How we work
The starting point for our work is always the data - our work is firmly evidence-based. But we do not see ourselves as number-crunchers. The key to our approach is to tell stories with the numbers we analyse to illuminate the issues. The words are at least as important as the numbers.
We are always keen to collaborate with other researchers to bring together different areas of expertise. Our recent portfolio includes work on poverty and social exclusion, energy-efficient homes, pensions and public sector funding across the UK.
Forthcoming publications
- We are currently working with Unison, the trade union, in producing an analysis of the local government workforce. How does it compare to the rest of the public sector? Is it really better paid than the private sector workforce?
- We are also working with Shelter on a market assessment of housing for older people. What are the projected trends in housing availability for older people? What is the current extent of the specialist housing stock and how well does it match demand?
- Our work with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is also ongoing. This year's Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion work will include reports on Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as our first national report that can assess the coaition's work on tackling poverty and exclusion.
Recent work
- We published our third report with the Trust for London on poverty in the capital. It is available on the website www.londonspovertyprofile.org.uk. This research builds on the report we published with the City Parochial Foundation in 2009 and 2010, and looks specifically at the issue of housing in the capital.
- Last year we also published two further reports in our Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion series - one for the whole UK, and one concentrating on issues in Wales.
- We produced a report for the public sector union Unison to analyse the Local Government Pension Scheme - its membership, provision and impact on public spending
- At the beginning of 2011, we produced a report with the Bevan Foundation for the Equalities and Human RIghts Commission in Wales. It brought together a wealth of data about inequalities between different groups, and how such inequalities differed between England and Wales.
Our track record
In the last few years, we have produced analytical reports for a range of clients in the public, private and third sectors, including
Bevan Foundation
British Red Cross
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
City Parochial Foundation/ Trust for London
Children's Workforce Development Council
Crisis
eaga Partnership Trust
Energy Retail Association
Friends Provident
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
London Play
The Raynor Foundation (now Catch 22)
Save the Children
Office for Fair Trading
Unison
Welsh Assembly Government
Read more about this work on our publications page
We have also contributed to public commissions on
The Low Review of personal mobility in state funded residential care
House of Lords review of the Barnett Formula
Treasury Select Committee
Welsh Child Poverty Strategy group
Northern Ireland Independent Water Review Panel