Latest Updates

Northern Ireland’s mental health services have a lot of catching up to do – but, while the road is long, progress is happening with cooperation between statutory services and the third sector.

Three dangerous and demonstrably false myths continue to generate debate long after they have been discredited.

A group of organisations helping the Department for Communities draw up an anti-poverty strategy released a report this week. Could it form the basis for an ambitious, long-term strategy to minimise or even eliminate poverty in NI?

As food, fuel and housing costs rise, pressure grows on households. The third sector is on the frontline of helping people – however, it faces its own pressures. Politics is supposed to help but right now it’s getting in the way.

It is still a little early to assess the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our health, but enough evidence is now in to draw some tentative conclusions.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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