Insights from a research partnership between believe housing and Durham University are helping shape wider understanding of economic inactivity and the barriers preventing people from entering and sustaining work.
Through the partnership, believe housing is adding practitioner insight to academic research looking at economic inactivity in County Durham and how more people can be supported towards employment and long-term stability.
The first phase of the partnership culminated in the report ‘People, Place and Purpose: Understanding and Tackling Economic Inactivity’.
The research highlighted the complex challenges that can keep people out of work, including poor health, caring responsibilities, digital exclusion, transport barriers and a lack of suitable local opportunities.
The project’s early findings have now been published in a chapter of Social Policy Review 38, a leading annual publication examining major social policy issues and debates, helping share lessons from County Durham with a wider audience.
Researcher Dr Sanne Elbrink, from Durham University Business School, said: “Economic inactivity should not be framed as an individual failing, but understood as a structural challenge requiring coordinated, compassionate, and flexible responses.”
The findings reflect the experiences of believe housing’s Employability Team, which supports around 140 people each year into volunteering, training and employment opportunities.
Rachel Edmunds, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at believe housing, said it is a great accolade for the team to see the work they are doing alongside Durham University published in the latest edition of the Social Policy Review.
She said: “We are incredibly proud to see our contribution featured in such a prestigious publication. It demonstrates the value of bringing practitioner experience into discussions about policy and practice.
“Our team works with customers who want to move closer to employment but are facing a range of challenges. By bringing those experiences into the research, we’re helping ensure the voices of our customers and communities are heard.
“It’s encouraging to see lessons from County Durham contributing to a wider conversation about economic inactivity and how people can be better supported into employment.
“We’re now building on the next phase of the project, developing practical approaches that could help employers and employability services reduce barriers and create more opportunities for people.”
The collaboration, facilitated by Durham University’s Social Science Enterprise Lab and supported through Durham University’s Smart and Scale programme, is now in its second phase.
This is focusing on developing practical approaches to reduce barriers to employment and strengthen links between local employers, support organisations and communities.
Louise Taylor, Executive Director of Governance and Strategy at believe housing, said: “This project shows the important role housing associations can play in understanding and tackling the challenges people face.
“Our teams work alongside residents throughout County Durham, giving us valuable insight into the obstacles that can limit access to employment and other opportunities.
“A safe, healthy home provides the foundation for a better future, but support with employment, skills and training can help people build financial security, independence and confidence.
“By working with academic and regional partners, we can contribute valuable insight that strengthens understanding of these challenges and supports efforts to remove barriers that can hold people back.”
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