Website of the UK Social Policy Association

Registration forms for the 2006 SPA Annual Conference - The State of Welfare: Past, Present and Future: An International Social Policy Conference - are now online. The conference will be held at Birmingham University, 18th-20th July.

Monday 17th July 2006, 11am-4.30pm
University of Birmingham

The SPA are pleased to invite papers from postgraduate students for a one-day postgraduate workshop. The workshop will take place on Monday 17th July 2006 at the University of Birmingham. This will be followed by the 39th Annual SPA Conference from the 18th to 20th July 2006. The workshop provides an opportunity for postgraduate students to present and discuss their work with peers and to receive comments and feedback in a friendly and informal arena. Full details can be found on the postgrad pages of this site.

The 39th Social Policy Association Conference
To be held at the University of Birmingham 18th - 20th July 2006

The State of Welfare: Past, Present and Future
An International Social Policy Conference

Click here for a printable pdf version of this call for papers

Papers are invited which address the overall theme and the following sub themes

1. Poverty and Social Exclusion
2. Older people and Later life
3. History of Social Policy
4. Labour Markets
5. Children and Families
6. Crime and Criminal Justice
7. Environment
8. Health and Social Care
9. Housing
10. User Perspectives
11. Inter-Professional Working
12. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
13. Teaching and Learning
14. Research Methods and Methodologies

Papers presenting a comparative, European or international dimensions are strongly encouraged. We additionally welcome papers from outside the traditional social policy disciplines

Abstract submission
Abstracts of no more than 200 words should be submitted either on paper or by email in rich text format. All abstracts must contain the following information:

• Title of paper, your name, affiliation, postal address including post code, contact number (including country and area dialling code) and email address.
• Please indicate the relevant sub theme for your paper.

Abstracts should be sent to arrive by 21st April 2006 to:
SPA 2006 Conference,
Institute of Applied Social Studies,
University of Birmingham,
Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 2TT or
Email SPAConf@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Enquiries can be made by email to SPAConf@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Once your abstract has been received it will receive a standard email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation by end of April 2006 please contact the SPA conference office.

The 39th Social Policy Association Conference - to be held at the University of Birmingham 18th - 20th July 2006.

The State of Welfare: Past, Present and Future

An International Social Policy Conference

Click here for a printable pdf version of this call for papers

Papers are invited which address the overall theme and the following sub themes

1. Poverty and Social Exclusion
2. Older people and Later life
3. History of Social Policy
4. Labour Markets
5. Children and Families
6. Crime and Criminal Justice
7. Environment
8. Health and Social Care
9. Housing
10. User Perspectives
11. Inter-Professional Working
12. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
13. Teaching and Learning
14. Research Methods and Methodologies

Papers presenting a comparative, European or international dimensions are strongly encouraged. We additionally welcome papers from outside the traditional social policy disciplines

Abstract submission
Abstracts of no more than 200 words should be submitted either on paper or by email in rich text format

All abstracts must contain the following information:

• Title of paper, your name, affiliation, postal address including post code, contact number (including country and area dialling code) and email address.
• Please indicate the relevant sub theme for your paper.

Abstracts should be sent to arrive by 6th February 2006 to:

SPA 2006 Conference,
Institute of Applied Social Studies,
University of Birmingham,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B15 2TT or
Email SPAConf@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Enquiries can be made by email to SPAConf@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Once your abstract has been received it will receive a standard email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation by end of February 2006 please contact the SPA conference office.

The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce the launch of the annual SPA Awards. Nominations are invited for the following five awards: Lifetime Achievement; Best Newcomer; Outstanding Contribution from a non-academic; Best New Publication; Best Postgraduate Publication.

Please read the rules and criteria for each award carefully before making your nominations. The winners will be decided by a panel appointed annually by the SPA Executive and chaired by the SPA Chair: this year the judges will be Polly Toynbee (President of the SPA), Pete Alcock (Birmingham), Alan Deacon (Leeds) and Jane Millar (Bath). Winners will receive their awards at the special Gala Dinner held during the annual Social Policy Association conference, along with the winner of the SPA/SWAP undergraduate essay prize (administered separately by SWAP).

Click here to download a nomination form that also carries further details on the rules and criterian for each award.

The Social Policy Association is seeking to appoint an institution or group to organise and run the 41^st and 42^nd SPA Annual Conferences in June or July 2008 and 2009. Our Annual Conferences generally attract 250-350 delegates from within the UK and overseas. We provide up-front financial support and our conference planning experience is readily available.

Expressions of interest should be sent to Catherine Bochel (via email or at the address below) by January 13^th 2006. Organisations will then receive a letter asking for more detailed information including: detailed costings and supplementary information on the organisation, location and conference facilities. The deadline for detailed applications will be March 31^st 2006. The final decision will be announced at the 2006 annual conference at the University of Birmingham.

Contact: Catherine Bochel, SPA Hon. Secretary, University of Lincoln, Department of Policy Studies, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS.

Email: cbochel@lincoln.ac.uk