News from the Policy Press
Policy & Politics Conference 2010Decriminalising drugs
The Policy Press Studentship – award goes to excellent candidate
Is the UK a nation of 'indeciders'?
Ferraris for all launch party
'Meet the Editors' event at SPA
Summer sale!
Exploring modern probation
Health inequalities in England
Daniel Ben-Ami on The Ode Show
Race for Life
Child protection and social work review
Green Impact Awards 2009/10
The education 'revolution'
End-of-life care in terminally ill patients
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Policy & Politics Conference 2010
27 August 2010
With the world having experienced its worst economic crisis in eight decades, with old challenges still unresolved, and with new challenges presenting both dangers and opportunities, this conference offers the opportunity to reflect on an unprecedented conjunction of old and new agendas.
The Policy & Politics Conference - Politics of austerity or the austerity of politics? New social, economic and ecological challenges for the public sector – will held on 10th September 2010 at the University of Bristol. Key speakers include Neal Lawson, Bill Jordan (author of our forthcoming book Why the Third Way failed), Athar Hussain and Janet Newman. For more information please visit: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/policyandpolitics/.
Decriminalising drugs
18 August 2010
News articles in both the Guardian and the BBC this week have discussed Sir Ian Gilmore's belief that the government should consider decriminalising drugs because the blanket ban has failed to cut crime or improve health. The former president of the Royal College of Physicians told the BBC, 'Everyone who has looked at this in a serious and sustained way concludes that the present policy of prohibition is not a success.' However, the Home Office has stated that the government does not believe that decriminalisation is an option because drugs are 'extremely harmful and can cause misery to communities across the country.'
If you'd like to learn more about this controversial subject, Legalising drugs by Philip Bean discusses several arguments and dilemmas surrounding the drug debate, including chapters about prohibition, decriminalisation, legalisation and the potential impacts of changing the present drug policy.
The Policy Press Studentship – award goes to excellent candidate
9 August 2010
Earlier this year The Policy Press opened the application process to find a candidate to take up a full-time, three year PhD studentship based in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.
We are now pleased to announce that the first Policy Press funded studentship will be filled by Lorenza Antonucci. Currently studying for an MSc in Social Policy (Research) at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Lorenza previously graduated cum laude from the "Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi", Italy with degree and a postgraduate MSc in Economics and Management of Public Administration and International Institutions and with study experiences in Yonsei University (South Korea) and Science Po (Paris).
The studentship will allow Lorenza to undertake research exploring the role of work, family and the state in transition to adulthood of young graduates from disadvantaged families. Based on a cross-national comparison of welfare sources in graduate youth trajectories in England, Italy and Sweden, it will present a significant contribution to knowledge in this area.
Lorenza said "I am extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct a truly European cross-national research project with the support of a leading publisher in social policy such as Policy Press. I am grateful for the possibility of researching an emerging topic that is particularly relevant both to the social issues affecting young adults and from an academic perspective. I am looking forward to starting this challenging research with the support of Policy Press, which will allow me to maintain a link with the policy implications of the study."
Is the UK a nation of 'indeciders'?
3 August 2010
Is the UK a nation of 'indeciders'? A new study from the University of Bristol and Confused.com has found that nearly half those questioned found 'even little decisions were hard to make'. The Guardian reports that the main cause is having too much choice which in turn hinders decisiveness.
Challenging choices by Michael Clarke discusses the issue of choice in more depth. In a lively and topical account, Clarke gives a critique of choice in contemporary society and policy, arguing that we can have too much of a good thing. Buy the book online to receive 20% off the list price: http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?K=9781847423979.
Ferraris for all launch party
16 July 2010
Ferraris for all was launched last night at a drinks reception in London. Coincidentally it was also Bastille Day, so the event went with a flourish. Daniel Ben-Ami will be speaking at a variety of events over the next few months. For further details see: http://danielbenami.com/events/
'Meet the Editors' event at SPA
14 July 2010
The Policy Press hosted the 'Meet the Editors' journal event at the recent 2010 Social Policy Association Conference. Representatives from each Policy Press journal gave a brief presentation on their journal and invited people to submit papers. The delegates then enjoyed a glass of wine and chatted informally to the representatives.
Thanks to Karl Wilding from NCVO for the photograph and congratulations to NCVO for winning the SPA's award for an 'Outstanding Contribution from a Non-Academic to Social Policy'.
Summer sale!
9 July 2010
The Policy Press is holding a fantastic summer sale, offering you 50% off a selected range of titles when bought through our website.
Simply select the books you want from the list below and add them to your basket. Why not take the chance to top up your reading list for the summer?
The Grim Reaper's road map
Uprooted
Beyond the workfare state
Poverty, policy and the state
Policy reconsidered
Making social policy work
Negotiating death in contemporary health and social care
New Labour/hard labour?
Coming to care
Women and New Labour
The new bureaucracy
Rethinking palliative care
Placing health
Citizens at the centre
Cash and care
The political economy of health care
Building on the past
The new countryside?
Promoting workplace learning
Personal Lives and Social Policy series: Citizenship, Work, Care and Sexualities
People and places
Exploring modern probation
8 July 2010
Philip Whitehead, author of Exploring modern probation, has written a piece concerning the topic of his book in Guardian Public. The article describes how the changes and issues faced by the probation service in the last 13 years will "resonate with the whole of the public sector". Using social theories to explore probation modernisation, as well as empirical interviews, the book analyses the challenges to, as well as providing some support of, the politics of modernisation.
Health inequalities in England
2 July 2010
The BBC and Guardian report today that the life expectancy gap between richer and poorer communities in England 'is widening'. Following the publication of a report on the issue by the National Audit Office, it has been identified that despite recent efforts by the government to reduce the gap it can "still be 10 years or more depending on socio-economic background". With issues like smoking and diet being major contributing factors there are calls for more investment in deprived areas to tackle the problem of health inequalities.
The Policy Press publishes a range of book on the topic of health inequalities including: Injustice, The Grim Reaper's road map, Social inequality and public health and The public health system in England.
Daniel Ben-Ami on The Ode Show
25 June 2010
Daniel Ben-Ami, author of Ferraris for all will be appearing on The Ode Show, an online audio broadcast on Monday 28 June, on Healthylife.net. It will be broadcast at 5pm British time, 12 noon in eastern America and 9am on the US Pacific coast. You can listen live or later on the archive. The programme is associated with Ode magazine which describes itself as "the online community for intelligent optimists". Also, read comments from The Enlightened Economist here: http://blog.enlightenmenteconomics.com/blog/_archives/2010/6/26/4563175.html
Race for Life
16 June 2010
On Saturday 12th June ten members of The Policy Press team put on their running shoes and donned matching Policy Press 'Running with a Purpose' T-shirts to complete the 5k Race for Life on the sunny Bristol Downs. So far we have raised a massive £725 for Cancer Research UK, so thanks everyone for your support. Remember, you can still donate online on our sponsorship page: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/tpprunning
Child protection and social work review
10 June 2010
The government has ordered an immediate review of child protection and social work services in England, a BBC article recently reported. Led by Professor Eileen Munro, the review will examine successful models abroad and the Hackney pilot scheme of team working and less administration to try and establish better working practices in local authorities in England. One of the key targets will be to cut bureaucracy in the hope that this will allow social workers to spend more time with children.
The Better Partnership Working series presents a series of books that offer practical support to those working in partnership. Books in the series include Partnership working in health and social care, Working in teams and Managing and leading in inter-agency settings. You can also read about the often conflicting demands on social workers as they record information on the case files in our new textbook Recording in Social Work by Liz O’Rourke.
Green Impact Awards 2009/10
1 June 2010
The Policy Press are delighted to have been given a Gold Award in the University of Bristol’s Green Impact Awards 2009/10. Now in its second year, the awards challenge departments to implement a number of easy and practical actions that will help the environment.
The Policy Press has a large and enthusiastic ‘green team’, but our success is due to the commitment to sustainability and reducing impact shown by all staff in the organisation. We have fantastic recycling facilities, a high level of energy-saving awareness and great communication about green and sustainable issues across the team, as well as ‘green publishing’ policies. You can read more in our sustainability statement.
The education 'revolution'
27 May 2010
The BBC describes the new plans for an education 'revolution' in Britain which were announced yesterday by Michael Gove the Education Secretary. The proposals will allow all schools to cut loose from the control of their local authority and become academies – 'state-funded schools which have a high degree of autonomy'. Opponents are concerned about the fragmentation of the education system and fear that disadvantaged students will still lose out. However the new coalition government disagree, following up the academy proposal with a 'pupil premium' programme which will allow extra money given to disadvantaged children to 'follow them to whichever school they go to'.
What do you think about the new plans? Would you like to know more about education policy?
If so The education debate: Policy and politics in the Twenty-First Century by Stephen Ball offers an analysis of government initiatives and policies that have been introduced over the past 20 years, including the existing academies programme. Buy now for just £10.39!
End-of-life care in terminally ill patients
20 May 2010
Recent news article on the BBC and in the Nursing Times have highlighted the importance of medical professionals discussing end-of-life care with terminally ill patients as early as possible. Recommendations from the General Medical Council say that "early discussions can help avoid misunderstandings and conflict". The General Medical Council will publish new guidelines that will encourage patients and their doctors to work together to come up with a treatment plan that will allow the patient to receive the "best quality of care and support" whilst letting them die with dignity.
The Policy Press publishes a range of titles on this topic including End-of-life care, Social work in end-of-life and palliative care and Negotiating death in contemporary health and social care.
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RSA Keynote: Why Social Inequality Persists
26 April 2010
On 22nd April over 200 people gathered for the RSA Keynote ‘Why Social Inequality Persists’. Chaired by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive at the RSA, Daniel Dorling – author of Injustice – and Kate Pickett – co-author of The Spirit Level – discussed the themes of social injustice and selfish capitalism. You can now view a video of the event or listen to a podcast.
London International Bookfair 2010
23 April 2010
The Policy Press exhibited at the London International Bookfair from 19 to 21 April. Although attendance at the fair was down due to the Icelandic volcano, many useful meetings were held with distributors, suppliers and customers. We also took the opportunity to launch our new title Injustice: Why social inequality persists by Daniel Dorling which provoked a lot of interest.
Win a copy of Injustice by Daniel Dorling!
23 April 2010
Would you like to win a copy of Injustice: Why social inequality persists? Simply post a relevant comment to one of Daniel Dorling's entries - ‘The rise and rise of social inequality’ or ‘Is social inequality addictive’ - on The Policy Press blog and we will enter you into a prize draw to win a copy of the book. We only have one to give away so join the debate now! Closing date 30th April 2010.
Injustice published today
21 April 2010
Today (21st April) sees the publication of the long-awaited book by Danny Dorling: Injustice: Why social inequality persists - now available for £13.99. Hard-hitting and uncompromising in its call to action, Danny Dorling explores why social inequality still persists. Read more in Guardian Society, the London Evening Standard, New Start and the Daily Mail. You can view an interview with Daniel Dorling on the BBC London News and listen again to Thinking Allowed and The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4, and Vanessa Feltz on BBC London Radio. You can also read his Policy Press blog post at http://policypress.wordpress.com/. Other blogs featuring Injustice include: The Enlightened Economist and Out of Range.
Apply for The Policy Press Studentship
26 March 2010
So what are we looking for? We are looking for an excellent student to start in October 2010. We publish high-quality books and journals across the social sciences – from social policy and social welfare, through childhood and family studies, to health, education and criminology. We will particularly welcome proposals in the following areas:
• Childhood, youth and family studies
• Social justice and human rights
• Criminology and criminal justice
Funding: The studentship will cover maintenance (currently £13,640 pa), fees (Home/EU) and a research training support grant for full-time study.
Now for the small print. Candidates must hold, or expect to be awarded prior to admission, a Masters level degree in a relevant subject area. The successful candidate will start their MPhil/PhD in October 2010 and, if appropriate, undertake research methods training in their first year alongside their doctoral studies. The deadline for applications is 17 May 2010.
For further details and to apply for this opportunity please visit:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/news/2010/69ppsship.pdf
Phoenix cities book launch at the LSE
22 March 2010
[Photos: First image, The panel: Anne Power, Bruce Katz and Richard Rogers; Second image, Anne Power]
Lord Richard Rogers, Bruce Katz, Anne Power, Julia Unwin and a panel of city reformers from European cities gathered at the London School of Economics and Politics Science (LSE) on 16th March 2010 to celebrate the launch of Phoenix cities: The fall and rise of great industrial cities. The event, sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the LSE HEIF 4 Bid Fund, debated on the issues arising from Phoenix cities, which explores economic, social and environmental transformations in Europe and the USA to inform the regeneration of 'weak market cities'. A video of the lecture and debate is available online on the LSE website.
Policy & Politics lecture 2010
19 March 2010
Shami Chakrabati, CBE, Director of Liberty, gave the 15th Annual Policy & Politics Lecture on 18 March. The speech, entitled "Common Values, Common Ground: The Case for the Human Rights Act" defended the Human Rights Act. She first laid out the case against the Act then outlined the case for the defence. The well-attended lecture was engaging and thought-provoking and encouraged some challenging and topical questions from the floor.
Housing policy transformed book launch at the IEA
11 March 2010
The launch of Peter King’s new book, Housing policy transformed: The right to buy and the desire to own, was marked with a wine reception at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in London on 24th February. The event included an introduction by the IEA’s Director General, Mark Littlewood and a talk by the author about his new book, followed by questions from the floor.
Spring textbooks now available for inspection
10 March 2010
We offer an inspection copy service for paperback titles and you can now order your copies of the new and forthcoming textbooks listed below. Simply go to the individual book page and click on 'Request Inspection Copy' underneath the book jacket:*
- Embodying identities
- Voyage to Utopias
- Understanding human need
- Understanding social citizenship (2e)
- The short guide to social work
- Recording in social work
- An introduction to genetic epidemiology
- Multi-agency working in criminal justice
- Social theory for beginners
- Using theory to explore health, medicine and society
- Understanding theories and concepts in social policy
- Social entrepreneurship
- Exploring modern probation
Many of our backlist titles are also available on inspection, where this is the case you will see a 'Request your inspection copy' link underneath the book jacket on individual book webpages.
*Inspection copies are available to lecturers who wish to consider adopting them for a course of 12 or more students. If the title is recommended for purchase on a course, it may be kept. If not, it should be paid for or returned to our distributor in resaleable condition within 28 days. A maximum of three titles can be requested at any one time.
Apology to forcibly removed child migrants will be issued today by Gordon Brown
24 February 2010
Today, Gordon Brown will apologise for the role that the UK played in forcibly sending over 130,000 children to former colonies in the last century. The BBC reports that the Child Migrants Programme promised a better life to these children but instead resulted in many thousands suffering abuse and being cut off from their families. According to Harold Haig, secretary of the International Association of Former Child Migrants and their Families, the official apology will ‘help to heal a painful past’.
Roy Parker, in his book Uprooted: The Shipment of Poor Children to Canada, 1867-1917, explores the Canadian experience in-depth. The book brings together economic, political, social, medical, legal, administrative and religious aspects with evidence from recent survivors. Buy now for just £14.99. Also take a look at The Policy Press blog where Roy Parker has written a post: The Prime Minister's Apology.
The Policy Press 2010 catalogue is now available
17 February 2010
Our new 2010 catalogue is now available online. The catalogue features all of our new books for 2010, as well as the most recent and best-selling backlist titles. Some highlights include: Phoenix cities by Anne Power, Jörg Plöger and Astrid Winkler; Ferraris for all by Daniel Ben-Ami; Shoot to kill by Maurice Punch; and The migration debate by Sarah Spencer.
If you’d rather have a hard copy version, and are not currently on our mailing list, please either sign up to receive information from The Policy Press by post or email Charlotte Skelton - charlotte.skelton@bristol.ac.uk - and she’ll be happy to send a copy to you.
Keeping young children safe online
10 February 2010
A new campaign, designed to show five to seven year olds potential risks on the web, has been launched by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, coinciding with EU's Safer Internet Day 2010. According to the BBC, 80% of children in this age group use the web and many have access to social networking sites. With growing concern from parents, child psychologist David Coleman describes how the campaign will use cartoons to increase children's understanding of 'what constitutes 'private' information' as well as 'recognising that people can pretend to be different online'. By targeting children at such a young age it is hoped that they will develop 'safe behaviour online'.
As the internet and new online technologies are becoming embedded in everyday life, there are increasing questions about their social implications and consequences. Kids online captures the timely expertise generated by the EU Kids Online project and examines the issues that children can face on the web.
Rural England's ageing population
5 February 2010
It is predicted by The National Housing Federation that by 2020 a quarter
of people living in rural England will be over 65, reports the BBC. It goes on to say that the growth in the numbers of older people in rural areas may have a negative impact on the communities who will 'struggle to support the ageing population'. It is recognised by the government that to avoid this and save many amenities a plan to provide more affordable housing must be put in place so that younger people and families can move in. This has already begun with a large-scale council house building project underway and schemes like 'Homebuy' helping low-income and first time buyers onto the ladder.
Rural ageing: A good place to grow old?, addresses the issue of 'age-friendly' communities by providing detailed information on the characteristics of rural communities - idyllic and supportive or isolated and bereft of services - and assesses what makes them supportive to different groups of older adults.
Inequality in Britain
2 February 2010
A recent report - An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK - led by John Hills, author of Towards a more equal society?, has found that Britain has become even more unequal, with findings that show that "the gap between Britain's richest and poorest is wider than ever before" and that "the richest 10% of the population are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10% of society". Gordon Brown has described it as "sobering" and Harriet Harman concludes that the government must "sustain and step up" in order to make British society more equal.
Leading social commentator and academic Daniel Dorling, who recently commented on the report in The Guardian, addresses this issue in his forthcoming book Injustice: Why social inequality persists. The book examines the five new tenets of injustice - elitism is efficient; exclusion is necessary; prejudice is natural; greed is good; and despair is inevitable - to discover what causes inequality to persist.
Improvements in dementia services - still not a priority?
21 January 2010
Despite government promises, improvements in dementia services in England have not been given the priority they deserve explains a recent BBC article. Whilst the care services minister, Phil Hope, claims that the National Dementia Strategy is 'on track', the National Audit Office (NAO) has asked whether the ambitious plans can be realised, especially if dementia is not made a priority in the NHS. As Karen Taylor of the NAO has pointed out 'trusts would concentrate on other issues if they were not made to focus on dementia', thus increasing the risk that the money apportioned for the strategy could end up going elsewhere.
With increasing public concern and awareness of the issue and programmes such as 'My Family and Alzheimers' examining the problems with dementia care, the forthcoming Broadening the dementia debate opens up the discussion further to include socio-political perspectives and social citizenship concepts alongside existing views from biomedicine and social psychology.
Care of the elderly is 'unacceptable' according to Parkinson
18 January 2010
A recent article in the Guardian describes how Sir Michael Parkinson has condemned the care of the elderly as 'downright unacceptable' and some of the places in which they are looked after as 'hopeless and depressing'. As the government's dignity in care ambassador, Parkinson has received many reports from concerned family members regarding the lack of dignity and respect shown to their elderly relatives in care. He commented that there should be an end to 'stereotypes of older people' and for 'health and care staff to take small, cost-free steps to make sure patients and residents were treated with dignity'.
Parkinson also noted that 'if we treated young people the way we treat older people there would be an outcry'. This theme is central to Unequal ageing which analyses the vital dimensions of money, health, quality of life and identity, and demonstrates the gaps of treatment and outcomes between older and younger people. It then goes on to suggest actions and workable solutions that could change the picture of unequal ageing. Buy now for just £13.49.
Professor Nutt and the new Independent Council on Drug Harms
8 January 2010
Professor David Nutt, recently dismissed from his post as Chairman for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) for challenging government drug policies, has set up a new group - the Independent Council on Drug Harms - which will provide, according to Professor Nutt, "independent scientific evidence about the effect of drugs". Drawing in specialists from the ACMD along with other experts in the field this group is being described as 'very powerful' and a 'rival' to the official panel. The BBC is covering this story in-depth, click here to read more.
Whilst government policy has steadfastly been set against drug legalisation, critics have increasingly argued that the present policy is unsustainable. Publishing this month, Legalising drugs: Debates and dilemmas provides a timely and much-needed examination of some of the issues surrounding this matter. Buy now for just £11.24. Also, check out the Policy Press blog entry on 'Professor Nutt, the Home Secretary and drug control'.
Book Launch 24 February 2010: Housing policy transformed
7 January 2010
To celebrate the publication of Housing policy transformed: The right to buy and the desire to own – now available with 25% discount - the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is hosting a book launch on 24th February 2010. The author, Peter King, and Simon Heffer, Associate Editor, The Daily Telegraph will make brief remarks; this will be followed by a drinks reception. For more information and to find out how to RSVP please click here.
Season's greetings from The Policy Press and office closure information
21 December 2009
It has been an exciting year for The Policy Press; we have launched a new website and blog, published over 60 new titles and continued to produce our highly prestigious journals.
As in previous years we will donate the money we would spend on Christmas cards and postage to charity. In honour of Peter Townsend this year we will be supporting the Child Poverty Action Group which campaigns for the abolition of child poverty in the UK.
The Policy Press office will be closed from 24th December 2009 to 4th January 2010 inclusive.
The opening hours for our distributors, Marston Book Services, are detailed below:
Closed from 12pm on 24th December 2009
Normal opening hours: 29th – 31st December 2009
Closed: 1st – 3rd January 2010
Normal opening hours from 4th January 2010
New government initiative to keep children safe online
14 December 2009
The UK government has announced plans to launch the new 'Click Clever, Click Safe' strategy in 2010 aiming to keep children safe online. Following recommendations from Professor Tanya Byron and the UK Council on Child Internet Safety, the 'Zip it, Block it, Flag it' campaign will be taught in schools and introduced to various social networking sites. As detailed on the BBC website the campaign "will encourage children not to give out personal information on the web, block unwanted messages on social networks and report any inappropriate behaviour".
On the whole the internet provides a positive experience for those that use it; however there are risks to children's safety. Kids online, edited by Sonia Livingstone and Leslie Haddon, discusses the opportunities and threats to children and young people in the online world. Buy now for just £14.99.
'Right to Buy' - The debate continues
8 December 2009
An article published in The Observer on 6 December examines the controversial 1979 housing policy - 'Right to Buy'. It is a policy that is not only still debated - in both a negative and positive light - but one that continues to have implications for Britain's housing stocks.
In January 2010, The Policy Press will publish Peter King's 'Housing policy transformed: The right to buy and the desire to own' which argues that the 'Right to Buy' housing policy was one of the most successful. Pre-order your copy now with 25% off.
Improving social care services for adults
3 December 2009
A recent report by the Care Quality Commission has identified that improvements still need to be made in the social care of adults, in particular the elderly. As detailed by the BBC the 'annual report rated one in four homes for the elderly as being adequate at best'. Several councils will be receiving government support to develop and improve social care services for adults with both public and private care homes receiving attention.
The British population is ageing which means that this subject will remain pertinent for many years to come. The Policy Press, with its aim to improve social conditions through its publications, publishes many titles that tackle the issue of adult social care, including Calculating a fair market price for care and Unequal ageing, to view our full selection of titles on the subject click here.
Gordon Brown to apologise to forcibly removed child migrants
17 November 2009
Gordon Brown will apologise, in the New Year, to the child migrants forcibly shipped off to Commonwealth countries – including Australia and Canada - during the last century. The children, who were cut off from their families, were promised a better life but instead were often forced into unpaid labour and suffered abuse. This story has been covered in the national media including The Guardian, The Telegraph and the BBC. Also take a look at The Policy Press blog where Roy Parker has written a post: The Prime Minister's Apology.
Roy Parker, in his book Uprooted: The Shipment of Poor Children to Canada, 1867-1917, explores the Canadian experience in-depth. The book brings together economic, political, social, medical, legal, administrative and religious aspects with evidence from recent survivors. Buy now for just £13.99.
Peter Townsend Memorial Conference 20th November 2009
2 November 2009
A free one day memorial conference for Peter Townsend is being held on 20th November 2009. Consisting of four panels of speakers talking about Inequalities in Health, Older People, Poverty, and Social Exclusion and Social Policy, the aim of the conference is to look forward rather than reminisce on the past. For free tickets email: townsend-memorial@bristol.ac.uk.
The Peter Townsend reader celebrates the distinctive work of Peter Townsend with a collection of exceptional readings. To view the Memorial Booklet for Peter Townsend please click here.
'Hate on the Doorstep': Panorama 19th October 2009
2 November 2009
An episode of Panorama, broadcast last month and entitled 'Hate on the Doorstep' highlighted the problem of racial abuse on a housing estate in Bristol. Two BBC reporters of South Asian origin posing as a married Muslim couple with limited English lived on the estate for eight weeks and were racially abused more than 50 times.
This thought-provoking, and worrying, documentary brought to light many questions that are addressed in 'Sleepwalking to segregation'?: Challenging myths about race and migration by Nissa Finney and Ludi Simpson. Is Britain really under threat from ethnic diversity? Is the social fabric crumbling as we sleepwalk to segregation? The authors argue that it is the the myths of race and migration are the real threat to an integrated society.
Policy & Politics lecture from the Director General of the Security Service
16 October 2009
The Director General of the Security Service, Jonathan Evans, gave the 14th Annual Policy & Politics Lecture on 15 October at Bristol University. The speech, entitled 'Defending the Realm', reflected on the history of the Service in its centenary year and addressed some of the important issues facing the Service today.
See the MI5 website for the complete text of the speech. The lecture has been covered extensively in the national media including on the Today Programme, in The Guardian and in The Telegraph.
Christopher Andrew, who gave the Policy & Politics lecture in 2002, has also been in the news this month. His book, 'The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5' was published on 5 October.
Image: Jonathan Evans © Crown Copyright
Launch of 'Unequal Ageing' at the Age Debate in Manchester
15 October 2009
On 9 October, the 'Age Debate' was held in Manchester's Town Hall to coincide with the publication of Unequal ageing, edited by Paul Cann and Malcolm Dean.
The day was introduced by Councillor Sue Cooley from Manchester City Council who has special responsibility for older people, then Paul Cann gave an overview of the issues raised by Unequal ageing. Next Thomas Scharf spoke about unequal income in later life and how this is influenced by early experiences. Finally James Nazroo spoke about unequal health in later life and the differing outcomes this produces.
Participants then attended a variety of workshops on topics such as sexual health for over-50s and Manchester's Ageing Strategy. The day concluded with a lively question and answer session chaired by Malcolm Dean and with a panel of the speakers and workshop leaders. The audience, of academics, practitioners, students and older people themselves, appreciated the mix of contributions and topics.
Images: top - Paul Cann, one of the editors of Unequal Ageing: bottom - Thomas Scharf, one of the editors of Critical perspectives on ageing societies.
Article on 'Unequal Ageing' in Guardian Society
7 October 2009
Malcolm Dean has written a piece on his latest book, Unequal ageing, edited with Paul Cann, which was published in Society Guardian on Wednesday 7 October 2009. Click here to read the article.
Age Debate, Manchester, 9 October 2009
2 October 2009
To coincide with last month's publication of Unequal ageing, edited by Paul Cann and Malcolm Dean, this one day event will include a mix of lectures, workshops and a panel debate. The event will be held in Manchester Town Hall on 9 October 2009.
For more information contact Rachel York on email rachel.york@manchester.gov.uk.
Searching for community and The dilemmas of development work event
15 September 2009
An event was held in Bristol last week to celebrate the publication of two books about community, identity and power drawing on experiences from Bristol and London: Searching for community, by the late Jeremy Brent, and The dilemmas of development work by Paul Hoggett, Marjorie Mayo and Chris Miller. There was a fantastic turnout and a great atmosphere, so thank you to those involved for inviting us along!
Images: top - Paul Hoggett speaks to the assembled guests; bottom - Jeremy Brent's son, Colin, reads from Searching for community.
Book launches at the BSG
9 September 2009
Images: top left - Malcolm Dean; top right - Simon Evans; bottom - (left to right) Kathryn King, Judith Phillips, Alison Shaw.
Two thirds of England and Wales prisons overcrowded
26 August 2009
The Prison Reform Trust has published a list of the top 20 most crowded prisons in England and Wales, warning that Ministers can no longer afford to be complacent about prison overcrowding or the high reconviction rates it leads to. Almost two thirds of the prisons in Englad and Wales are ovecrowded according to Ministry of Justice figures. Read the full article here.
Last October, The Policy Press published Tackling prison overcrowding, edited by Mike Hough, Rob Allen and Enver Solomon. This book is a response to the controversial proposals for the construction of 'Titan' prisons to deal with the problem of prison overcrowding. Since the book was published, these plans have been abandoned, but it is clear that the problem still needs to be addressed.
Fear of a ‘Granny P’ tragedy
19 August 2009
The same lack of social care resources central to the tragedy of Baby Peter’s death may, according to Unison, increase the risk of a ‘Granny P’ tragedy. This comment was made in response to a survey which showed that almost two-thirds of social workers caring for elderly and vulnerable adults believe they have fewer professional resources than five years ago. Prioritizing paperwork over patients, cost-cutting and unfilled vacancies are among the pressures facing staff in their effort to manage our ageing population.
The problems regarding social care and the welfare of vulnerable adults are central to many of our publications. To find out more browse our Social Work and Social Care subject pages.
UK pensioners the fourth poorest in Europe
31 July 2009
As EU Research finds that UK pensioners are the 4th poorest in Europe our forthcoming book Unequal ageing, due in September, is extremely timely. It analyses the vital dimensions of money, health, place, quality of life and identity, and demonstrates the gaps of treatment and outcomes between older and younger people, and between different groups of older people. This powerful book, written by leading experts in the field, provides strong evidence of the scale of current disadvantage in the UK and suggests actions that could begin to change the picture of unequal ageing.
Voluntary Sector Review - a new journal coming in 2010
31 July 2009
March 2010 sees the launch Voluntary Sector Review, a new journal that will publish high-quality, peer-reviewed, accessible papers on third sector research, policy and practice. It will be an invaluable cutting-edge resource for all those researching or working in the fast-growing voluntary, community and wider third sectors. See the Voluntary Sector Review homepage for more information.
Welcome to our new website
31 July 2009
The Policy Press is delighted that you are visiting our new website. Please take the time to explore our new features, including an improved search facility, space for your reviews of our books, information pages, more featured titles and highlights, RSS feeds and our new blog. We’ve kept the features of the old site, such as easy online ordering.
If you are a registered customer you will need to re-register when you buy books, but this takes less than a minute. Please take advantage of our 25% launch discount and order some books for your summer reading!