economic and social research council

(Economic & Social Research Council) With rising unemployment and fewer job vacancies, the current financial crisis has seen renewed policy emphasis in both Europe and the UK on volunteering as a route to employment, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Council.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Greater government aid to overseas development charities does not discourage individual giving, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Fears that increasing government grants would serve to "crowd out" donations from individuals are unwarranted.

If anything, say researchers, the opposite is the case, with greater government grants to development charities appearing to encourage individual donors to give more.

(Economic & Social Research Council) The government's Skills for Life initiative has not significantly improved literacy or the economic performance of participating companies, despite what policymakers believe.

These are the findings of the UK's first study of basic skills learning in the workplace, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Seventy percent of households always separate their rubbish for recycling, but only 2 percent buy their energy on a green tariff, according to the early findings of a major new annual household survey, called "Understanding Society," funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Children as young as 12 have a strong sense of their personal futures and can reflect thoughtfully on what life might hold for them, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and led by Professor Paul Croll of Reading University and Professor Gaynor Attwood of the University of the West of England.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Despite the recession, charities, social enterprises and voluntary organizations (the third sector) are still innovating, according to a publication out today from the Economic and Social Research Council.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Britain's children and young people are potential agents of change for the development of more sustainable communities in the UK, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Performance assessment schemes aimed at making local authorities into more effective organisations are having the desired effect, according to new research released by the Economic and Social Research Council.

The project "Leadership Change and public services: Reinvigorating Performance or Reinforcing Decline?" found that poor performance was likely both to be punished by voters at local elections and to lead to change among the senior management of authorities.

(Economic & Social Research Council) Social science research is essential to tackling UK and global security challenges, getting to grips with reforming the financial markets and helping households adapt to climate change.

This is the message from the Economic and Social Research Council as it publishes its Strategic Plan 2009-2014.