Understanding the housing crisis in Scotland – and the actions we must take to put things right. We have witnessed a long-running and comprehensive failure in housing policy across Britain. Scotland’s record is better than that seen south of the border – but is now in danger of failing badly. Mark K Smith explores what is going wrong – and what can be done so that all can have decent homes. This piece is also available as a pdf (A4) – click to download. [November 2024]
Octavia Hill, housing and social reform. Octavia Hill (1838-1912) made a defining contribution to the development of a more enlightened approach to the provision and management of housing for working people. Her championship of playgrounds, the army cadet corps and access to common lands and the countryside more broadly were also important. In this piece, we assess her contribution. [updated 2020]
Exploring the nature of social action [through a walk in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe in London]. This area has experienced severe poverty and disadvantage over the years. Settlements, missions and various government bodies have been involved in trying to stimulate change – and some notable innovations were made. However, support and important changes also came from local people and their organizations. [updated and extended September – October 2024]
Ivan Illich: deschooling, conviviality, systems, and lifelong learning. Known for his critique of modernization and the corrupting impact of institutions, Ivan Illich’s concern with deschooling, learning webs and the disabling effect of professions has struck a chord among many informal educators and pedagogues. We explore some key aspects of his theories and his continuing relevance for informal education, pedagogy and lifelong learning. [The picture of Ivan Illich is reproduced under a CCBY-SA3.0 licence, via Wikimedia Commons].
YMCA and the development of informal and youth work education. In this major new piece, Tony Jeffs reflects on the YMCA’s 135-year engagement across the world with the professional education of those working with young people. He examines both the innovations and tensions involved in the growth and experience of different programmes, and the factors that led to the decline of informal and youth work education within the YMCA. This important research is also available to download as a pdf.
updated
Mary Augusta Ward | Mrs Humphry Ward and the Passmore Edwards Settlement. Mary Ward aka Mrs Humphry Ward was one of the best-known writers of her day. She was also a key pioneer in the settlement movement and the development of provisions for children with disabilities and for play. Alongside this, Mary Ward was an advocate for the rights of women, yet she opposed the extension of the right to vote to them. We explore her life and contribution, and the settlement she founded. [updated and extended August-September 2024]
Frances Herbert Stead, Robert Browning Hall and the fight for old age pensions. Frances Herbert Stead – often referred to as F. Herbert Stead (1857-1928) – was a Congregationalist minister who established and ran Robert Browning Hall and Settlement in Walworth, London). He was also a key figure in the fight for old age pensions in Britain. We explore his contribution both to the development of the settlement movement and to winning the old age pension. [updated and extended July 2024].
Fred Milson: developing the practice of youth and community work. Fred Milson (1912-1983) was an influential writer and trainer who did much to develop youth and community work practice within the Methodist church and the Youth Service generally. He was also an important contributor to national policy debates. The update includes a large amount of additional material about Fred Milson’s life and some updating of the rest of the text. [updated and extended June 2024].
walks
Exploring informal education. Walking in central London we can find many places associated with key figures and moments in the making of informal education. Explore them through a virtual (or real) walk that starts by the river next to Charing Cross Station and ends close to Oxford Street.
Exploring social action. A walk exploring the nature of social action – and the role of settlements, missions and community organizations. The walk starts close to Tower Bridge and ends in Rotherhithe and can also be explored virtually or for real.
Both these walks make use of Charles Booth’s poverty maps (1898-9) and can be compared with a contemporary street map. [Updated September/October 2024]
Acknowledgement: The opening picture: Bellevue and Braehead, St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney is by Mark K Smith and can be used under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 deed.