In today's episode, we will be discussing Jobcentre Plus, the punitive approach that we have been seeing when it comes to supporting people back to work, and what this says about the UK's welfare policy. In Catch22's manifesto, we are calling for the government to revolutionise Jobcentre Plus so that, alongside other employment related services, they become a place where people are supported into careers rather than placed into ‘any job.’ Joining Stella to discuss the issues around Jobcentre Plus and welfare policy is Tom O'Grady, Associate Professor of Politics at University College London ..read more

The debate around fixed term recalls reflects the broader tensions within criminal justice policy between punitive and rehabilitative approaches, and between the imperatives of public safety and individual rights. These debates are particularly important when we are thinking about the context of rising prison populations in the UK, with concerns about the sustainability of the current system and the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing reoffending rates and supporting the rehabilitation of offenders. To discuss the issues around fixed term recalls, Stella is joined by Miranda Sh ..read more

Charity campaigning will never be as well-resourced as lobbying by the private sector. However, with increasing government cuts and the current cost-of-living crisis, the charity sector is working under increasing financial constraints, meaning charitable organisations have to be even more strategic in how they try to influence government policy.  In this episode, Stella is joined by Babs Williams, CEO of Frontline, and a public policy analyst, to explore different strategies for influencing government, and considerations that should be made. ______________________________________________ ..read more

In Catch22’s Manifesto, we are calling for the government to invest in ‘digital skills for work’ programmes for the UK workforce, to ensure that every person is equipped for the future world of work. In today’s episode, Stella is joined by Carolina Saludes, a Global Campaign Strategist at PwC, to explore the current challenges and opportunities in the UK job market, why digital skills and training and upskilling are needed for the future of work, and the use of AI in the wider labour market.  _________________________________________________________ With the recent release of our manifest ..read more

In today's episode, Stella is joined by Dr Elisabeth Carter, a Criminologist and Forensic Linguist. Dr Carter analyses communications between fraudsters and victims to understand how people can become victims of this crime, and uses her findings to improve victim support. Stella and Dr Carter discuss what romance fraud is, the tactics used by criminals, the impact it has on its victims, and who should be responsible for protecting the public from this crime. _________________________________________________________ With the recent release of our manifesto: ⁠22 ways to build resilience and ..read more

In today's episode we will be focusing on how AI (artificial intelligence) is used in public services and the hiring process; the challenges, the dangers, and of course, the opportunities. Joining Stella to discuss is Rachel Coldicutt, Executive Director of Careful Trouble, and Magid El-Amin, Director of Evidence and Insight at Catch22. With the recent release of our manifesto: 22 ways to build resilience and aspiration in people and communities, our fourth season focuses on some of our key policy asks. It is presented by Catch22’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, Stella Tsantekidou. Learn m ..read more

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we’ll be discussing the campaign to make care experience a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010. Many care experienced people face discrimination, stigma, and prejudice in their day-to-day lives. Public perceptions of care experience centre on the idea that children are irredeemably damaged and that can lead to discrimination and assumptions being made. We want to see the next Government commit to supporting care experienced young people through bold national policies, so they are given the best chance to succeed in life. Joining Stella to d ..read more

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we’ll be discussing the topic of green skills. As we say in our manifesto, we want to see the next government commit to ensuring the UK is a true skills hub, identifying the skills required for jobs of the future and equipping the workforce to meet those needs. Specifically, we are asking the government to increase the number of green skills training courses and amend more courses to be green, such as lifetime skills, boot camps and apprenticeships.  To discuss the importance of green skills and jobs of the future, Stella is joined by Jeevun Sandher, Hea ..read more

The fourth series of Catch22Minutes focuses on policy and is presented by Catch22’s Head of Policy and Communications, Stella Tsantekidou.  Our episodes will look at topics from our manifesto such as green skills, restorative justice, and care experience. Learn more about our manifesto: https://bit.ly/3F7KCf3 ..read more

For millions of people in the UK, drug taking is a normal day of everyday life, from drinking alcohol or caffeine, to taking a paracetamol for a headache. For some though, drug taking is a serious problem, often having a devastating effect on the individual’s life and the lives of those around them. Latest statistics show that over 20% of people the age of 16-24 have taken an illicit drug. Around 7% are known to have taken a Class A drug, deemed to be the most dangerous, and around 18% have taken cannabis, a Class B drug.  In today’s discussion we explore how much of a problem substa ..read more