Alessio D'Angelo

** Tackling mental health inequalities with Cultural Competence ** Great vibes at the community launch of this action research project, yesterday at the University of #Derby #Chesterfield campus. Part of our partnership work with #NHS Derbyshire, LinksCVS and Community Action Derby. More to follow!

Fantastic to see some of our CASSPPR team - @nisanalici.bsky.social and @evepea.bsky.social - presenting their research at the BSC Symposium at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social this week!

‘You Need a Network’: How Highly Skilled Refugees Build Social Networks to Convert Cultural Capital and Reclaim Professional Identities - Louise Ryan, María López, Alessia Dalceggio, Farzana Adell, 2025 Drawing upon social network analysis and longitudinal research with recently resettled Afghans in London, this article advances understanding of social capital ...

*You need a network* A very interesting read on the social #networks of highly-skilled Afghan #refugees in London- by L.Ryan, M.Lopez, F.Adell. (... and nice to see the citation and acknowledgment 🙂)

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

At Social Policy and Society (SPS) we are looking for a new Co-Editor, to work alongside me for the next few years. Deadline for applications: 20th October. SPS is a journal of the SPA (@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social). See requirements at application process on: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Want to help develop understandings of Social #Infrastructure and how to develop it? Come join us for this fully funded PhD opportunity at #Derby University. The study is funded by #Chesterfield Borough Council and focuses on the town of Staveley. All info below.

The SPA-EASP 2025 Conference in York has now started. We are looking forward to meeting our 400 delegates, great plenaries and many productive discussions about social policy in all its facets.

Follow @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social for updates #York2025

(And look out for our unofficial pigeon mascot)

Also, it was great listening to a thought-provoking plenary by Megan Challis; and to welcome the new members of our Executive Committee.
... see you all in Liverpool in 2026!

Unfortunately, this year I could only attend the last day of the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social Annu Conference - impeccably hosted by the University of York. But I still thoroughly enjoyed it; managing to catch up with many friends from all over the world (quite a few from East Asia, this year!).

It was a real honour to be in Hong Kong last week to contribute to the Lingnan University Postgraduate Summer School, and to meet new colleagues and an extremely engaged cohort of students from various disciplines.

It was an opportunity to showcase research and local initiatives, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the refugee sector in Derby/shire and to explore ways to enhance collaborations across sectors - including with some very hands-on mapping workshops (by @alessiodangelo.bsky.social)

This week is #RefugeeWeek! At the University of Derby we started the celebrations last Friday, with the 2nd Derbyshire Refugee Conference. The event brought together researchers, students, community organisations, service providers, and public sector representatives.

As usual, this was also an opportunity to bring together our Editorial Board and the wider 'Social Policy and Society' community. ... by the way, we are currently recruiting for new Board Members, the deadline for nominations is June 16th - all details on: social-policy.org.uk/editorial-bo...

We had another excellent discussion at the Social Policy and Society Annual Event last week. Experts from across the UK - and in representation of the 'Policy Groups' within the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social - came together to discuss one year of Labour Government and its impact on UK Social Policy.

My paper shared emerging findings from the work Neil Kaye and I are developing on UK Census analysis, exploring nuanced ways to map migrant and minority communities - building on our research projects with Irish in Britain.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure to attend the 61st Conference of the Sieds - società italiana di economia demografia e statistica. It was quite exciting to (re)connect with social scientists from across Italy and discuss potential international collaborations and exchange.

Larissa Allwork (PI) and Giulia Levi (Co-I) at the Derby Bosnia Herzegovina Community Association in Derby.

I am really pleased to announce that Larissa Allwork, Giulia Levi and I are starting a new AHRC project. 'Connecting Solidarities', in partnership with Derby Bosnia Herzegovina Community Association, will explore refugee lives via interviews, mapping and exhibit. Launch event in June.

Social Policy and Society Annual Event Social Policy and Society is an international academic journal by the UK Social Policy Association (SPA) - Join us for our annual event

The list of speakers is now available online!

Book now and join leading Social Policy scholars from across the UK discussing key policy areas under the broader theme "One year of Labour Government and its impact on Social Policy". Follow the link for info.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-pol...

I am in beautiful Stirling today for the Executive Committee meeting of the Social Policy Association (UK) (SPA). Beautiful views... and lots to do. In times like these, working in/for Social Policy feels more urgent than ever.

I am extremely pleased to announced that I have been granted fellowship of the SIEDS (the Italian Society of Economics, Demography and Statistics) - www.sieds.it. I look forward to developing new international collaborations with colleagues in Italy on a range of research themes.

University of Derby staff face mass job cuts as management plans to axe half of senior academics University of Derby staff face mass job cuts as management plans to axe half of senior academics

University of Derby faces mass job cuts as management plans to make half of senior academics redundant. Please spread the word. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1398...

If you are in #Derby this Friday, don't miss this special #CASSPPR event on " #Migration policy in post-Brexit Europe", featuring presentations by C. Gialdini, @alessiodangelo.bsky.social and M. Palillo (chair: @nisanalici.bsky.social). All the details - and link to book a free place - are below.

MPs drop in on St Patrick's Day We welcomed MPs and Peers to a drop-in event at Westminster to mark St Patrick's Day

Great to see our #Irish in Britain #Census report being presented to MPs and Peers today as part of a special St Patrick's Day event in Westminster. This builds on a long-standing collaboration, with new 'Irish in Britain' studies coming out soon!

www.irishinbritain.org/news/mps-dro...

IPHIR PGR and Student Showcase 2025 (online) – Call for Contributions Visit the post for more.

*Health #Inequalities - Online PGR and Students showcase*

The Interdisciplinary Partnership on #Health Inequalities (which we run jointly with Nottingham colleagues) will run an PGR students showcase on May 1st (online). See link for info and CfP -deadline 31/3.
iphir.wordpress.com/2025/03/03/i...

Yesterday #CASSPPR researchers and the University of #Derby Impact team came together for an inspiring #REF workshop on Engagement and #Impact in the Social Sciences. Lots of ideas to develop new initiatives to have a positive impact at local, national and global level. Watch this space!

“The crisis makes us more alone” – new youth-led research shows young people’s access to emotional support significantly impacted by the cost-of-living crisis Toynbee Hall's new youth-led research report focuses on the emotional support available to young people in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.

Details, full report, and executive summary available here:
www.toynbeehall.org.uk/26/02/2025/t...

Cover page of the report "The crisis makes us more along". A Participatory Action Research investigating into emotional support for young people in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.

"The crises makes us more alone" - Great to see the publication of this #ToynbeeHall report on emotional support for young people during the cost-of-living crisis. And a privilege to play a role as Academic Consultant to inform some aspects of the Action Research project behind it. (link below)

Our #CASSPPR seminar series continues! Yesterday we heard from @philbc3.bsky.social about his ongoing research on "Immaterial Labour, Values, and #Voting Behaviour". Real food for thought to reflect on political orientations in the UK and how they relate to deeper societal changes. #Derby University

"An Unexpected Convergence - #Asylum policy in the UK & Italy from the #Rwanda plan to the #Albania Deal": come to hear this new paper by Marco Palillo & me on April 11th.

It is part of an exciting CASSPPR event on #migration policy in post-Brexit Europe, with C.Gialdini & @nisanalici.bsky.social.

⭐Last week for nominations to the SPA Awards!⭐

Nominations open for:

- Outstanding Achievement in Social Policy
- Public Understanding of Social Policy
- Policy Press Outstanding Teaching Award
- Richard Titmuss Book Prize

Deadline: 3rd March ⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

We are delighted to announce the next online symposium of the @britsoci.bsky.social Social Network Analysis study group! #SNA #SNAG

Louise Ryan and Gabriella D'Avino on Social #NetworkAnalysis and Resettled #Refugees.

Info and free booking here: www.britsoc.co.uk/events/key-b...