SPA Conference: Hope in Dark Times

The SPA Conference: Hope in Dark Times is one of the United Kingdom's leading academic and policy-focused gatherings dedicated to advancing research, teaching, and public engagement in the field of social policy. Organised by the Social Policy Association UK, the conference brings together researchers, educators, policymakers, students, practitioners, and representatives from voluntary and public sector organisations to explore the most pressing social and economic challenges affecting communities across the UK and internationally.

Hosted at Liverpool Hope University, the conference provides a vibrant environment for interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based discussion. The published conference theme, Hope in Dark Times: Resistance and Radical Change, focuses on how societies respond to inequality, poverty, welfare reform, public service transformation, migration, climate-related social impacts, and broader questions of justice and democratic participation. The theme emphasizes innovative research and transformative approaches to social policy.

A leading social policy gathering

The Social Policy Association has long served as a central professional body for social policy scholarship in the UK, supporting research, teaching, publication, and engagement with government and civil society. Its annual conference is widely recognised as a key forum for presenting new research, debating policy developments, and building collaborations across universities, think tanks, charities, and public institutions.

The conference attracts participants from across the UK and internationally, creating a valuable platform for exchanging ideas across disciplines including sociology, economics, political science, public administration, social work, education, health policy, and international development.

What attendees can expect

The conference programme is designed to provide a balance between high-level strategic debate and practical engagement with current policy issues.

Keynote addresses

Renowned scholars and policy leaders deliver keynote lectures addressing contemporary challenges such as:

• Poverty and inequality

• Welfare state reform

• Social justice and inclusion

• Public service innovation

• Democratic governance and participation

• Global and comparative social policy

These sessions provide broad perspectives on the direction of social policy research and practice in the UK and beyond.

Research presentations

Researchers present new findings across a wide range of themes, including:

• Social security and welfare systems

• Housing policy

• Health and social care

• Employment and labour markets

• Education and lifelong learning

• Children and family policy

• Ageing and care provision

• Migration and citizenship

• Environmental justice

• Comparative international policy

Presentations are delivered through parallel sessions, paper panels, roundtable discussions, and thematic workshops.

Policy and practice dialogue

One of the conference's distinguishing features is its strong connection between academic research and real-world policymaking. Sessions often involve representatives from government departments, local authorities, charities, advocacy organisations, and professional bodies, allowing attendees to examine how research evidence can shape public policy and service delivery.

Networking opportunities

The conference offers extensive opportunities for professional networking, including:

• Welcome receptions

• Themed networking sessions

• Early career researcher events

• Special interest group meetings

• Informal discussion forums

• Collaborative project workshops

These activities help participants develop research partnerships, policy collaborations, publication opportunities, and career connections across the social policy community.

Why Liverpool Hope University?

Liverpool Hope University provides an ideal setting for a conference focused on social justice, community engagement, and public policy. The campus offers modern conference facilities, lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and collaborative spaces designed to support both formal presentations and informal discussion.

Liverpool itself has a rich history of social reform, labour movements, community activism, and public sector innovation, making it an especially appropriate location for a conference examining resistance, inequality, and transformative social change.

Who should attend?

The conference is particularly valuable for:

• University academics

• Postgraduate researchers

• Doctoral students

• Public policy professionals

• Local government officers

• Social care practitioners

• Health policy specialists

• Welfare advisers

• NGO and charity leaders

• Think tank researchers

• Community organisers

• International scholars

Whether attendees are presenting research, seeking collaboration, influencing policy, or developing professional expertise, the conference offers substantial opportunities for engagement.

Conference themes and discussions

Expected thematic areas include:

Welfare and social security

Discussions on benefit systems, income protection, universal credit, disability support, and social protection reform.

Inequality and poverty

Research examining income inequality, child poverty, regional disparities, housing affordability, and economic exclusion.

Health and social care

Sessions exploring integrated care, public health policy, mental health services, ageing populations, and care workforce challenges.

Education and opportunity

Debates on educational inequality, higher education policy, lifelong learning, and social mobility.

Climate and environmental justice

Exploration of how environmental change intersects with inequality, housing, health, employment, and community resilience.

International and comparative policy

Comparative analyses of welfare systems, social investment strategies, migration policy, and global social policy governance.

Professional development

The conference also supports professional development through workshops on:

• Publishing academic research

• Research impact and engagement

• Grant applications

• Collaborative research methods

• Teaching innovation

• Career development for early career researchers

• Interdisciplinary research practice

These sessions are particularly beneficial for doctoral candidates and early career academics seeking to strengthen their research profiles and professional networks.

Impact and collaboration

A central objective of the conference is to strengthen collaboration between universities, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society organisations. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event encourages evidence-informed solutions to complex social challenges and supports the development of research that can influence public debate and policy reform.

Participants frequently leave the conference with new research partnerships, policy contacts, publication opportunities, and collaborative project ideas that continue well beyond the event itself.

Registration and participation

The conference is a paid professional conference, with registration categories typically available for SPA members, non-members, students, and early career researchers. Registration generally includes access to conference sessions, keynote lectures, networking events, and conference materials.

Given the conference's reputation within the UK social policy community, early registration is recommended, particularly for presenters and participants requiring accommodation near the Liverpool venue.

Wrapping Up

The SPA Conference: Hope in Dark Times represents an exceptional opportunity for anyone engaged in social policy research, teaching, practice, or policymaking. Through its combination of rigorous academic scholarship, policy engagement, professional development, and interdisciplinary networking, the conference serves as one of the UK's most important forums for understanding and addressing contemporary social challenges.

For researchers, students, practitioners, and decision-makers committed to advancing evidence-based social policy and promoting more just and inclusive societies, this conference offers an inspiring and intellectually stimulating environment in the heart of Liverpool.