The Centre for  SocialChange, situated in the Department of Criminology, Sociology andSocialPolicy, aims to promote critical scholarship across the School ofSocialSciences.  We provide a platform to support the development and dissemination of research that critically interrogates the construction and governance ofsocialphenomena from diverse methodological and theoretical standpoints.  

We work across a range of disciplines and research areas with the intention to advancesocialchange. Our research explores the various causes,forms, and impact of sociocultural inequalities, marginalisation, exclusion, and harm, and considers ways of effectively mobilising and learning from community collaborations, engagement and action.  

Across the academic year we host:  

  • Regular research seminars open to colleagues across the university, with both internal and external speakers
  • Twice-weekly writing sessions open to staff and PGRs
  • Peer support sessions for the development of research outputs

Projects

The Student Sex Work Project
The Student Sex Work Project logo

Professor Tracey Sagar and Associate Professor Debbie Jones at the School of Social Sciences have been carrying out research into the nature and understanding of sex work for many years. Their work has sought to reconceptualise sex work to help reduce stigma and improve the well-being of sex workers, especially with regard to student sex workers. It has also resulted in wide ranging changes to policy in practice in Wales. Sex work is now viewed as an issue requiring multi-agency approaches. It is also recognised as an essential factor in policy making in other areas, such as domestic violence and modern slavery.  

Responding to child sexual abuse

People

Director

Sam teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules on criminological theory and research methods. His research explores the governance and regulation of sex work, with a particular focus on the Welsh context. At present he is interested in the malleability and symbolic power of concepts such as safeguarding and vulnerability, and how these are utilised as forms of social control.

Dr Sam Hanks
Dr Sam Hanks

Academic Publications

student in library

Student Publications

student in library