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Foreword<br />
We are delighted to bring you the second annual report from<br />
the Public Policy Institute for Wales. Over the last 12 months<br />
the Institute has produced excellent work on many of the public<br />
policy challenges in Wales and has attracted growing interest from<br />
policy makers and researchers across the UK and internationally.<br />
Adrian Webb<br />
Chair<br />
Ruth Hall<br />
Deputy Chair<br />
We have continued to respond directly<br />
to Welsh Government Ministers’ evidence<br />
needs. We have now undertaken over 60<br />
assignments requested by them and by<br />
working <strong>with</strong> leading experts from across<br />
the UK, and beyond, we have been<br />
able to provide timely, policy relevant,<br />
independent analysis and advice.<br />
In addition, thanks to funding from<br />
the Economic and Social Research<br />
Council, we have developed significant<br />
programmes of research and<br />
engagement on three sets of issues<br />
which are priorities for the Welsh<br />
Government as a whole – how to tackle<br />
poverty, the future of our public services,<br />
and the powers and policy levers<br />
available to policy makers in Wales.<br />
From the outset we have been<br />
committed to publishing our work<br />
so that it is available to everyone<br />
<strong>with</strong> an interest in Welsh public life.<br />
In the last year we have gone a step<br />
further by actively disseminating our<br />
work and stimulating policy debate<br />
via our website, blogs, social media<br />
and events. We have also continued<br />
to develop a range of methods of<br />
drawing on independent expertise<br />
including evidence reviews, ministerial<br />
briefings and expert workshops.<br />
Workshops in recent months have<br />
explored what works in increasing<br />
employability, meeting older peoples’<br />
housing needs, de-escalating<br />
interventions for adolescents and<br />
commissioning rail services.<br />
Central to our success has been our<br />
ability to work effectively <strong>with</strong> the civil<br />
service and <strong>with</strong> a wide range<br />
of partners in Wales and beyond.<br />
As part of the What Works Network,<br />
we are able to ensure that Wales makes<br />
the most of the evidence that they are<br />
generating, and we were delighted<br />
to host the meeting of What Works<br />
Council in Cardiff in October. In the<br />
last year we have also strengthened<br />
our links <strong>with</strong> a wide range of other<br />
organisations and individuals and we<br />
want to express our thanks to them,<br />
to our funders, and to the growing<br />
network of experts who have enabled<br />
the Public Policy Institute for Wales<br />
to achieve such a significant impact<br />
<strong>with</strong>in such a short space of time.<br />
We look forward to our third year and<br />
to continuing to fulfil a unique role,<br />
working closely <strong>with</strong>, but independently<br />
of, the Welsh Government to provide<br />
Ministers <strong>with</strong> access to independent<br />
evidence that helps to enhance policy<br />
making and delivery on behalf of the<br />
people of Wales.<br />
2 | <strong>PPIW</strong>
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