Lancaster University is internationally recognised as a leader in social work and social policy research. Consistently ranked highly across all major national league tables for research quality, our work is distinguished by its depth, innovation, and real-world impact. We are located in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences which is ranked within the top QS100.

Our research tackles some of the most pressing social challenges of our time. Key areas of expertise include family justice and child protection, inequality, especially related to gender and race, social safety nets such as housing, food, income, and energy security, mental health and distress, and the lived experiences of childhood in times of crisis and uncertainty, including exposure to trauma, violence, and disasters.

At the heart of our work is the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, led by our Social Work Discipline. This dynamic, collaborative hub brings together academic researchers, practitioners, policy makers, individuals with lived experience, students, and international visitors. Through the Centre, we co-design innovative policies and practice-based solutions to address urgent and complex social issues - locally, nationally, and globally. We have extensive international links with other research centres in a range of contexts of the Global North and Global South.