Our work on SDG Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Research
Structural inequalities in housing access
Stirling is progressing SDG 10 through publishing research that highlights housing disparities faced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) people in Great Britain. Led by Professor Peter Matthews, the study - based on nearly a decade of national data and published in May 2024 - the research found that LGBTQ+ individuals are significantly less likely to own homes and more likely to live in private or social rented housing compared to heterosexual counterparts.
These findings challenge housing policies built around the heterosexual nuclear family and underscore the need for inclusive policy reform to address structural inequalities in housing access.
Improving access to support services for justice-involved people
Dr Catriona Connell and colleagues in Social Sciences at the University of Stirling are leading an ESRC-funded research project exploring how social networks influence help-seeking for substance use and mental health challenges among justice-involved individuals in Scottish communities.
People with criminal convictions are significantly more likely to experience these issues, yet many face barriers to accessing support or avoid seeking help altogether contributing to poor health outcomes and increased risk of death. By shifting focus from individuals to their social connections, the project aims to generate policy and practice recommendations to improve access to vital services and reduce harm.
Improving outcomes for Scotland’s most vulnerable children
A major longitudinal study led by Dr Helen Whincup and funded by a philanthropic donor and the Nuffield Foundation, has revealed that Scotland’s most vulnerable children are waiting years to be placed in permanent homes, with many experiencing multiple placements and losing contact with siblings. The research, which tracked 1,836 children who entered care under the age of five, found that the average time to permanence was over two years, and more than 10% remained in temporary placements a decade later.
The study also highlighted significant gaps in administrative data, including missing information on ethnicity and adoption breakdowns, which limits effective policy responses. The findings (Word document link) published in 2024 underscore the urgent need for more timely, stable, and inclusive care planning, with implications for improving social work practice, data systems, and support for caregivers and children.
Learning and teaching
Global leadership in human rights education
Stirling hosts the world’s only MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy course taught in partnership with the leading training body of the United Nations: the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The course continues to be popular with over 100 students enrolled in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The course is designed to prepare future leaders in the field through an intense programme taught by the leading researchers and practitioners from across the globe.
We have established partnerships with leading human rights organisations including UN Women, International Organisation for Migration, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Our students have gone on to work with the United Nations Population Fund, the European Court of Human Rights, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Combatting inequalities through teaching
Our Humanities and Social Science colleagues have developed a range of modules aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to combat inequalities and discrimination. Included are Race, Ethnicity and Migration, Disability and Society, Equality , Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Digital Justice.
The University is also advancing SDG 10 through a pioneering training course designed to improve care for ageing LGBTQ+ individuals living with dementia. Launching in March 2025, the course addresses issues such as historical discrimination, unconscious bias, and social isolation, which often lead to inadequate care and feelings of invisibility in healthcare settings. Co-designed by dementia experts and PhD researchers, the programme equips health and social care providers with the knowledge and tools to deliver compassionate, inclusive support. It marks a critical step toward ensuring equitable care for a marginalised and vulnerable population.
University operations
Stirling Cares Programme
The Stirling Cares Programme addresses challenges faced by care experienced students, estranged students and student carers that can discourage them from fully engaging with services and employers during their studies. The co-curriculum programme weaves together tailored careers education and practical work experience. The aim of the programme is to deliver enhanced careers support, develop confidence, and provide valuable work experience. Students receive a bursary to support them on a work experience of up to 70-hours to remove any financial barriers to participation.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Our Accessibility and Inclusion service offers support for anyone with physical and mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, mental health conditions and learning difficulties such as dyslexia. The University can help with everything from exam arrangements to needs assessment for assistive technology. Students can also be informed about additional financial benefits they may be entitled to and connect them with a Student Adviser where appropriate.
Equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives
The University is steadfast in its commitment to fostering Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). The Vice-Chancellor's Fund is instrumental in advancing EDI initiatives, delivering vital support to LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups, and other marginalised populations within the University.
These efforts ensure a more inclusive, diverse, and supportive campus for everyone. In the past year the fund has enabled a transition project for vulnerable groups; a pre-semester event for new students with autism, visual impairments, complex mobility issues, and for those who are care experienced or estranged. Also funded were LGBTQ+ pride week, and British Sign Language (BSL) classes both raising awareness of issues and learning BSL. Explore the latest for Stirling’s BSL 2024-2030 plan (Word doc link).
Civic engagement
LGBTQ+ experiences in social security systems
Professor Peter Matthews led work on the first major research project, funded by the Nuffield foundation, to seek to understand the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- people accessing social security benefits in Great Britain. The research report (PDF link), published in 2024, advocates for a shift from punitive welfare models to individualised, inclusive systems that reflect diverse family structures and lived experiences.
The research findings have a wide range of implications for social security policy in Great Britain, and in other jurisdictions, and for frontline workers delivering social security, or organisations supporting and advocating for those applying for social security benefits. As part of the project, numerous resources have been developed for the LGBTQ+ community in understanding their rights to access benefits as well as resources like Equality Impact Assessments for organisations to better support marginalised groups.
Inclusive ageing: empowering dementia care though community engagement
The ENACT-DEM project, led by the University of Stirling and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), explores how people living with dementia engage with their communities and overcome exclusion. Working across six field sites in the UK, Canada, and Germany, the project uses qualitative methods - including time-use diaries, network mapping, and interviews with policymakers - to understand how social connections and neighbourhoods support participation. Crucially, the research involves collaboration with local community groups and dementia-friendly initiatives to ensure that policy and practice are shaped by lived experience, promoting inclusive community development and reducing isolation.
Paws 4 Progress
Paws for Progress is an organisation developed from the Division of Psychology that delivers dog-assisted services that transform lives in Scotland, focusing primarily on at-risk youth. It is committed to creating an inclusive society that values differences, removes barriers, and ensures equal opportunities for learning, growth, and meaningful employment. It provides ongoing services to support people both in custody and in the broader community. In January 2025 it contributed to the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) at the Houses of Parliament.