The Family and Society Programme at Demos brings together expert analysis of emerging trends, innovative research methods and a progressive vision of social change. With a focus on how public policy can be better designed to give people and families more power over their lives and society, the programme undertakes work across the following three strands:
Family and Parenting
What does 21st century ‘kinship’ look like in practice? As the context of parenting has become more challenging, so families need to be more resilient and able to draw on the widest support networks possible. Given that over the past fifty years the shape of the family ‘unit’ has changed profoundly, the programme will look at how to develop services to meet the needs of all family forms.
Well-being in age
Our ageing society, once the concern of actuaries and gerontologists, is now a top political priority. However, in general government continues to conceptualise older people as passive ‘service users’. There has only been limited consideration of older peoples’ social capital, their potential contribution to community and social networks. How can policymaking processes be adjusted to promote well-being in later life, and to accommodate the expectations of the baby boomers as they confront old age?
Youth and society
Britain has long maintained a confused and contradictory relationship with its young people. But as they enter the next decade, young people are in a particularly precarious position — demographically, economically and politically. Projects in this programme bring young people’s perspective into sharper focus and map the impact of social change on British youth.
The programme is led by deputy director, Julia Margo. Please get in touch for more information about specific projects or if you are interested in working with us.
We are grateful to the following organisations for their support:
Creativity, Culture & Education
V (The National Young Volunteers Service)
The Children’s Commissioner for England