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School food experiences in alternative education settings: research and policy brief
Full text linkSpecial schools and alternative provision settings require intensive and highly individualised approaches to school food. This is due to the requirement to 1) meet the varied and specific feeding needs of pupils, with a focus on prioritising children’s safety; and 2) provide foods that their pupils find familiar and appealing, to ensure inclusivity for those on restrictive diets. This creates specific challenges for these schools in implementing the school food standards and school feeding programmes
WM-Air Impact Report
Full text linkWM-Air enabled regional partners, ranging from local authorities to SMEs, to access state-of-the-science research expertise to improve policy and actions for clean air, providing environmental, societal and economic benefits for the people of the West Midlands and beyond. Co-designed with stakeholders and supported by NERC funding from 2019-2024, WM-Air has worked collaboratively with over 100 organisations and end-users of research to deliver 45 impact projects which have informed, influenced and improved local and regional actions for clean air. WM-Air impact has been delivered through over 160 engagement events, producing over 200 reports and other outputs, 16 regional policy briefings and guidance notes, leveraging and influencing over £40m of investments, and delivering GVA benefit estimated to reach £34m by 2028. Media reach is estimated at >650m from over 150 stories, interviews and reports.
The project has trained and developed a regional air quality Community of Practice, now supported through legacy funding via the WMCA, produced 46 scientific journal articles and supported 25 student (PhD, MSc, BSc) projects. Ranging from implementation of the first regional Clean Air Framework with the WMCA; development of new products with start-up businesses; projects with all regional local authorities and a range of other bodies; public exhibitions, citizen panels and a “sounding out pollution” artwork, the project has delivered Clean Air Science for the West Midlands, and an exemplar for regional impact from NERC environmental science
BEAR PGR Conference 2025 - Conference proceedings
Full text linkBEAR Conference proceedings are the collection of papers and posters that were presented at the BEAR PGR conference 2025. Conferences provide opportunities for people to present their research, and get input from other researchers and colleagues in their field
Fiscal federalism
Full text linkThe organisation of responsibilities and finances between different levels of the state is a fundamental task for governments in achieving their political and public policy goals. This arrangement of powers and resources underpins how funding is allocated and distributed between government levels and geographical areas. Fiscal federalism refers to this organisation of responsibilities and funding. It has become increasingly important internationally following the expanded roles of national governments and their policies and funding programmes in responding to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020, and the recent geopolitical disruptions of conflict in Ukraine and the middle east. Fiscal federalism also informs debates about the decentralisation of governance and funding in devolving centralised states including the UK. This review outlines the definition of fiscal federalism, its underlying assumptions, principles of public funding allocation, advantages and disadvantages, before concluding.
This report is for the Improving Public Funding Allocations to Reduce Geographical Inequalities project funded by the ESRC.
The project brings together a highly experienced interdisciplinary team from the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, De Montfort, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth and Sheffield, together with the National Centre for Social Research and Metro Dynamics
Text & Data Mining, & Copyright
No full textPresentation delivered for "Text and Data Mining - Copyright Community of practice" University College London and Imperial College London, 12th November, 202
Informing standards for electricity distribution network resilience: Insight from IEEE Distribution Resiliency Guide and Metrics
Full text linkESRC practitioner engagement: summary findings report
Full text linkThe final findings from Work Package 3, qualitative research based on the experience of policy practitioners, as part of the wider ESRC-MHCLG research project “Improving Public Funding Allocations to Reduce Geographical Inequalities”. The report centres on a series of policy recommendations for change based around three key barriers; 1) Quantum and Prioritisation, 2) Centralisation, and 3) Capacity and Local Leadership
The report found an over-reliance on competitive bidding, fragmentation of funding streams, short-term funding windows, unclear eligibility criteria, a politically-driven reliance on visible grant funding, a loss of good practice in private-public expertise, and an over-reliance on capital over revenue spending. We have heard that this [“Levelling Up” funding policy design] collectively represented a lot of unlearning of the best practice from the preceding forty-year period, from governments of all colours.
“Levelling Up” took place in a context of unevenly declining local resources and public service pressures, making it hard to identify the possible impact with the allocated quantum of spending.
We found consensus that the widespread diminution of local government’s capacity to deliver over the prior decade resulted in the loss of local initiative, proactive capacity and well-developed project pipelines …. One senior local authority figure detailed how their economic development team had contracted from 67 to just six core team members
The resulting system was characterised by bottlenecks where local initiatives must await central approval … At its core lies what one senior civil servant characterised as a "painful" process of seeking approval for even modest project adjustments, reflecting the fundamental tension between central accountability and local delivery needs
This report is for the Improving Public Funding Allocations to Reduce Geographical Inequalities project funded by the ESRC.
The project brings together a highly experienced interdisciplinary team from the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, De Montfort, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth and Sheffield, together with the National Centre for Social Research and Metro Dynamics
Funding local areas: what do the English public think about changes to how funds are allocated to local government? Findings from a citizen engagement workshop
Full text linkIn February 2025, 43 members of the public attended a deliberative workshop in Birmingham to discuss how changes to the way that funds are allocated to local governments could reduce inequalities. This report sets out the findings which emerged from the workshop, drawing on voting exercises and worksheets that participants engaged with throughout the day.
This report is for the Improving Public Funding Allocations to Reduce Geographical Inequalities project funded by the ESRC.
The project brings together a highly experienced interdisciplinary team from the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, De Montfort, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth and Sheffield, together with the National Centre for Social Research and Metro Dynamics
BEAR Case Studies Vol. 5
Full text linkThis collection celebrates the extraordinary breadth and ambition of research powered by the University of Birmingham’s Environment for Academic Research (BEAR), which is led by the Advanced Research Computing team within IT Services. Across every College, researchers are accelerating discoveries, tackling complex challenges, and expanding the boundaries of knowledge thanks to BEAR’s cutting edge digital infrastructure.
From high performance computing on BlueBEAR to secure research data storage and specialist software, BEAR empowers staff and students to work at a scale and speed that transforms what is possible.
These case studies showcase not only the diversity of research undertaken at the University, but also the unique value that BEAR brings in enabling innovative, impactful, and world leading work. Together, they highlight how BEAR continues to be a driving force behind research excellence and an essential catalyst for future breakthroughs
The Immediate and Long-Term Risks, Harms and Challenges Faced by Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CBoCRSV) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA)
No full textThe objective of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) is to evaluate the immediate and long-term risks, harms, and challenges faced by Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CBoCRSV) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Conducted under the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), the assessment focuses on the following research questions: What are the primary risks and challenges faced by CBoCRSV? What interventions are effective in promoting their well-being? How has the research landscape evolved in this field?
Key findings from the analysis of 289 documents indicate that CBoCRSV often experience social stigma and exclusion, which can severely impact their ability to integrate into their families and communities. They face a higher risk of somatic symptoms, depression, and identity-related issues, increasing the prevalence of long-term psycho-social challenges and trauma. Many lack legal documentation, hindering their access to essential services such as education and healthcare. Financial constraints and social stigma often create additional barriers to education, while economic deprivation limits their access to basic needs and development opportunities. Family dynamics frequently involve tension and a lack of stable support, while prevailing cultural and religious beliefs can further contribute to their marginalisation in post-conflict communities.
Effective interventions identified include psychological support programs, legal advocacy, community-based support, and educational and economic empowerment initiatives. However, their effectiveness remains largely unvalidated due to limited empirical research.
The review also highlights significant gaps in the literature, particularly in underrepresented regions. The report concludes with policy implications and recommendations, advocating for strengthened legal frameworks, enhanced social support systems, economic inclusion, and improved access to education and healthcare. These measures aim to create a protective environment that reduces the risks, harms, and challenges faced by CBoCRSV, promoting their integration, development, and well-being
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