News

Two colleagues chat on chairs with a row of books behind them

Accents at work: share your story

Published
26 November 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Arts & Culture
Research

UK workers are being asked to share their experiences of how their accents influence life at work, in an anonymous survey as part of University of Leeds research.

Woman walking alone on a curved path in a park toward a small, closed pavilion with shuttered windows

Training empowers park staff to tackle harassment

Published
25 November 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Research

Hundreds of park staff and volunteers across the UK have been trained in how to spot, safely challenge, and prevent harassment or behaviour which could stop women feeling safe in public places.

Sofia Martinho delivers a taster session in Portuguese to secondary school pupils at Ossett Academy. A map appears in the background, and in the foreground Sofia smiles at two students.

Festival of languages to celebrate multilingual Leeds

Published
29 October 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Arts & Culture

Trying new languages, exploring creative activities and celebrating cultural diversity will be open to all as part of Leeds City of Languages.

a teacher and child using sign language

'National emergency' over worsening SEND crisis

Published
28 October 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Research

The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, already known to be in deep trouble, now faces ‘a worsening crisis’ which, say experts, puts the UK on the brink of a national emergency. 

a child hugging a teddy bear

Children needing NHS mental health care rises by 11% in a year

Published
7 October 2025
Categories
Science
Society & Politics
Research

The number of children and young people accessing NHS-funded mental health services has increased by nearly 80,000 in the past year, sparking renewed concern over a system already under strain. 

A child with long hair looking out of the window with their chin reasting on their hand

UK children dying through poverty, data shows

Published
30 September 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Health
Research

A new report published by the Child of the North initiative shows that the two-child benefit cap is pushing 109 families a day into hardship. 

A desk with a fidget toy, a pencil and some ear defenders on it

Addressing the north-south autism assessment divide

Published
12 September 2025
Categories
Society & Politics
Health
Research

Children in the North of England are waiting up to three years longer than those in the south for an autism diagnosis, new data analysis shows. 

The Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds against a clear, blue sky.

Boosting academic evidence in policymaking

Published
4 June 2025
Categories
Research
Society & Politics

A national engagement project co-led by the University of Leeds is ramping up efforts to support and improve public policymaking.

Torsten Bell MP speaking animatedly.

Minister offers blueprint for Britain

Published
24 January 2025
Categories
Society & Politics

Government minister Torsten Bell MP delivered a blueprint for a better Britain in a speech at the University of Leeds.