# The Social Change Catalyst

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/social-change-catalyst/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/

Understanding and driving social change together.

At the Social Change Catalyst at the University of York we want to make change happen, for public good.

We want to understand some of the world’s most pressing societal challenges and then use that understanding to tackle them. And we are doing this through both our education and our research in the [Faculty of Social Sciences](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/).

Our courses give students the opportunity to work and volunteer with people and communities to help solve problems together. Our students also develop key skills that enable them to become the change makers of the future after they leave us.

Our researchers also work with key partners to understand and tackle societal challenges in relation to policing, human rights, the performance of public services, meaningful business, health and social care to name just a few areas.

## Contact us

- [social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk](mailto:social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk)

## Related links

- [The Faculty of Social Sciences](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/)
- [Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/reputation-economic-development-advocacy/alumni/)

## How we work

At the Social Change Catalyst, we are building a vibrant community of academics, policy-makers, practitioners, students, community leaders, employers, entrepreneurs and changemakers to collaborate and share ideas, experiment with new approaches, and learn from one another.

Watch the video to find out more about how we are working to build a fairer and more equitable world together.

<https://youtu.be/PoyrwnISgm8?si=86hGzQvx3BhZt7T6>

## Partnership for Social Change

Working in partnership is at the heart of what we do in the Faculty of Social Sciences at York.

We're bringing the public, businesses and entrepreneurs, voluntary organisations, higher education, and the government together so that we can better understand social change and what drives it.

By sharing our ideas, experimenting with new approaches, and learning from one another we can create new and better ways to drive lasting and significant change together.

[Contact us to find out more](mailto:social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk)

## How we're making social change happen at York

We are building on York’s long tradition and history of effecting social change through research.

- Read a [Q+A with Professor Kate Brown](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/catalyst-for-change/kate-brown/) on building closer links with the police and the most vulnerable people in society.
- Dive into [a report on the work of the Good Business Charter](https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/research/gbc-report-research/) showing that ethical business practice is the key to success.
- Find out more from Professor Bob Doherty on how our Fix our Food programme is [delivering inclusive growth](https://youtu.be/6AzLuG-vGmY) by working in partnership.
- Find out about our students working on real-life cases in the [The Baroness Hale Legal Clinic](https://www.york.ac.uk/law/legal-clinic/).

##### Book extract: The Good Society

For three decades, Professor Kate Pickett has researched systemic inequalities in society and campaigned for policy change that makes a tangible difference to people's lives.\
\
In an extract from her new book, *The Good Society: And How We Make it*, Professor Pickett argues that we already hold the blueprint for how to create fairer, healthier, and more prosperous societies and that it is time to make this vision a reality.

[Read the book extract](https://features.york.ac.uk/the-good-society-extract/)

## The Social Change Catalyst blog

The Social Change Catalyst blog provides a platform for our wider community to share their ideas and understanding on social change for public good, and answer some of the big questions on what and who drives social change.

[Visit the Social Change Catalyst Blog](https://blogs.york.ac.uk/social-change-catalyst/)

To contribute to our blog, send us an email at [TYPE@york.ac.uk](mailto:TYPE@york.ac.uk)

## Support for research and education at York

Our research and education is rooted in building knowledge and developing the tools we need to build a fairer and more equitable world.

York's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account can support staff and external organisations and individuals with a range of knowledge sharing activities within the social sciences which benefit our society. This includes:

- Placement opportunities for postgraduate researchers
- Secondment opportunities
- Funding to hold an event

[ESRA IAA opportunities at York](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/esrc-impact-acceleration-account/)

[Get involved](mailto: social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk)

Find out more about working with us.

[Alumni Voices](https://alumnivoices.co.uk/)

Hear from York's graduate changemakers making a positive impact in the world.

## Related links

- [The Faculty of Social Sciences](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/social-sciences/)
- [Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/reputation-economic-development-advocacy/alumni/)

## Contact us

- [social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk](mailto:social-change-catalyst@york.ac.uk)