GCU SPIRU

09/07/2025

Making a difference with students through impactful research

It's not often that a 'client' takes the time to report back on the impact that your research/evaluation has had on their organisation/operations. And that's understandable, as they are often time-pressed and have more pressing priorities. That makes any feedback even more special.

I received this lovely email this week from Gayle Brannigan, CEO of the St Mirren Charitable Foundation, asking me to pass on her thanks to Glasgow Caledonian University students for the research support they provided as part of the SPIRU GCU Work Placement module, back in 2023/24.

St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation does a power of good work in Renfrewshire and we are glad to be able to support their endeavours.

St Mirren FC
Glasgow Caledonian University
GCU Student Life

06/10/2024

To mark the start of Challenge Poverty Week 2024, the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University is pleased to announce that the TACKLING POVERTY LOCALLY DIRECTORY has reached the milestone of its 50th case study. With the support of the Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, we are able to share details - including a how-to guide for each case study - of the breadth of local action being undertaken to tackle poverty in Scotland (and beyond).

We would be very grateful if you could share this post and spread the news.

1 in 5 (Edinburgh) - increasing awareness of poverty and supporting schools to mitigate impacts of child poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/009-edinburgh-1-in-5

Aberdeen is Jist Scunnered (Aberdeen) - creating support networks and promoting political activism to tackle poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/097-aberdeen-is-jist-scunnered

Advice Works (Renfrewshire) - Automatic Offer of Advice to Those Claiming Free School Meals / Clothing Grants/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/advice-works

Anti-Poverty Task Force (Perth & Kinross Council) - a coordinated multi-agency response to the cost-of-living crisis/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/007-perth-and-kinross-council-anti-poverty-task-force

Boosting Budgets (Fife Council) - financial capability group for parents and carers to maximise incomes/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/063-boosting-budgets

Changing the Rules (throughout UK) - participatory policy-development workshops/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/025-changing-the-rules-trussell-trust

Children’s Scorecard (Perth & Kinross Council) - measuring Council service responses to lived experience feedback/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/003-childrens-scorecard

Cost of Living Road Shows (Angus) - mobile initiative giving advice on available cost-of-living support/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/071-angus-cost-of-living-roadshow

Employability and Adult Learning (Glasgow) - support and upskilling to enter education or employment/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/017-employability-and-adult-learning

Energy Support Unit (Point and Sandwick, Isle of Lewis) - cash-first support and advice to mitigate fuel poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/010-western-isles-energy-support-unit

Equipped for Learning (Midlothian) - providing digital devices for learning for pupils and classrooms/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/087-equipped-for-learning

Fa’side Community Kitchen (Tranent, East Lothian) - volunteer led community food initiative/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/046-faside-community-kitchen

Fife Stigma Toolkit (throughout UK) - challenging poverty related stigma and informing of best practice at local level/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/055-fife-stigma-toolkit

Financial Insecurity Fund (Perth & Kinross Council) - financial assistance with debt for those with no recourse to public funds/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/008-pkc-financial-insecurity-fund

Financial Services, Education and Mentorship Hub (Glasgow) - employability support through upskilling in financial services/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/107-financial-services,-education-and-mentorship-hub-dawsun

Forgewood Community Cinema (Motherwell) - alleviating socioeconomic pressures by providing free cultural experiences/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/066-forgewood-community-cinema

Fun and Food (Dundee) - mitigating impacts of child poverty and addressing food insecurity during school holidays/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/013-fun-and-food-dundee-bairns

Grafix Design Studio and Print Shop (East Ayrshire) - a social enterprise providing work opportunities and employability skills/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/grafix-design-studio-and-print-shop

Healthier Wealthier Children (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) - income maximisation support to prevent child poverty during early years/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/healthier-wealthier-children

Homelessness Prevention Fund and Tenant Hardship Fund (Angus Council) - financial assistance to help with housing related debt/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/036-angus-homelessness-prevention-fund

Household Support Fund (Falkirk Council) - reducing the need for crisis support through cash-first approach/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/household-support-fund

Inclusive Homework Club (South Glasgow) - educational support for refugees, people seeking asylum, and ethnic minorities/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/076-inclusive-homework-club

Linlathen Local Fairness Initiative (Linlathen, Dundee) - holistic community development through coordinated multi-organisational interventions/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/030-linlathen-local-fairness-initiative

Lived Experience Informed Letter for Benefit Entitlement (NHS Ayrshire and Arran) - producing user-friendly formal communication to increase loss of earnings repayment uptake/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/lived-experience-informed-letter-for-benefit-entitlement

Lived Experiences Online Forum (Aberdeenshire Council) - facilitating a discussion space to gather lived experience feedback on poverty services/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/aberdeenshire-lived-experiences-online-forum

Lone Parents, Poverty and Work (Fife) - lifting lone parents out of poverty through employment/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/006-lone-parents-poverty-and-work

Making it Work for Lone Parents (Mid Fife) - tackling child poverty by supporting parent employability/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/011-making-it-work-for-lone-parents

Maximise Angus! (Angus Council) - maximising family incomes to mitigate child poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/064-maximise-angus!

Maximising Incomes for Families (Falkirk) - increasing family incomes from benefits/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/061maximising-incomes-for-families

Midlothian Reheatable Foods Service (Midlothian Council) - delivering ready-made meals to mitigate effects of cost-of-living crisis/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/086-midlothian-reheatable-foods-service

Midlothian Wash and Dry Laundry Service (Midlothian Council) - free laundry services to mitigate financial pressures/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/midlothian-wash-and-dry-laundry-service

Moray School Bank (Moray) - alleviating financial strains on families by providing school related material support and activities/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/119-moray-school-bank

Musicares (Scotland) - free music-making activities for care experienced youth/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/musicares

My Academic Family (Glasgow City) - information and academic support for first generation students/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/045-my-academic-family

NHSGGC Emergency Food on Discharge (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) - mitigating immediate food poverty for discharged NHS patients/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/095-nhsggc-emergency-food-on-discharge

NHSGGC Hospital Crisis Home Energy Service (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) - mitigating impact of fuel poverty for discharged patients/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/nhsggc-hospital-crisis-home-energy-service

NHSGGC Staff Crisis Fund (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) - poverty mitigation support to NHS staff/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/case-study-5

No One Left Behind (Salford City Council) - strategic approach to tackling the root causes of poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/039-salford-city-council-tackling-poverty-strategy-no-one-left-behind

One Pot at a Time (Tameside Council) - slow cooker project/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/tameside-slow-cooker-project-one-pot-at-a-time

Onwards and Upwards (Falkirk) - targeted student support to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/062-onwards-and-upwards-programme

PEEK Project (Glasgow) - fostering personal growth by engaging children and young people in extracurriculars/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/054-peek

Poverty Needs Assessment strategy (Tameside Council) - strategy providing empirically validated insight into local poverty instigators/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/040-tameside-poverty-needs-assessment

Private Rented Sector Support Hub (Glasgow City Council) - helping families sustain Private Rented Sector tenancies/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/case-study-3

Rough Sleeping in Coventry (Coventry) - legislative theatre to raise awareness of rough sleeping and embed participatory approaches to public bodies/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/018-legislative-theatre-coventry-rough-sleepers

Star Project (Renfrewshire) - holistic community development project delivering a range of creative services to tackle poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/043-star-project

The Equal Programme (North Ayrshire) - employment support for people with physical, mental health, or neurological conditions affecting ability to work/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/the-equal-programme

Think Poverty (Falkirk Council) - raising awareness of the impact of poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/case-study-2

Threehills Community Supermarket (Glasgow) - affordable supermarket and community resource facilities/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/threehills-community-supermarket

Trusted Partner Model (Midlothian) - a cash-first initiative for food and fuel poverty/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/midlothian-trusted-partner-model

We Asked, You Said, We Did (North Lanarkshire) - campaigning and advocating for cost-of-living support for unpaid carers/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/080-north-lanarkshire-carers-together

Workforce Mobility Project (ESES City Region) - reducing transport barriers to employment, training and education/ / /https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/056-workforce-mobility-project

23/09/2024

Great start to the week, as the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU) welcomed ten new starts - ten SPIRU Student Researchers start out their work with the Unit on our Work Placement module for degree-level Social Sciences students.

Glasgow Caledonian University
GCU Social Scientists

14/09/2024

One for the diary.

Professor Angela O'Hagan is returning to GCU in her new capacity as Chair of Scotland's Human Rights Commission to deliver the Annual Challenge Poverty Week lecture, co-hosted by SPIRU and The Poverty Alliance.

Date: October 10th 2024
Time: 1800-2000
Where: Glasgow Caledonian University

Registration now open:

Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Angela O'Hagan, to deliver the Challenge Poverty Week 2024 Lecture

20/06/2024

Did you know... ⁉️

DAWSUN - Financial Services, Education and Mentorship Hub is number 107 on the Tackling Poverty Locally Directory!?

What is it!? 🤔

The Financial Services, Education and Mentorship Hub provides holistic training and expert mentorship for people with ethnic minority backgrounds and from Glasgow communities experiencing high levels of multiple deprivation.

The project facilitates access to employment in the financial service sector, and focuses this especially on women in ethnic minority groups who are traditionally underrepresented in the financial service sector. ♀️

They enable individuals to increase their financial literacy and skills in financial risk management, application of big data analytics, financial assets valuation and wealth management.

DAWSUN has been delivering the project in two post code areas in Glasgow since 2023. 👥

Can your organisation also benefit from the the directory? We think it can, so drop us a message. Let's work together! 💪

Read more about Dawsun and our Directory below. Just CLICK THE LINK. 👇

The Glasgow School for Business and Society integrates the areas of business, law and social sciences to ensure that they are well placed to meet the needs of business and society. The School has an international outlook and is committed to developing partnerships across the world.

05/06/2024

Good morning, everyone! 😍

Miserable, cold and wet day here in Glasgow... but what's new!? 🥶

We have a brand new update to the Tackling Poverty Locally Directory!

The fantastic, Forgewood Community Cinema (number 66 in the Directory) which can be found in the Forgewood Community Centre. 🎬📽️

The cinema alleviates socioeconomic pressures on community members with children by providing targeted activities such as holiday screenings. Delivered by Forgewood Housing Co-operative, the cinema has been running in Forgewood from 2019 and currently has not set end date.

Forgewood Community Cinema facilitates access to cultural experiences by providing free cinema screenings at a community centre. Those coming along are provided with snacks and drinks on arrival.

Go check it out, and spread the word too.

Inspiring work! 👏👏

Urban entertainment poverty project community cinema aimed at strengthening the sociocultural experiences of a low percentile SIMD ranked community. Providing a free at point of access, fixed community base within Forgewood’s Community Centre, the project provides a venue for social interaction, e...

30/04/2024

Tomorrow we welcome Dr. Michael Vallely back to GCU. Michael is a GCU Accountancy graduate, who progressed to a Ph.D. in Economics (University of Glasgow), before securing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin.

Michael will share this thoughts on Mental health and wellbeing trajectories from childhood to young adulthood: Evidence from Growing Up in Ireland.

This seminar is jointly convened with CAHRG and the Department of Social Sciences (all are welcome either in-person on Wednesday 1st of May, 13.00-14.00 in W225 or via Teams using this link (Meeting ID: 312 161 641 876, Passcode: zUBz9c)

17/04/2024

NEW Directory Update!!

NNHS Greater Glasgow and ClydeEmergency Food on Discharge (095).

https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/095-nhsggc-emergency-food-on-discharge

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde project on emergency food provision aims to mitigate immediate food poverty for the most socioeconomically disadvantaged patients upon their discharge back into the community. The two-day food package of fresh and non-perishable foods is provided by Aroma Cafe and TThe Trussell Trustfoodbanks within Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The project has had a positive impact on patients' holistic health and helped to mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis following immediate discharge.

The project started in 2020 and continues to be delivered across acute hospital services within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Brilliant work, check them out below!

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Acute Services partnership project to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis amongst socioeconomically deprived inpatients upon discharge back into the community. Provided by NHSGGC’s Aroma Café on the day of discharge, the two-day food package ...

23/03/2024

NEW DIRECTORY ADDITION!!

Introducing, the Workforce Mobility Project (56).

https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/056-workforce-mobility-project

The project's aim is to identify and support sustainable solutions that reduce transport barriers to employment, training and education. The ultimate aims are to alleviate poverty and social mobility issues in rural and rural-remote areas.

This project by the Edinburgh South-East Scotland City Region and partners is delivered in six local authorities through The Scottish Borders Council.

The Workforce Mobility Project started in 2019 and is ongoing until 2026/2027.

The Glasgow School for Business and Society integrates the areas of business, law and social sciences to ensure that they are well placed to meet the needs of business and society. The School has an international outlook and is committed to developing partnerships across the world.

20/03/2024

Huge News!!

As many of you will know, the GCU SPIRU Tackling Poverty Locally Directory was launched in November.

Today is the beginning of our social media campaign where where we will report and update you on every case study entry available in the Directory.

Below is our first!

The latest update to the directory was by Cost of Living Road Show (071) whose project helped individuals who had been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis to access financial support.

The Road Shows worked by establishing positive relationships between the community and support services, informing people of help available they might otherwise not have heard of.

This project is delivered by Angus Council

and over 15 community groups and organisations in various locations within the Angus Council region.

The Angus Cost of Living Road Shows started in October 2022 and ran until February 2023.

The latest update is available here: https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/research/spiru/directory/case-studies/071-angus-cost-of-living-roadshow

20/03/2024

Point and Sandwick’s Energy Support Unit (ESU) is now featured in a national database set up to tackle poverty, sharing how their work is making a difference to householders in the Western Isles. SPIRU, the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit is an interdisciplinary research group based ...