Social Justice Projects
Social justice projects
The Social Justice programme supports collaborative projects between university colleagues and VCSE sector organisations that are short, timely and action-focused (Pulse Reviews).
The theme of the 2024 Pulse Reviews was Poverty and Cost of Living. Five projects were launched at our Social Justice Forum in October 2024. You can find out more about these projects below and download the full reports.
Making the North East an antiracist region: The nature and extent of racism in the North East
We conducted a survey with the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC). The evidence collected was from organisations in the region about the nature and extent of racism in the North East. It attracted responses from all North East postcode regions. Respondents include a diversity of ages, ethnicities, faiths, and genders.
Download the full report - Making the North East an antiracist region
Connecting Futures: Co-producing Digital Skills Sessions with Hope Beyond Borders
This project supported a group of Spanish-speaking people from migrant backgrounds. It gave them access to digital devices, to improve digital literacy, and decrease barriers to digital inclusion. It supports them with important tasks such as searching for jobs, applying for benefits, and accessing healthcare.
Download the full report - Co-producing Digital Skills Sessions with Hope Beyond Borders
Growing Food Justice – A Feminist Food system
This project showcases West End Women and Girls Centre’s working model for a community-led, local and sustainable food system. It's based on the right of all people to good food. The report uses data and testimonials gathered from staff and centre members on the integrated social, economic, health and environmental impacts. It incudes the vision of sharing successful grassroots practice.
Download the full report - Growing Food Justice – a feminist food system
Supporting Women in Crisis and Beyond - Mapping and Engaging with Services in the North-East of England
Women in the North East suffer poor life-course outcomes and health and care inequities compared to their peers across England. The voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector supports women facing acute and chronic crises. We explored available support and engaged with NE organisations to develop ways of working together to support women in crisis and beyond.
Download the full report - Supporting Women in Crisis and Beyond
Young voices in health science research: a holiday activity programme with an African community in Byker
This programme engaged young people from an African Byker community. It included health science research through hands-on experiments, discussions, and creative activities. The project collaborated with young members on health science topics that mattered to them. It highlighted the importance of their involvement in health science research.
Download the full report - Young voices in health science research
Accessible 2025 Social Justice Review reports
Accessible 2025 Social Justice Review reports (PDF 940KB)
Together Through Crisis
This is a collaborative project between International Community of Sunderland (ICOS), a Sunderland-based registered charity, Newcastle University, and the NIHR North East North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration. It consisted of interviews, creative art-based workshops and a live artist workshop to explore the extent to which the cost-of-living crisis impacts on the wellbeing of Eastern European families living in Sunderland, North East England.
Download the full report - Together Through Crisis
Grassroot Innovations Tackling Housing Precarity
This project showcases best practice from community organisations engaged in tackling issues of urban precarity. Short films focusing on practices were produced, drawing on experiences in low-income settlements in Latin America. It is aimed at community organisations, practitioners, and policymakers, with the aim of fostering more democratic and inclusive approaches of urban planning and housing policies.
Download the full report - Grassroot Innovations Tackling Housing Precarity
The Hidden Burden of Poverty Among Adoptive Families
Thousands of children and young people are legally adopted in the UK annually. This study uncovers hidden poverty experienced by adoptive families, spanning into adulthood. The project addresses barriers to financial stability including shame, inability to work, and lack of awareness about eligibility for benefits and financial support.
Download the full report - The Hidden Burden of Poverty Among Adoptive Families
Paying Our Way: Research Participation and Fair Pay
Newcastle University lists social justice among its ‘core values’. Research projects from many disciplines pursue this theme. But what does this mean for the community researchers and partners upon whom this social justice research depends? How are those community researchers reimbursed for giving their time? And how might research findings centre their perspectives?
Download the full report - Paying Our Way Research Participation and Fair Pay
Why Are People Facing Sanctions for University Credit?
The fear of sanctions is widespread. This project explored key reasons why people are sanctioned, such as travel costs, unreliable transport and inflexible appointments as well as possible solutions to overcome these barriers. Many claimants rely on public transport and support free or subsidised options. Further research is needed to address these issues and reduce sanction rates.
Download the full report - Why are people facing sanctions for Universal Credit
Legacy reports
Over the years we have funded numerous social justice projects that have developed relationships between the university and the VCSE sector and have worked to tackle key social justice issues.
Some examples of work supported by the Social Justice fund at Newcastle University include:
Just Transitions
Tyne and Wear Citizens partnered with Brett Cherry (Newcastle University) to explore the concept of ‘Just Transitions’ with the local communities of Blyth to address social, economic, and environmental injustices with community led solutions.
Research workshops were facilitated to examine challenges and opportunities in the area, and findings were presented at the Tyne and Wear delegates assembly in November 2023. Findings also influenced the North East Devolution Manifesto, rooting key manifesto priorities in community concerns.
Youth Engagement in a Child Poverty Strategy for the North East
The North East Child Poverty Commission (NECPC) is a regional cross-sector network of organisations that collectively believe ‘child poverty in the North East is not inevitable and ending it is worth working for, together’. The Commission is hosted by – but independent of – Newcastle University.
Over the course of a year, NECPC undertook qualitative and quantitative research across the region, starting with the question ‘what should a child poverty strategy for the North East look like?’ This included conversations with over 150 organisations from all sectors working throughout the region, parents/carers, and with young people themselves.
The final report, ‘No time to wait: an ambitious blueprint for tackling child poverty in the North East’ was published in February 2024 ahead of the two Mayoral combined authority elections that took place in the region in May 2024.
It made the case for taking a ‘public health approach’ to tackling child poverty in our region.