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The following are examples of the interdisciplinary work that UCL's Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality has supported and facilitated - highlighting the impact the work has had in the world.
For more details of the impacts of other work funded, view all the UCL's Grand Challenge of Justice and Equality projects.
Routes to Opportunity
One of the first projects to receive funding from UCL's Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality. The project focused on helping adults over the age of 25 in England access vocational and technical education. This led to a report titled "Routes to Opportunity: Addressing the non-university skills gap in England". It was authored by Institute of Education Doctoral candidate Aly Colman.
The report details the skills gap in England. There is not enough skilled workers in various trades. Many people lack the chance to retrain or receive funding to learn these important skills. This shortage is affecting job opportunities and the ability to fill essential roles in the workforce.
> Routes to opportunity: Addressing the non-university skills gap in England
Structurally Unsound - Exploring UK Inequalities
In collaboration with the Resolution Foundation and UCL Public Policy, the project looked into the various ways inequalities affect people in the UK. This project brought together experts from universities, businesses, charities, and government policy makers. The findings of this collaboration were summarised in a significant report published in October 2019, called "Structurally Unsound".
> Exploring Structural Inequalities
Five years after the initial efforts, UCL Public Policy and UCL Grand Challenges are looking closely at the ongoing issues and challenges that affect different groups in society.
Cost-of-Living Crisis
This project brought together people from different fields to look into the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and intersectionality. Working with UCL Public Policy and Tortoise Media, the group organised several discussion events called 'ThinkIns.'
In addition to a major final report, the partnership also created three easy-to-understand guides and shared three summary reports from the discussions. In total, more than 80 people participated in these events.
> Cost-of-living crisis in the UK: all in it together?
Cottonopolis - Manchester's Global Threads
A joint project between UCL's Centre for the Study of Legacies of British Slave-Ownership and the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. It aimed to explore and share important stories from history. Through community activities and new research, the project produced a variety of materials that look at how Manchester's buildings and SIM's collections are connected to the broader themes of slavery, colonisation, race, resistance, and personal experiences. The goal was to help people understand these complex issues in a more accessible way.
The Global Threads platform was publicly launched in early 2022 and has continued to generate impacts.
City of Women
The project called City of Women was led by writer Reni Eddo-Lodge and actress Emma Watson. It aimed to celebrate the contributions of women and non-binary individuals. It included individuals from various fields like art, sports, activism, science, media, law, and medicine. They teamed up with writer and activist Rebecca Solnit, as well as Transport for London (TfL), to bring this idea to life. The project includes an online map that was developed by Dr. Leah Lovett from UCL. This digital resource allows people to explore and learn about the lives of these remarkable individuals. The map features biographies and interviews with contemporary women and non-binary people, making their stories more accessible to everyone.
Understanding 'Left-behind' Places
A small grant helped kick off a pilot project in the village of Sacriston, located in County Durham. This initiative, in partnership with the Durham Miners' Association, aimed to carry out a thorough study of the village’s history and current situation. The goal was to gain a better understanding of how the village has changed over time, especially as it is considered a "left-behind" area.
The project worked to build connections with local residents and groups. It explored ways to improve social and economic conditions in the village by collaborating with the community and using knowledge from experts at UCL and other places.
Equitable access to and experiences of parental and associated leaves at UCL
The project focused on understanding what influences employees' decisions to take parental leave and how they feel about their experiences with it. The goal was to gather insights and suggest ways to make the process better in the future.
The key findings were compiled into a report, which was shared with important stakeholders. As a result of this work, UCL has made changes to its policies, including updates to the Shared Parental Leave Policy and the Returners Sabbatical Leave Policy, to improve support for employees taking leave.