Wales Centre for Public Policy
By Wales Centre for Public Policy
Each episode we’ll tackle a challenge facing those of us who work across public policy in Wales, looking at the scale of the issue and what the evidence says about how we should go about tackling it.
Wales Centre for Public Policy May 29, 2020
PEP Talk Ep 14 - Loneliness, Older People and Technology
Lessons from the pandemic to help this sector of society which is particularly affected by loneliness. Join WCPP's Josh Coles-Riley, lead author of Older adults and the pandemic: tackling loneliness through technology - Professor Julie Barnett of Bath University and special guests John Gallander and Carol Barrett
Episode 13: Poverty and Mental Health
In this edition of PEP Talk Anna Skeels talks to Emma Gooding, Mike Theodoulou, and Marcel Vige about poverty in Wales, and the negative effect it can have on mental health.
You can read our work on poverty on our website: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/project/poverty-and-social-exclusion-review/
Guests:
Emma Gooding - Policy and Communications Manager, Samaritans. Samaritans is a charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide.
Mike Theodoulou - Chief Executive, Foothold Cymru. Foothold Cymru is a community-based charity working to reduce poverty and helping people exercise their own strengths and skills to achieve lasting change.
Marcel Vige - Head of Equalities Improvement, Mind. Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Episode 12: Supporting Lifelong Learning in Wales
In this live podcast and Q&A session, we discuss supporting the lifelong learning system in Wales.
Featuring:
Dr Jack Price (WCPP)
Dr Sue Pember (Holex)
Kathryn Robson (CEO, Adult Learning Wales)
You can read the full report on our website.
Episode 11: Reform of Electoral Law
In this live podcast and Q&A session, recorded ahead of the local government elections on 5 May 2022, we discuss the reform of electoral law and practice.
Featuring:
Dr Larissa Peixoto Gomes (WCPP)
Professor Laura McAllister (Cardiff University, Wales Governance Centre)
Colin Everett (Former Chief Executive, Flintshire Council).
You can read the full report on our website.
Episode 10: Education recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic
In this remotely recorded edition of PEP Talk, Manon Roberts talks to Becki Bawler and Harry Fletcher-Wood about the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic to the education system in Wales, and offer insight into the ways in which the Welsh Government and broader education system could seek to respond; with a particular focus on blended teaching and learning, and teacher professional development.
You can read our work on this topic on our website: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/project/education-attainment-responding-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
Guests:
Becki Bawler – secondary school teacher in a south Wales comprehensive and a Doctorate in Education student at Cardiff University
Harry Fletcher-Wood – former history teacher and current educational researcher, mostly focused on teacher development
Episode 9: Rural Wales Vision
In this remotely recorded edition of PEP Talk, Aimee Morse talks to Professor Michael Woods and Guto Davies about the Rural Wales Vision, a report commissioned by the Welsh Local Government Association Rural Forum to develop a strategic framework for future policy impacting on rural Wales and to identify policy asks for the Welsh and UK governments. The discussion focuses on the references to agriculture as the Rural Wales Vision aims to enhance and complement future agricultural policy by addressing a range of challenges, including through investing in the skills base and activities to add value to the range of primary products derived from farming activity.
You can read our work on this topic on our website: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/collaboration-and-policy-implementation-at-the-local-level-in-wales/
Guests:
Professor Michael Woods - Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University and Co-director of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research.
Guto Davies - Member of the Sustainable Management Scheme funded Fferm Ifan Farmer Group and tenant farmer on the National Trust Ysbyty Ifan estate.
Episode 8: Improving race equality in Wales
In this remotely recorded edition of PEP Talk Manon Roberts talks to Professor Charlotte Williams and Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna about the nature and scale of racial inequality in Wales, with a focus on education and health and social care, and offer insight into the ways in which the Welsh Government could seek to respond, particularly with their forthcoming Race Equality Action Plan.
You can read our work on race in equality on our website: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/improving-race-equality-in-wales/
Guests:
Professor Charlotte Williams OBE - Honorary Professor at Bangor University and Chair of the ‘Communities, contributions and cynefin: BAME experiences and the new curriculum’ working group.
Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna - Professor of Management and Organisation at Cardiff Business School and Chair of the First Minister’s BAME COVID-19 Socioeconomic Subgroup.
Episode 7: Post-Brexit Migration and Wales
In this remotely recorded edition of PEP Talk Dr Craig Johnson speaks to Professor Jonathan Portes, Dr Sarah Kyambi, and Llyr ap Gareth about the likely impacts of post-Brexit migration policies, and they offer insight into the ways in which the Welsh Government could seek to respond to the challenges and maximise the opportunities that the new migration rules will present.
You can read our work on Brexit and its implications for Wales on our website: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/our-work/brexit
Guests:
Professor Jonathan Portes – Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the School of Politics & Economics, King's College, London.
Dr Sarah Kyambi – Director of Migration Policy Scotland .
Llyr ap Gareth – Senior Policy Advisor at the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) Wales.
Episode 6: Tackling loneliness in and out of lockdown - the role of good communication
In this remotely recorded edition of PEP Talk Laura Bennett speaks to Clare Delargy and Robin Hewings about loneliness during lockdown, and the importance of meaningful, clear, and effective communication; particularly from public services and Government sources. You can read our report on Loneliness in the Lockdown on our website by visiting: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/loneliness-in-the-lockdown/
Guests:
Clare Delargy – Principal Advisor at the UK Behavioural Insights Team
Robin Hewings – Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research at the Campaign to End Loneliness
Episode 5: Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation during Lockdown
In this special lockdown version of PEP Talk, Dr Hannah Durrant talks to Professor Julie Barnett about loneliness and social isolation during the Coronavirus lockdown, and the role of technology in alleviating those experiences. You can read our report on Loneliness in the Lockdown on our website by visiting: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/loneliness-in-the-lockdown/
Guest:
Julie Barnett – Professor of Health Psychology, University of Bath.
Episode 4: The Value of Trade Unions in Wales
This episode we look at value of trade unions in Wales, and how they might respond to the challenges and opportunities of the current economic context. You can read our report on the value of trade unions in Wales on our website by visiting: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/the-value-of-trade-unions-in-wales/
Guests:
Nisreen Mansour - Policy Officer at the Wales TUC
Professor Alan Felstead - Research Professor at Cardiff University's School of Social Science
Dr Craig Johnson - Research Associate at the Wales Centre for Public Policy
Episode 3: Gender Equality
We ask what gender equality looks like in practical terms, what it looks like in other countries, and what still needs to happen before reaching the Welsh Government's aim of becoming the UK's first feminist government. You can read more about our work on gender budgeting and learning from Nordic nations at www.wcpp.org.uk/project/gender-equality-in-wales/. You can read the Gender Equality review in full on Chwarae Teg's website: www.chwaraeteg.com/projects/gender-equality-review/
Guests:
Cerys Furlong - Chief Executive of Chwarae Teg
Dr Angela O'Hagan - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences in the Glasgow School for Business and Society, and Deputy Director of the Wise Centre for Economic Justice
Magnus Jacobson - Gender expert and Communication Strategist at the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)
Episode 2: Council Tax and Vulnerable Debtors
This episode we look at the issue of council tax and vulnerable debtors. We ask why the number of people in council tax arrears in Wales is increasing, what factors are underpinning it, how council deal with the issue, and what better solutions are there for dealing with it. You can read more about our work on council tax debt by visiting www.wcpp.org.uk/project/alternatives-to-prosecuting-vulnerable-debtors/
Guests:
Dr Helen Hodges – Research Officer at the Wales Centre for Public Policy
Professor Sharon Collard –Research Director of the Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol
Lee Phillips - Wales Manager, Money and Pensions Advice Service
Episode 1: Youth Homelessness
This episode we look at the issue of youth homelessness. We ask how youth homelessness is defined, what the situation is here in Wales, what's being done to tackle the issue, and what further steps need to be taken to eradicate it completely. You can read more about our work on youth homelessness by visiting www.wcpp.org.uk/project/youth-homelessness-prevention-pathways/
Guests:
Frances Beecher - Chief Executive Officer of Llamau
Jonathan Webb - Former Research Officer at the Wales Centre for Public Policy
Kaitlin Schwan – Senior Researcher at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, based at York University
The episode also includes a pre-recorded interview with independent housing researcher, Tamsin Stirling, who we asked about how well local authorities across Wales are working to get to grips with youth homelessness in their communities
Additional information:
If you, or anyone you know, is affected by youth homelessness you can call the Youth Homeless Helpline on 0800 3280292. It provides vital out-of-hours support for young people who find themselves without a safe place to spend the night. It is open through the night and on weekends.
*This episode of PEP talk was recorded in November 2018, before the change of government, and new First Minister of Wales.*
PEP Talk - Trailer
PEP Talk, a new podcast coming soon from the Wales Centre for Public Policy, will explore policy, evidence and practice in Wales.