid-19. And it's not just public health that’s at stake. 

Hey, remember Brexit?

15 Jul 2020

2020 is our annus horribilis. Until, perhaps, 2021.

Audit Office publishes new guidance on whistle blowing

3 Jul 2020

New guidelines on how public sector bodies should deal with concerns raised by staff and the public have just been published.

Northern Ireland is failing children with special educational needs

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

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.

Shades of Green: Ireland's recovery plan

26 Jun 2020

The argument for a green recovery to the pandemic is growing across the globe, as Scope reported last week.

Childcare is infrastructure - investment is essential

Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash

25 Jun 2020

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

Will the pandemic lead to a greener world?

19 Jun 2020

This week 57 charities, including NI Environment Link wrote to the Prime Minister demanding all elements of any recovery package be consistent with reaching net zero emissions by 2050. 

One chance only

18 Jun 2020

Quintin Oliver on how to build a better world post pandemic. 

Now is the time to take on loneliness

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

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.

Poverty makes us sick: time to tackle health inequality

12 Jun 2020

If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, surely it is that there is nothing more important than our health and wellbeing.

Tough decisions ahead for both the Communities Minister and the third sector

The WPCA food store

11 Jun 2020

Many NI charities are struggling financially The Covid-19 Charities Fund will help some but not all. Scope speaks with the Willowfield Parish Community Association, whose experience is emblematic of wider worries.

May Tyrants Tremble: William Drennan and the politics of dissent

5 Jun 2020

This weekend marks the anniversary of one of the more improbable incidents in Ireland’s strange and troubled past.

This is a good time to remember what human nature really is

2 Jun 2020

It is Volunteers’ Week. Given that the world feels like it is descending somewhere dark, it truly is worth remembering how much people are willing to help others without expecting anything in return.

Care homes: who should pay?

29 May 2020

Never mind clapping the carers, the only solution to our crumbling adult social care services is to fix the broken system.

Childcare had problems before the pandemic. Now it has many more.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

26 May 2020

Before Covid-19, Northern Ireland’s childcare sector worked hard but was under-resourced. Now it faces huge challenges, and shortages could hamstring our economic and social recovery from coronavirus.

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