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Highlights & Special Offers

Special offer:
The Conservative Party
and social policy
£10 for May only

 With the recent focus on Margaret Thatcher’s legacy, this month we are offering The Conservative Party and social policy for just £10. Order your copy here.

 

Selected e-books
now just £6.99

Buy our most popular e-books at the special price of (around) £6.99, including Injustice, Democracy under attack and Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

New! Policy Press Bytes

All three Policy Press Bytes from Danny Dorling's Unequal health are now available. Policy Press Bytes give you tasters of our most exciting titles on your e-book reader for just £1.99. Find out more here...

 

2013 Spring catalogue out now

Click on the cover to download a pdf (4.5MB) or request a print copy from tpp-marketing@bristol.ac.uk.

 

       

 

Latest News

 News from the Policy Press

ARCHIVE

First issue of Critical and Radical Social Work now available

22 April 2013
 

The first issue of our new journal Critical and Radical Social Work, is now available online. In this exciting first issue, leading academics from across the globe consider what the 'future of social work' may be in the years ahead. 

 

A free online trial to Critical and Radical Social Work is available to institutions in 2013. Click here to sign up.


 

Policy & Politics annual lecture

11 March 2013



The Policy & Politics annual lecture is being held this Thursday 14 March. Baroness Jean Corston will talk about the way Parliament responded to the implications for the drafting and scrutiny of legislation, and the consequent role of the courts, after the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law via the Human Rights Act 1998.

Baroness Corston was the founding Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 the Home Office published the Corston Report, a report by Baroness Corston of a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice system. This report can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/77kr46b

For more information and to book email pp-lecture@bristol.ac.uk or contact Emily Thomas on +44 (0)117 954 6765.

Launch of People-centred public health

6 March 2013

Last month People-centred public health was launched at an event at Leeds Metropolitan University. The event included presentations from Dr Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, and David Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Durham University, as well as a panel discussion with Mike Grady (Marmot Review Team), David Buck (The King’s Fund), Trevor Hopkins (Asset Based Consulting) and Jon Hindley (Leeds Healthy Living Network). 


Authors of People-centred public health: (left to right) Jane South, Mark Gamsu and Judy White

Policy Press journals now on Editorial Manager

11 February 2013

We are pleased to announce that Evidence & Policy, Policy & Politics, Voluntary Sector Review and Families, Relationships and Societies are now on Editorial Manager. Details on manuscript submission are available on individual journal pages.

Launch of ‘The immigrant war’

31 January 2013

The launch of The immigrant war by Vittorio Longhi was held at Waterstones, Brussels on 24 January with guest speakers Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, and Anneliese Baldaccini, Migration Policy Officer for Amnesty International.


Vittorio Longhi at the launch of his book, The immigrant war


Panel discussion at the launch

Policy & Politics Annual Lecture 2013: 'Parliament and Human Rights'

30 January 2013

This year's Policy & Politics lecture will be held on Thursday 14th March 2013, 6pm at the University of Bristol.

Baroness Jean Corston will talk about the way Parliament responded to the implications for the drafting and scrutiny of legislation, and the consequent role of the courts, after the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law via the Human Rights Act 1998. Baroness Corston was the founding Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 the Home Office published the Corston Report, a report by Baroness Corston of a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice system. This report can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/77kr46b

For more information and to book email pp-lecture@bristol.ac.uk or contact Emily Thomas on +44 (0)117  954 6765.

Spring 2013 catalogue out now

11 January 2013



Our spring catalogue has just arrived from the printers. Download a pdf (4.5MB) by clicking on the cover above or from our flyers and catalogues page. If you’d like to request a copy please email your address to tpp-marketing@bristol.ac.uk and we’ll send one out to you.


 

Invitation to the launch of ‘The immigrant war’

11 January 2013

The launch of The immigrant war by Vittorio Longhi is being held at Waterstones, Brussels on 24 January with guest speakers Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, and Anneliese Baldaccini, Migration Policy Officer for Amnesty International. For tickets and further details about the event please call Waterstones in Brussels on 0032 22192708, or you can sign up on the Facebook event page.

Season's Greetings

10 December 2012



 

Launch of Research and evaluation for busy practitioners

22 October 2012

Helen Kara’s book Research and evaluation for busy practitioners was launched at a great event at the British Library on Thursday 18th October. Speakers on the panel included Jane Lewis, AcSS, Research and Evaluation Consultant; Karl Wilding, Head of Research at NCVO; Simon Haslam, Board Member of the Social Research Association; and Helen Kara, author and independent researcher. The lively panel discussion was followed by a reception with drinks and nibbles, an exhibition by artist Carol Burns, who provided the illustrations in the book, and music from The Winter Quartet.


Audience listening to the panel discussion


The panel: (left to right) Karl Wilding, Helen Kara, Simon Haslam and Jane Lewis


 

The Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize: Call for Nominations

The British Academy in association with The Policy Press, is calling for nominations for the Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize. This prize, worth £2,000, is awarded for outstanding policy work on a topic such as: poverty and inequality, ageing and the lives of older people, disability and inequalities in health.

Professor Peter Townsend was one of the most distinguished global figures in contemporary social policy and sociology. This prize was established to honour his memory following his death in 2009. Announcing the call for nominations the Academy’s President, Sir Adam Roberts, said, "The late Professor Peter Townsend was one of the most distinguished global figures in contemporary social policy and sociology. The British Academy is delighted to establish this award, a collaboration between the British Academy and the Policy Press at University of Bristol, in honour of his memory and life’s work." For further information please go to the British Academy Medals and Prizes information webpage.

To make a nomination for this prize, download the 2013 Peter Townsend nomination form, complete and return to the Prizes and Medals Manager at: prizes@britac.ac.uk. Submissions of nominations must be received by 31 January 2013.


 

Policy & Politics conference 2012 — celebrating 40 years

Last week's Policy & Politics conference celebrated 40 years of the journal. The conference explored contemporary policy issues within the context of the past 40 years, asking how we can use critical insights and past experiences to inform future thinking about the way policy is developed. The plenary speakers were Emeritus Professor Michael Hill, Professor Julian Le Grand, Professor Christopher Pollitt and Professor Rod Rhodes.


Past and present editors of Policy & Politics


 

The Policy Press at BSG 2012
 

Last week we attended the very successful British Society of Gerontology conference 2012, held at Keele University. As well as hosting a busy stand selling a range of Policy Press books on ageing, we also launched two recent titles: From exclusion to inclusion in old age, edited by Thomas Scharf and Norah Keating, and Transitions and the lifecourse by Amanda Grenier. 

  
From left to right: Thomas Scharf, Policy Press Director Alison Shaw, Norah Keating and Amanda Grenier


Senior Commissioning Editor Emily Watt with the Policy Press stand at BSG 2012

 
 

Provisional Policy & Politics Conference Programme
 

The 2012 Policy & Politics conference seeks to explore contemporary policy issues within the context of the past 40 years. 40 years of Policy & Politics: Critical reflections and strategies for the future will be held on 18 -19 September 2012 in Bristol, UK. 

We are pleased to announce that the provisional conference programme is now available to view here.
You can find out more about the conference including how to register here.

 
 

Launch of The Unfinished Revolution

The launch of The unfinished revolution: Voices from the global fight for women's rights took place in London on 4 July 2012. Held at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the inspiring event included speakers such as Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

• From left to right: Gauri van Gulik, Human Rights Watch Global Advocate for Women’s Rights division; Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; editor of The Unfinished Revolution Minky Worden; and Lyse Doucet, BBC special correspondent.
  
•  
• Find out more about The Unfinished Revolution
•  
• Read a Q&A with the editor, Minky Worden 

 

PODCAST on The unfinished revolution: Voices from the global fight for women's rights

In this Podcast for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Minky Worden, author of The Unfinished Revolution, discusses the effect that the Arab Spring has had, and will have, on women. She talks about her new book which is a collection of women’s stories of struggle and defiance from around the world. 

Listen to the podcast now.

Find out more about The Unfinished Revolution. 
 
 

 

 

Lords debate on the mixed market model in the provision of services 

In a House of Lords debate on 21 June 2012, the The Earl of Listowel questioned whether there is an overreliance on a mixed market of provision in services for the vulnerable, including in early years provision. He discussed the recently published Policy Press book Childcare Markets: Can they deliver an equitable service?, edited by Eva Lloyd and Helen Penn, saying:

 

"Local authorities now own only 24% of children's homes and large equity-based companies are the largest providers. From the report's key recommendations, we can see that this particular mixed market does not appear to be giving value for money and quality care outcomes. I recently met Eva Lloyd, reader in early childhood at the Cass School of Education and Communities at the University of East London. We discussed her book on the mixed market in early years provision, Childcare Markets: Can They Deliver an Equitable Service?... She emphasised to me that the evidence strongly indicates that our model of mixed market for early years provision in the early years area does not give the best value for money. Indeed, we have among the most costly early years provision in the world. This may in part be because we rely so heavily on large, equity-based providers for our childcare."
(The Earl of Listowel, Hansard, 21 Jun 2012 : Column 1873)

You can read the full debate here.

Find out more about Childcare Markets.

 

The Business of Social Capital 

June 13, 2012 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Room 315, Strathclyde Business School, 199 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0QU

 

This prestigious seminar hosted by Marion Allison and Dr Ralph Catts of Allimar Community Diagnostics Ltd captures the spirit of social capital, networks, renewal and growth. It will inspire and encourage debate about the approaches needed if we are to reinvigorate our world and explore how knowledge can transform lives, communities and businesses.

Drawing from their book, Social Capital, Children and Young People, Marion and Ralph will share their experiences of their recent research projects, giving an insight into their thoughts on the future of communities and share their passion for effecting change through networks. Refreshments will be included.

For catering purposes please RSVP to Marion by 12noon Monday 11th June Email: marion@allimar.co.uk. Telephone: 07903 111984 . Booking fee of £10 per person applies. Payment to be made via paypal using the above email addresshttps://www.paypal-business.co.uk/ or on arrival at the event.
 

 

Launch of Research and Evaluation for Busy Practitioners

 

Come and help us launch this book into the world in style!  At the British Library in London, on Thursday 18 October from 5.00-7.30 pm, the event will include:

* Panel discussion of research with Jane Lewis, AcSS, Research and Evaluation Consultant; Karl Wilding, Head of Research at NCVO; Simon Haslam, Board Member of the Social Research Association; and Helen Kara, independent researcher and author of Research and Evaluation for Busy Practitioners
* Exhibition of art by Carol Burns, illustrator of Research and Evaluation for Busy Practitioners
* Music by The Winter Quartet
* Reception with drinks and nibbles

Admission is free, but you need to book a ticket, which you can do by sending your name and address to tpp-marketing@bristol.ac.uk

The event will be held in the staff restaurant of the British Library, which will be clearly signposted from the Library's main entrance on Euston Road, in between Euston and King's Cross/St Pancras stations.  We look forward to seeing you there!
 

How should social scientists respond to the financial crisis?

Have social scientists failed to seize the moment and respond effectively to the global crisis of capitalism? Such criticisms were asserted by Aditya Chakrabortty in a recent Guardian column and Policy Press has been exploring the issues surrounding his piece on our blog.

Bill Jordan (Why the Third Way Failed, Welfare and Wellbeing) started the debate with his response to Chakrabortty's article. Following this, Peter Beresford (Supporting People)wondered whether both Jordan and Chakrabortty were looking in the wrong direction, and asked 'What about the role being played by service users in the economic crisis?'. The most recent post from Dr. Nasar Meer and Dr. Katherine Smith offers a new angle on the debate and is entitled Hedgehogs, Foxes and Sociologists.

Please do leave a comment on any of these blog posts to let us know your views, or add to and follow the discussion on Twitter: @policypress 
 

Watch the launch of Knowledge, Policy and Power in International Development 

You can now watch video from the launch of Knowledge, Policy and Power in International Development, as well as viewing presentations and reading notes from the event.

Those participating in the event were:

Speakers:
Dr Philip Davies - Deputy Director, Systematic Reviews, 3ie
Mr. Tony Dogbe - Managing Director, Participatory Development Associates (PDA – Ghana)
Louise Shaxson - Book Author and Research Fellow, Research and Policy In Development (RAPID) programme, ODI
Harry Jones - Book Author and Research Fellow, Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme, ODI 
Discussant:
Dr Annette Boaz - Lecturer in Translational Research, King’s College London
Chair:
Simon Maxwell -  Senior Research Associate, ODI, and Executive Chair,  Climate & Development Knowledge Network

 Watch video from the event online.  
 

Policy & Politics now using Editorial Manager 

Policy & Politics is a multi-disciplinary journal published by The Policy Press which advances knowledge in social and public policy. The journal has recently started using Editorial Manager (EM); an online article submission and editorial system. This coincides with the 40th anniversary of Policy & Politics in 2012 and provides an important step forward in the journal's development.

Those who contribute to Policy & Politics by submitting or refereeing a paper will from now on need to login to the new EM site, which can be accessed at http://www.editorialmanager.com/policypol/

A group of potential reviewers were emailed recently to let them know about the move to EM and all those who registered by a certain date were entered into a prize draw. Congratulations to Professor Michael Noble who won £50 worth of Policy Press books!

Find out more about Policy & Politics including how to sign up for a free trial. If you have any questions about Editorial Manager or encounter problems using it, please click the ‘contact us’ link in the main navigation bar or email Laura Vickers at: tpp-pp@bristol.ac.uk.

ARCHIVE

 

Deadline for papers for Policy & Politics Conference: 20 April 
 

 
Policy & Politics celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012, and the 2012 Policy & Politics conference seeks to explore contemporary policy issues within the context of these past 40 years.

Papers are invited in any area of public or social policy. In writing their papers authors are requested to reflect briefly on their topic within the context of the discipline over the past 40 years and speculate on future policy directions. Abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words and authors, affiliations and contact details clearly stated. Please note the deadline is 20 April.

Find out more or submit an abstract here.

 

Drinks reception at the British Sociological Association conference

The Policy Press and the Editorial Management Board will be hosting a drinks reception at the BSA conference in Leeds to celebrate the launch of their new journal Families, Relationships and Societies (FRS).

FRS is a new social science journal designed to advance scholarship and debate in the growing field of families and relationships across the life course. The reception will be held on Thursday 12th April, from 7.15 to 8.15 at The Policy Press exhibition stand 8 and 9. 

Download the invitation (pdf)

Sir Malcolm Jack's Lecture 
 

This year's Policy & Politics Annual Lecture was given on 29 March 2012 by Sir Malcolm Jack, Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive from 2006 to 2011. This informative and topical lecture was entitled Parliamentary Privilege: a dignified or efficient part of the Constitution. The lecture is now available to download as a pdf here.
 

 

Policy Press Scholarship Online now live

 

 

We are delighted to announce that Policy Press Scholarship Online (PPSO) is now live: http://policypress.universitypressscholarship.com/ on OUP’s University Press Scholarship Online (UPSO) platform, with nearly 300 digital titles across three major subject areas: sociology, social work and public health and epidemiology.

Responding to increased demand for online scholarly content, UPSO streamlines the research process by making disparately published scholarship easily accessible, highly discoverable, and fully cross-searchable via one online platform. PPSO greatly enhances the ability for The Policy Press’ scholarly publishing to be found and used by academics globally.
 

For academics, researchers and libraries in the field, it has the following benefits. You can:
• Filter results to view your subject specializations or to find the latest scholarship in the field
• Save time with at-a-glance keywords and abstracts at both book and chapter levels
• Quickly build bibliographies with automatic exports citations to RefWorks, Endnote, Reference Manager, Zotero, and ProCite
• Save links to favourite books, chapters and searches within a personalization area to save for a future session
• Use content as you prefer - whether on screen, printed, downloaded to PDF, emailed, or shared via social sites
• Make use of the attractive design for readability, functionality, and ease-of-use
 

 

Policy & Politics Annual Lecture:
Parliamentary Privilege: a dignified or efficient part of the constitution?
 

University of Bristol, 29 March 2012, 6 pm

Guest Speaker: Sir Malcolm Jack KCB PhD

Members of the Board of Policy & Politics invite you to the sixteenth Policy & Politics Annual lecture:
'What is parliamentary privilege; why is it needed, does it need to be codified?'

The lecture considers the meaning of parliamentary privilege, defining the nature of those unique rights and immunities enjoyed by MPs and members of the House of Lords in the context of the functioning of modern parliamentary democracy.

Malcolm Jack was Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive from 2006 to 2011. In that role he was principal adviser to the Speaker and the House on parliamentary privilege and procedure and head of the House of Commons Service.

View more information here, or to reserve a place, please email pp-lecture@bristol.ac.uk

 

 

Bath Literature Festival debate: 'Are politicians and the media as bad as each other?'
 

Malcolm Dean, author of Democracy under attack, spoke in a debate at the Bath Literature Festival on Sunday 11th March on the topic of “Are politicians and the media as bad as each other?”. Hosted by Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas, Malcolm was joined by Chris Blackwood, editor of The Independent and MPS Tristram Hunt and Don Foster. The lively debate lasted for about an hour and questions and comments were taken from the floor. Afterwards, Malcolm signed copies of his book for audience members.

 

Invitation to the launch of 'Effective Safeguarding for Children and Young People: What Next After Munro?', Tuesday 7 February, London

Policy Press colleagues and customers are invited to the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Child Protection on Tuesday 7 February, 1-2pm, in room W4 in the House of Commons. This meeting will examine the issues raised in Effective Safeguarding for Children and Young People: What Next After Munro? edited by Maggie Blyth and Enver Solomon.

Speakers will examine how effective Local Safeguarding Children Boards are in providing the necessary scrutiny to ensure children are safe, how the proposed early offer of help at local level might reduce the numbers of children at the critical end of the spectrum and whether reducing regulation from the centre will result in better outcomes for the most vulnerable. They will also discuss those young people who traditionally bypass child protection services but remain at risk of harm. These are critical questions for both policy and practice in understanding the government's new approach to child protection.

Speakers include:
Maggie Blyth (Independent Chair of Kent Safeguarding Children Board)
Enver Solomon (Policy Director, Children’s Society)
Maggie Atkinson (Children’s Commissioner for England)
Professor Eileen Munro (London School of Economics) (Invited)
 

 

Companion website: Understanding disability policy

 
   

A companion website for Understanding disability policy by Alan Roulstone and Simon Prideaux (pictured) is now available. This is an essential resource for lecturers and students using the book in courses and includes:

• Why the authors wrote the book
• Sample chapter
• Resources for lecturers including essay questions and guidance
• Resources for students including: policy themes, key legislation, web resources, further reading

It is available here, where lecturers can also sign up for access to the resources. The book is also available on inspection for people leading a course of at least 12 students. 

You can order the book at 20% discount from our website. 

 

Podcast now available for Children's social and emotional wellbeing in schools
 

We are pleased to be able to offer an interview with Carl Emery, co-author, about the book as a podcast which you can download from the book's page on our website. 

By Debbie Watson, Carl Emery and Phillip Bayliss, with Margaret Boushel and Karen McInnes, Children's social and emotional wellbeing in schools publishes today, 18 January. The book challenges the concept of wellbeing as applied to children, particularly in a school-based context. Taking a post-structural approach, it suggests that wellbeing should be understood, and experiences revealed, at the level of the subjective child. This runs counter to contemporary accounts that reduce children's wellbeing to objective lists of things that are needed in order to live well. It will be useful for academics and practitioners working directly with children, and anyone interested in children's wellbeing.

The book has recently been discussed in an article in The Guardian and you can also read a news story from the University of Bristol here. 






 

COMPETITION!
What policy do you think could make a difference in 2012? 

Policy & Politics Annual Lecture
 

Image (left to right): Eva Lloyd, University of Bristol, Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol, Chris Mullin, Judith Squires, Dean of Social Sciences & Law, University of Bristol

The Annual Policy & Politics lecture, given by Chris Mullin and entitled "In Defence of Politics", was held at the University of Bristol on 1 December. The packed audience heard Chris speak about his long career as an MP, minister and latterly political diarist and novelist. He also spoke about his current concerns, including environmental issues, which provoked a lively debate.

Launch of The Future of Sustainable Cities
 

A launch was recently held at the University of Sheffield for The Future of Sustainable Cities: Critical Reflections. It was supported by The Policy Press, the Housing Studies Association and the University of Sheffield.
 

Critical perspectives on user involvement: author interview 

Leadership and the reform of education: author interview 

Launch of Democracy under attack

11 November 2011 

  
Images: Democracy under attack and its author Malcolm Dean

Democracy under attack: How the media distort policy and politics by former Guardian journalist Malcolm Dean was launched on 9 November at Dr Johnson’s house in London. The event was attended by a wide range of people including peers from the House of Lords, journalists, academics and students. Speakers included Peter Preston, former editor of The Guardian and Howard Glennester, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, London School of Economics.

 

 Launch of Where next for criminal justice?
 

7 November 2011
 

  

Image: authors David Faulkner and Ros Burnett

Where next for criminal justice? by David Faulkner & Ros Burnett was launched at a seminar on 2 November hosted by the Centre for Criminology and held in the Manor Road Building at Oxford University.

Speakers included Dame Anne Owers (former Chief Inspector of Prisons) and Professor Andrew Ashworth (Vinerian Professor of English Law, All Souls) and it was chaired by Professor Ian Loader. It was well attended by a large audience of practitioners, policymakers, academics and students.
 

Blue plaque for Richard Titmuss unveiled
 

4 November 2011
 

Image: Titmuss' daughter Ann Oakley and Howard Glennerster, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, LSE

On 26 October a blue plaque was unveiled to Richard Titmuss at his home in Acton, west London by his daughter Ann Oakley. It is believed that this is one of the first blue plaques for someone who has made a contribution to social policy. The Policy Press is delighted to have published volumes celebrating Richard Titmuss' work (Welfare and wellbeing , Private complaints and public health) and books by Ann Oakley (The Ann Oakley reader , Fracture).

Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize 2011

13 October 2011



Image: Randall Smith receives the Peter Townsend Policy Press prize from Baroness Corston.

The Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize for 2011 has been awarded in a ceremony in London last night to Ms Julia Johnson, Ms Sheena Rolph and Mr Randall Smith for Residential Care Transformed: Revisiting ‘The Last Refuge’ (Palgrave MacMillan).

Professor Townsend was one of the most distinguished global figures in contemporary social policy and sociology and was formerly Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Senior Research Fellow in the School for Policy Studies. The Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize, supported by the British Academy and The Policy Press, has been established to honour his memory following his death in 2009.

'Meet the authors' at the ESA
30 September 2011



Image: Julia Johnson and Bill Bytheway at the 'Meet the authors’ session at the European Sociological Association conference

Policy Press author Bill Bytheway (Unmasking age, June 2011) took part in the ‘Meet the authors’ session at the European Sociological Association conference this month. ‘Residential care transformed’ by Julia Johnson, Sheena Rolph and Randall Smith, was the winner of the Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize in 2011.

 

'How to get to the policing top': Bryn Caless in The Guardian

NAO report highlights shortcomings in reforms to care service funding

New US distributor: University of Chicago Press

Podcasts now available on YouTube

'Family futures' launch podcast now available

Launch of The well-being of children in the UK (Third edition)

4 August 2011



Image: Jonathan Bradshaw speaks at the launch of 'The well-being of children in the UK'

The well-being of children in the UK (Third edition), edited by Jonathan Bradshaw, was launched at a wine reception at the International Conference for Child Indicators at the University of York on 27 July. Jonathan Bradshaw spoke about the book followed by Pete Dwyer, Director of Adults, Children and Education, City of York Council.

 

Launch of 'Unmasking age' at the BSG

28 July 2011



Image: Bill Bytheway signs copies of his new book, 'Unmasking age', at the BSG conference.

Unmasking age by Bill Bytheway was launched at this year's British Society of Gerontology conference earlier this month. Thanks to all of you who came to the event - it was a great success. You can read a copy of the author's speech here (PDF, 13kb).


 

In the midst of conference season

6 July 2011





This week we have been at the British Society of Criminology Conference in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the Social Policy Association Conference in Lincoln and at the British Society of Gerontology Conference in Plymouth. All of these events have gone really well for us and we've enjoyed meeting so many members of the Policy Press community. Thanks for coming to visit our stands!

Images: Top: Our stand at the SPA; Bottom: Ann Moore, our Sales & Distribution Manager, at the SPA.


 

Policy Press author on the Oxfam Trailwalker Challenge

23 June 2011

Andrew Beer, one of the authors of Housing transitions though the life course, is taking part in the Oxfam Trailwalker Challenge in Sydney on 26-28 August 2011.

Teams of four walk 100km of Australian bush within 48 hours and make a difference by raising funds to help overcome poverty around the world.

To find out more and to support Andrew's team visit their page on the Oxfam Trailwalker website.

Poor Kids documentary on BBC1

8 June 2011

Following the shocking documentary Poor Kids on BBC1 last night, the need for change is still clear. This month Fighting poverty, inequality and injustice makes a vital statement in the cause of social justice, following the work of Peter Townsend. Bringing together many of the leading contributors in the field, it provides a compelling manifesto for change.

 

High-profile figures call to decriminalise drug possession

Policy & Politics contributor wins ‘Professional of the Year’ award

2 June 2011 



Image: Winners of the 2011 Asian Women on Achievement Awards with Dianne Brightmore-Armour (CEO of Lloyds Corporate Markets) and Kamel Hothi (Director of Lloyds TSB's Asian Markets Division). Dr Aisha Gill appears fifth from left.

'Modernising the other: assessing the ideological underpinnings of the policy discourse on forced marriage in the UK' by Aisha Gill and Trishima Mitra-Kahn is now available on Policy & Politics fast-track.

Dr Aisha Gill was crowned the winner of the ‘Professional of the Year’ award at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards on 19 May 2011. Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Roehampton University, Dr Gill specialises in health and criminal justice responses to violence against black, minority ethnic and refugee women in Britain.

The accomplishments of Dr Gill were celebrated along with nine other pioneering Asian women at the awards ceremony on London’s Park Lane which was attended by the Home Secretary Theresa May, entrepreneur James Caan and wife of deputy prime minister, Miriam Clegg.

 

New 'Bankrupt Britain' atlas shows austerity hitting the poor rather than the rich

23 May 2011 

Bankrupt Britain: An atlas of social change by Danny Dorling and Bethan Thomas showing the rich getting richer and the poor poorer is published today and was covered in Saturday's Guardian. Read the press release here for futher information about its findings.

Our Commissioning Editor, Emily, completes the London Marathon!

20 April 2011



Image: Emily still looking happy at the 24.5 mile mark!

Huge congratulations to Emily Watt, one of our Commissioning Editors, who completed the London Marathon on Sunday.

Emily was raising money for both the The Prostate Cancer Charity, who fund research, provide support and information and campaign to improve the lives of men with prostate cancer, and Hop, Skip & Jump, a play and support centre that provides a safe haven for children and young people with any special need.

An amazing achievement and a lot of money raised for two very important charities. Well done!
 

London Bookfair 2011

15 April 2011

We had a very successful time at this year's London Book Fair. Our staff who attended had meetings with our international and UK sales reps and distributors, printers, e-providers and with other publishers. There was a great atmosphere at the event this year and we were proud to be part of it.

Launch of the paperback of Injustice

13 April 2011



Image: Danny Dorling speaks at the launch of the paperback of Injustice

The launch event for the paperback of Injustice: Why social inequality persists was held on publication day, 5th April 2011, at the Friends Meeting House in Manchester, organised by the Equality NW group. Around 140 people came to hear Danny Dorling speak about Injustice, inequality and the cuts and enjoy refreshments. Waterstones booksellers had a stall and did a brisk trade.

 

Evidence & Policy accepted for Thomson Reuters ISI Social Sciences Citation Index

Launch of The Migration Observatory

30 March 2011

Yesterday saw the launch of The Migration Observatory based at Oxford University’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS). By providing independent, evidence-based analysis about migration and immigration issues it will help to inform the migration debate in the UK. The Observatory’s website offers accessible but comprehensive analysis of key subjects, in-depth analysis of migration policy issues, news and commentary, and data and resources.

An interview about the launch with Dr Martin Ruhs, Director of the Migration Observatory, is available to listen to on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Sarah Spencer, author of The migration debate, publishing in June, is Deputy Director of COMPAS and the Observatory. Details of other relevant Policy Press titles can be found on our migration and immigration subject pages.


 

Injustice commended in Bristol Festival of Ideas book prize

Doing something funny for money for Red Nose Day

18 March 2011



We held a 'funny for money' coffee break this morning donating money to Comic Relief for some lovely bunny biscuits and honey cakes (can you spot the theme!).

If you'd like to donate money to Comic Relief please go to https://www.rednoseday.com/donate


 

Celebrating International Women's Day

10 March 2011



Image: Helen Woodford (left), Sales Assistant, and Ann Moore, Sales and Distribution Manager, host a soup lunch for International Women's Day

International Women's Day was on the 8 March to celebrate women's achievements and raise money for women in poverty around the world. Our wonderful Sales Team hosted a soup lunch and we donated money in return for delicious home-made soup and bread.

Please visit the Oxfam website to find out more about the work the charity is doing and read the incredible stories about women around the world.

We publish many books on gender and sexuality that you may also be interested in. Visit our Gender and Sexuality subject page to find out more.


 

BBC2's 'When Teenage Meets Old Age'

New report highlights poor treatment of elderly patients in the NHS

Daniel Ben-Ami in Economist debate on the global elite

Voluntary Sector Review: free online trial now available

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales speaks at Bristol University

13 January 2011

Jimmy Wales, the man behind Wikipedia, will be speaking at the University of Bristol today to mark the project's ten year anniversary. His public talk will cover the project's history and plans for future development.

The talk is fully booked but a link to a live webcast of the event can be found at Bristol University's Public and Ceremonial Events website.

 

Call for the decriminalisation of drugs

16 December 2010

Following Bob Ainsworth's call today for drugs to be decriminalised, Philip Bean’s book Legalising drugs is a timely examination of the issues surrounding the matter, examining the proposals to provide a balanced account of the debate.
 

Season’s greetings from The Policy Press

Frank Field's poverty report

3 December 2010

In a report published today Labour MP Frank Field says that improving life chances for the under 5s is the key to reducing social inequality. He argues that providing better support for parents of young children is more important than increasing benefits. "Parents are the key drivers in determining their children's life chances", says Field, who wants all schools to teach parenting and life skills.

The links between childhood, policy and life chances are examined in many of our titles including Child poverty, evidence and policy, Children of the 21st century, Towards a more equal society? and Fighting poverty, inequality and injustice.

 

The Peter Townsend Policy Press Prize
 

2 December 2010

The British Academy, with the support of The Policy Press, is pleased to announce that it will award a biennial prize to commemorate the life and work of Peter Townsend. He was a former Fellow of the Academy, who died in 2009 after a long and remarkable career. The prize of £2,000 will be awarded to the author of what the Academy judges to be a piece of outstanding work with policy relevance and academic merit. The work can consist of a book, an article, a book in more than one volume or a series of closely related articles. The topic must fall within one or more of the fields to which Townsend made a major contribution - poverty and inequality, ageing and the lives of older people, disability, or inequalities in health. It can be by anyone whose habitual residence is the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man: it must be written in the English language and published within five years of the closing date for nominations (15th February 2011).

Nomination forms may be downloaded from the British Academy web site where further details of the award may be obtained. Questions may also be addressed to Angela Pusey (A.Pusey@britac.ac.uk).

Peter Townsend (1927-2009), was an internationally renowned academic and campaigner for the poor. In the 1950s he challenged the view that the problem of poverty had been solved by the welfare legislation of the 1940s. He argued that poverty must be seen as a relative measure and that the state should seek to remove it by securing a minimum standard of living that would enable all its citizens to participate in the living conditions and amenities ‘which are customary, or at least widely approved, in the society to which they belong'. He undertook detailed studies of the lives of older people and those with disabilities, seeking to understanding their needs and campaigning for them to be met.

The Policy Press has published several books by and about Peter Townsend, including the forthcoming Fighting poverty, inequality and injustice: A manifesto inspired by Peter Townsend edited by Alan Walker, Adrian Sinfield and Carol Walker.

The true levels of hate crime in Britain

Danny Dorling on closing the great pay divide

David Cameron launches the National Wellbeing Project

Stepping back to the 80s for Pudsey

19 November 2010

Policy Press staff have dressed up in their best 1980s outfits to raise money for Children in Need. With all the neon, shoulderpads and stilettos it's like the office has truly gone back in time.



(Left to right: Jess, Kathryn, Emily, Ann, Laura, Julia, Karen, Leila)

To make a donation to Children in Need go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/donate/
 

'Hidden' young carers in the UK

17 November 2010

As the BBC publishes figures suggesting there are four times as many child carers as previously thought, it brings into focus the plight of young carers once again. These issues are discussed in many of our books, including Children caring for parents with HIV and AIDS and Children caring for parents with mental illness, both currently available with 20% discount on our website.

Launch of Leading public sector innovation

11 November 2011



Christian Bason's new book, Leading public sector innovation, was launched at the Institute for Government in London yesterday. Chaired by David Albury, the event looked into the four key themes of ‘Consciousness, Capacity, Co-Creation and Courage’ with interactive workshops examining lessons for the UK at this critical time.

Image: Christian Bason
 

Danny Dorling's speaking tour

4 November 2010

Danny Dorling, author of Injustice, has written an article in the Guardian describing his recent speaking tour of schools and colleges in England. The tour aimed to gather young people’s views on inequality in Britain and revealed “a gulf in young people's ideas of where they fit into society”. To highlight the five tenets of injustice that Dorling has identified he showed students videos - these can be viewed on Youtube.

Launch of Child slavery now

14 October 2010



Child slavery now was launched at the House of Lords on 13 October hosted by Baroness Emma Nicholson. After a welcome from The Baroness and an introduction from the editor, Gary Craig, attendees heard four presentations from contributors to the book covering different themes around child trafficking:

Launch of The rural housing question

22 September 2010

A major research-based book on housing in Britain's countrysides was launched in Edinburgh on September 9. The rural housing question has been written by Dr Madhu Satsangi (University of Stirling), Professor Nick Gallent (University College London) and Dr Mark Bevan (University of York).  An invited audience of housing and planning academics, policy makers, professionals and voluntary sector officers and friends and family heard of the significant contribution made by the book from Professor Mark Shucksmith (University of Newcastle upon Tyne).

Image: the authors (from left to right), Madhu Satsangi, Nick Gallent and Mark Bevan.

Daniel Dorling on You and Yours

Policy & Politics Conference 2010

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

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

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'

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

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

The Policy Press is offering a full-time, three-year PhD studentship based in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.

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
 

[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

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

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

Inequality in Britain

Improvements in dementia services - still not a priority?

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

The Policy Press would like to wish you season’s greetings for the festive period and thank you for your contributions and support in 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

Improving social care services for adults

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

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




 

Two thirds of England and Wales prisons overcrowded

Fear of a ‘Granny P’ tragedy

UK pensioners the fourth poorest in Europe

Voluntary Sector Review - a new journal coming in 2010

Welcome to our new website

Find out more  about the plaque and Richard Titmuss' contribution on the English Heritage website.

 

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