Faculty of Social Sciences news

Faculty of Social Sciences

Age campaigner Alison Clyde to receive honorary degree from University of Stirling

Alison Clyde is set to receive recognition for her exceptional dedication to intergenerational initiatives and advancing age-related equality, including her valuable contributions to the University of Stirling's research in the field of healthy ageing.

Age campaigner Alison Clyde

Drug and alcohol campaign roadshow to hit Glasgow and Edinburgh

The events invite members of the public to engage with the campaign through visual and audio materials.

group of people holding photo frames

Network of one-stop shops for home improvement could address poor-quality homes

A network of Good Home Hubs across England would effectively cost the government nothing while delivering substantial benefits, according to new analysis.

person drilling DIY

Stirling criminologist appointed to justice review Commission

Dr Hannah Graham, a leading voice on penal policy and justice, is the only academic to be part of the Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission, announced yesterday by the Scottish Government.

hands in handcuffs

MSP backs campaign to end stigma around drug and alcohol deaths

Claire Baker urges public to show more compassion.

woman holding photo

Stirling education expert develops teaching tool from family audio cassettes

The tapes were sent between families in Pakistan and Scotland and form part of social history project Tape Letters Scotland.

woman's hands holding cassette tape

Pioneering course addresses ageing and dementia in LGBTQ+ community

Launching in March 2025, it addresses topics such as historical discrimination, unconscious bias and celebrating diversity.

old man sitting on bed

Research finds chair-based activities more physical than we thought

Elite-level bridge uses body and mind interconnectedly, says the study.

hands holding deck of cards

“Community catapult” launch in Clackmannanshire will help build diversity and opportunity

The initiative is part of £10 million project to create stronger communities UK-wide.

Two people at rummage sale

Campaign to end stigma around drug and alcohol deaths receives Scottish Government funding

Researchers will run a series of roadshows in Scotland to further raise awareness among the public.

group of people holding photo frames

Fear, stigma and exclusion prevail for LGBT+ welfare claimants, study finds

Fear of discrimination means LGBT+ people can delay claiming benefits.

person walking into job centre

Report highlights critical shortage of housing for older people, demands urgent solutions

Study uncovers limited housing supply, little planning and senior citizens unaware of their options

older woman in front of houses

University of Stirling film event highlights issues in perfume industry

Stirling academics and BBC filmmakers discussed issues of modern slavery in global supply chains.

children in perfume bottle graphic

Film screening and Q&A will highlight the perfume industry’s dark secret

The University of Stirling and the BBC are teaming up for an exclusive event which will lift the lid on child labour linked to the perfume industry.

perfume bottle and child

University of Stirling academics take social science festival to three Scottish cities

Ten free public events will take place across central Scotland as part of this year's Festival of Social Science from the University of Stirling.

woman on treadmill and man

Game playing can help reduce stigma around ageing, say researchers

"Serious games" can help overcome the stigma that still exists around ageing, according to Stirling researchers.

hands playing board game at table

Scottish Housing Day report calls for national conversation on 'homes for life'

Housing in Scotland must support the country’s population to age well, according to a report released today.

older man and woman with tablet on sofa

Scotland’s most vulnerable children taking years to be placed in permanent homes

Scotland’s care system is taking years to find many of the country's most vulnerable children permanent homes – and too many of them have no contact with their siblings, according to new research.

row of children's shoes

New model of care could improve residents’ end of life in care homes

Care homes can improve their end-of-life care services, and relieve stress on staff, by adopting a new approach to palliative care, according to new research.

patient and nurse holding hands

University of Stirling encourages ‘homes for life’ as it hosts Scottish Housing Day

University of Stirling encourages ‘homes for life’ as it hosts Scottish Housing Day 2024.

older man and woman outside house

Online archives provide ‘family albums’ for children in care

Researchers at the University of Stirling have come up with a way to preserve the childhood memories of people in care – through accessible online archives.

person's hands looking at photos

University of Stirling works with housing association to bring dementia awareness into the home

A leading Scottish housing association and the University of Stirling are working together to bring dementia awareness into care at home.

Older woman talking to man

Lesbian, gay and bisexual population face housing inequalities, study finds

Britain's lesbian, gay and bisexual population experience inequalities in accessing housing, according to a study led by the University of Stirling.

for sale and to let signs on street

Full-time clinician supports Stirling student teachers to build mentally healthy classrooms

The University of Stirling has appointed a full-time clinician to help student teachers learn about and support mentally healthy classrooms and schools.

teacher high fiving student in class

Policy changes needed if UK is to be age-friendly, say healthy ageing experts

Policy changes are needed at central and local government levels to ensure an age-friendly UK, say experts at the University of Stirling.

older women takins selfie in wood

Healthy ageing expert and Stirling professor elected Fellow of The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Professor Judith Phillips OBE, a world-renowned University of Stirling gerontologist and expert in healthy ageing, has been elected a fellow of The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

older man and older woman on beach

Safer consumption and drug checking facilities key to addressing drug harms in Edinburgh, study finds

Safer drug consumption facilities (SDCF) and drug checking could be key to addressing drug harms in the city of Edinburgh, according to University of Stirling experts in substance use.

Edinburgh at night

Schoolgirls at the centre of new University of Stirling study into card game bridge are making history

Three schoolgirls who are part of a new University of Stirling-led research study into the game of bridge are promoting its educational benefits – and making history along the way.

three girls with playing cards

University of Stirling to promote better outcomes from water resources for Scottish businesses and communities

A team at the University of Stirling is embarking on an extensive study into how water resources in Scotland promote better outcomes for our economy, society and the environment, in a £5 million partnership project to last three years.

river with monument on hill

Why grey matters for these academic researchers with a difference

Like many older people during the COVID pandemic, they were in search of company and mental stimulation. Then came a chance for this group of retirees to tackle something none of them had tried before – academic research.

older man on beach

Study lays out options for Scotland’s first drug checking services

An extensive study led by the University of Stirling has laid out options and key considerations for Scotland’s first drug checking services.

woman in lab

Age-friendly businesses could revitalise Britain's high streets

Older people could be the financial shot in the arm needed for Britain’s high street, according to research commissioned by the University of Stirling.

people in street outside shops

Teacher education imperative for climate change and sustainability education

Teacher education is imperative to equip young people to live in a climate altered future, a new report has claimed.

pupils and teacher in classroom

Scottish Borders Council works with University of Stirling on dementia-friendly care village

Members from Scottish Borders Council visited University of Stirling dementia design experts this week to explore options for the region’s new Tweedbank care village.

line up of men and women outside

Be part of the play in unique theatre event coming to Alloa

A unique theatre experience is coming to Alloa where the audience is invited to steer the play.

men and women on stage

Social science fest features theatre, displays and discussions for all ages

The University of Stirling is putting on a host of exciting events – all of them free – to spread the word about social science to the local community in Clackmannanshire.

people celebrating festival

Art chronicles alcohol and homelessness study as researchers seek innovative way to share findings

A unique art event took place this week in Glasgow chronicling the findings of a research study into the effects of managed alcohol programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

artwork of men in pub

Curriculum making research centre first of its kind in the UK

A new research centre focusing on school curriculum making – the first of its kind in the UK - has opened at the University of Stirling.

Girl and boy at desk at school

MSPs unite to call for compassion and kindness as See Beyond campaign is debated in Parliament

In recognition of the impact on those left behind when someone they love dies because of alcohol and drugs, MSPs used a debate on See Beyond – See the Lives – Scotland in the Scottish Parliament this week to call for more compassion and support.

row of people on steps

The media can play its part in reducing stigma around substance use

The media can play its part in reducing stigma surrounding substance use, according to two University of Stirling academics.

person holding microphone

From carer to crusader - how this dementia expert is making a difference

When Sue Northrop signed up for a Masters in Dementia Studies at the University of Stirling, she was caring for her mother with dementia and finding a new role in life as a community activist. Nine years on, she fronts one of the most progressive dementia groups in the country.

Woman in front of building

Trafficked children face asylum ‘system trauma’, says University of Stirling research

Researchers at the University of Stirling exploring the long-term outcomes for trafficked children in Scotland have found that children face ‘system trauma’ connected to navigating the asylum, welfare and child protection systems.

child's hands at fence

Stirling graduate’s English school dream comes true

Marie-Anne N’Guessan came to the University of Stirling on a mission – a very specific one: to learn the skills to run her own school for underprivileged children.

Marie-Anne N’Guessan pictured on her graduation day.

Queen of Sweden and former Mars CEO honoured by University of Stirling

The Queen of Sweden and the former CEO of Mars have received honorary degrees from the University of Stirling.

Woman graduating

Stirling experts part of £22.5 million research endeavour into improving health and social care

Health and social care experts at the University of Stirling are taking part in a multi-million pound research endeavour that is expected to lead to major changes in the UK’s health and social care policies.

women and baby at desk

MSPs share 'pain and loss' of their parents' alcohol use as part of new campaign

Miles Briggs MSP has opened up for the first time about his father’s alcohol use, as, together with Monica Lennon MSP, he backs a campaign aimed at reducing the stigma that surrounds deaths due to alcohol and drugs.

People sitting holding photographs

University of Stirling part of nationwide drive to address levelling up through research

The University of Stirling has successfully bid for funding in the first phase of a multi-million pound levelling up programme designed to benefit all four nations of the UK.

hands at desk

Call for pubs to help make communities more dementia-friendly

The University of Stirling's Dementia Services Development Centre is calling for pubs to take part in dementia-friendly programme to improve lives in the community.

Dementia friendly pubs

From academic to lived experience: how the roles were reversed for this disability expert

When Professor Kirstein Rummery began researching disability and equality more than three decades ago, little did she know she would one day be living through the same challenges herself.

woman on disability scooter

Expert on ageing appointed to influential government taskforce

An expert on ageing and older people at the University of Stirling has been appointed to an influential UK Government taskforce.