Members of our Centre variously locate ourselves between critique and praxis, standing in solidarity with frontline practitioners, families and communities - in the context of severe erosion of our social safety nets. We are inspired by a range of critical perspectives and approaches which include: critical legal theory, feminist materialist thought, postcolonial studies, foundational economy, therapeutic jurisprudence and trauma informed practice. We shed light on the operation and experience of justice, with the aim of improving transparency, accountability and equitable service delivery. We use methods of theoretically informed quantitative and qualitative social science, including innovative large-scale data linkage and survey methods, co-design and participatory approaches, historical and genealogical methods. Alongside traditional academic publications, we produce non-specialist summaries, datasets, podcasts, documentary films and blog posts to ensure our work reaches a wider range of audiences. Members also enable the research of others through the curation of datasets and production of data resource profiles.
Many of our members hold key advisory positions within government departments, or sit on working groups or advisory committees that are leading national and international policy and practice change. We serve as trustees, or chairs of boards of trustees for a range of charities. We are research home for the New Beginnings Foundation - a pioneering North West charity led by a former academic colleague and now practitioner member, which aims to empower parents at the sharp edge of public service involvement.
Our work is featured regularly by social, print and broadcast media.
