Our publications

Below are some of our recent publications, to see more please select a specific year.

Older publications

Fuel poverty risk at the end of life needs urgent attention Robinson, E. (2026) Fuel poverty risk at the end of life needs urgent attention. Nature Energy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01933-3

Including vulnerable participants in research This chapter draws attention to the ethical and practical ways that researchers can include people from vulnerable groups in research. It explores some of the challenges of inclusion, highlighting debates around vulnerability, and emphasising that research itself has the potential to either challenge or reproduce marginalisation. Blackwell, C., Harrop, C. and Padley, M. (2025) Including vulnerable participants in research, in Research in Health and Social Care. Williams S, Searcey R. 77-86. Routledge 12 Sep 2025. DOI:10.4324/9781041056782-10

Additional family costs for meeting the everyday, non-specialist needs of children on the autism spectrum New research by CRSP, funded by Family Fund, has found that families and carers raising children on the autism spectrum face extra costs of over £2,605 each year to cover everyday essentials that meet their children’s needs. This new research, conducted by Dr Chloe Blackwell looks at the higher costs of everyday, non-specialist, household items like furniture, clothes and electronic tablets. Parents and carers raising children on the autism spectrum need to spend at least 60% more on items, which need to be of higher, sturdier quality and replaced more regularly, in line with children’s needs. Blackwell, C. (2023) Additional family costs for meeting the everyday, non-specialist needs of children on the autism spectrum. York: Family Fund

Staying home and getting on: Tackling the challenges facing low to middle income families where young adults live with their parents This is a final report in a study looking at the situation of low to middle income households where young adults live with parents – a stage of life that is becoming the norm for a growing proportion of households in the UK. The report draws on interviews with young adults and parents and consultation with stakeholders to explore the challenges, benefits and implications of living together. Without a ‘bank of mum and dad’ to help them move out, young adults’ options are constrained by high housing costs and insecure employment and income, with situations exacerbated by the pandemic. The research highlights that living together can be beneficial, helping young adults to save compared to living independently, but their financial contributions can also be vital to help keep parents afloat. However, tension around finances, lack of space and difficult relationships can cause pressure and talking about household finances can be hard. The research shows how aspects of the social security system can add to challenges faced by low income families with a ‘non-dependent’ child living at home, and the report provides recommendations for policy and practice. Hill, K., Webber, R. and Hirsch, D. (2021) Staying Home and Getting On: Tackling the challenges facing low to middle income families where young adults live with their parents. Edinburgh: abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

The cost of remoteness: Reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty 2023 update This latest report updates estimates made in 2022 of additional costs that make it more expensive to meet a minimum acceptable living standard in remote rural areas of Scotland. In 2022, minimum budgets were updated based on inflation, on updated costings in remote rural Scotland, and on adjustments to take account of new UK-wide MIS research in urban areas and the new minimum budgets that this produced. In 2023, updates to minimum budgets are based solely on changes in prices between April 2022 and April 2023, as captured through components of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).This ongoing research and analysis is needed as the MIS income benchmarks are key to the Scottish fuel poverty calculation detailed in the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019. Padley, M. (2025) The cost of remoteness: Reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty 2023 update. Edinburgh: Scottish Government