Presented by

Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
Sheffield Hallam University, England

Re-offending rates in the UK have seen little improvement over the last decade. Reforms designed to enhance the delivery of flexible, tailored and holistic support were introduced in 2013, with a clear focus on addressing 'broader life management issues' that can often result in reoffending. However, these support measures were introduced against a backdrop of increasingly punitive welfare conditionality and benefit sanctions.

In this seminar, visiting welfare reform expert Elaine Batty explores the positive impact of holistic, non-conditional support in addressing broader issues faced by offenders. Her analysis is based on data generated in semi-structured repeat interviews with 60 offenders as part of a larger qualitative longitudinal study.

Elaine Batty is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire, England. She has worked on projects for a range of organisations, including central government departments, local authorities, research charities and third sector bodies. Elaine specialises in researching poverty and disadvantages communities, offenders, family intervention, and homelessness. She has a particular interest in creative research methods to help give a voice to hard-to-reach communities and individuals.

This free seminar is hosted by the Institute for the Study of Social Change and the School of Social Sciences.