In this episode of The Policy Pod, we discuss Mapping Southampton's food system a Centre for the south funded collaboration between the University of Southampton School of Biological Sciences and Southampton City Council. This work intended to shine a light on food inequalities at a local level, mapping the food system and listening to the voices of the community to inform policy. Dr Jenny Baverstock and Lucy Scullard discuss this work highlighting: The economic, health and environmental impacts of the local Food system in Southampton.

They discuss the fact that locally, almost 1 in 3 businesses in Southampton are part of the food system. These provide over 6,700 jobs and contribute up to £487.3 million to Southampton’s economy per year (Figures as of 2024). However, over 40% of local people have reported experiencing food insecurity (Figure for 2023) and rates of childhood obesity are significantly higher in Southampton than the average for England 2022/23. Whilst the food system is also linked to a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

The Mapping Southampton's food system: Towards a healthier and more sustainable future set out recommendations and has led to the formation of a city wide Southampton food partnership which has, since 2024, become a member of the Sustainable Food Places network.

For further information of the work discussed get in touch Email: J.Baverstock@soton.ac.uk and publichealth@southampton.gov.uk or Sotonfoodmap@soton.ac.uk

Get involved

Southampton Food Partnership welcomes new members as it is very much an evolving group. Please get in touch to be added to the distribution list and receive updates and invites to meetings. sotonfoodpartnership@gmail.com

For further information discussed in the Podcast please see the links below:

Policy brief

Tackling Childhood Obesity in Southampton

Blog posts

Southampton food partnership

Southampton data observatory

In this episode of the Policy Pod, we spotlight the ESRC funded project Rehabilitating Probation and discuss it with Professor Harry Annison from the University of Southampton, Dr Matthew Millings from Liverpool John Moores University, and Cassia Rowland from the Institute for Government.

Rehabilitating Probation explores the experiences and consequences of the unification of probation services in 2021 for managers, practitioners, partners, and service users. The research team has examined the lessons that emerged about how to rebuild culture, identity, and legitimacy in a reformed public service. They have conducted 340 interviews, across three annual sweeps, and run research-led workshops in and beyond their case study region.

Read all the publications from the team here and find more details about their project on their website. snip

In this episode of the Policy Pod, we spotlight the Shaping Tomorrows Playbook - the main output of the Shaping Tomorrows Project, a project led by the Climate Coaching Alliance and funded by our New Things Fund.

This episode features two of the Playbook’s key contributors - Dr Ruby Campbell, executive coach, leadership consultant, author, and chief editor and project lead of the Shaping Tomorrows project; and Dr Wassim Dbouk, marine and maritime policy research fellow at the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, project finance lead, and co-author.

Together, they discuss the Playbook’s evidence-based approach and its value for climate coaches, researchers, and anyone working at the intersection of climate science, policy, and leadership, and how our universities can support their inner development process.

The Shaping Tomorrows Playbook introduces a structured, six-step framework designed to help readers navigate the political and organisational complexities of climate action by guiding them to develop the inner skills and capacities needed for effective leadership and change. It offers practical tools and reflective exercises grounded in current research to support impactful leadership and decision-making in sustainability contexts. The Playbook also encourages critical reflection, theory of change development, and interdisciplinary collaboration - key priorities for today’s research community. Download the Playbook here.

Whether you are a climate coach, a researcher, or a professional working to advance sustainability and climate action, we invite you to listen to this discussion to explore how the Shaping Tomorrows Playbook can enhance your engagement with policymakers, and support the translation of evidence into meaningful climate action.