The Economic and Social Science Research Council's Festival of Social Science is a yearly celebration of research that helps us understand people, communities and society. Now in its 25th year, the festival gives everyone the chance to explore topics such as health and wellbeing, crime, equality, education, and identity through engaging events led by researchers from universities across the UK.

With many people feeling the impact of rising costs, this year's festival features a range of events focused on money, finance and the cost of living. Dr Francesca Gagliardi and Dr Pål Vik - both active UKSCS members - are showing how co-operatives can make a difference.

The festival runs through until 7 November. You can browse all events at the Festival of Science website

Money matters: The family co-op fun day

60-minute session of interactive and fun activities and games for children on how to manage their money and how credit unions can help families save.

Ethical food & fair work: Exploring the co-operative difference

Using 8th Day Co-operative as a living local example, this collaborative event between the University of Salford and 8th Day workers' co-operative introduces the public to worker ownership and explores how co-operatives can contribute to fairer work, ethical food choices, stronger communities and environmental responsibility. 

Feeling the squeeze? Discover How co-ops can help

The University of Hertfordshire working with local and national partners – including the Co-op Group, Co-operatives UK, Cooperation Town, South Herts Credit Union, and the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network – offers a day of activities on offer featuring a pop-up shop to enjoy face painting and a fun photo booth, while taking part in interactive and accessible co-operative games, puzzles, and art workshops to explore how working together helps individuals, families, and communities build financial resilience, strengthen local connections, and create practical solutions to everyday problems. 

Crack the co-op code! Discover the building blocks of co-operation

This informal, interactive drop-in event will explore how co-operatives and other community-led initiatives can help people respond to cost-of-living pressures. Ellie White, Co-operative Development Officer, Co-operatives UK and Dr Francesca Gagliardi, Reader in Institutional Economics, University of Hertfordshire lead this event.

Cooperation Town challenge: How much could you save on your food shopping?

Inspired by the Cooperation Town movements and organised by Cooperation Town and the University of Hertfordshire, this event explores. how co-operatives and other community-led initiatives can help people respond to cost-of-living pressures.

Co-operative councils: Communities shaping local change

An interactive showcase with the Co-operative Councils' Innovation Network to discover how co-operative councils are working alongside communities to shape services, address shared challenges, strengthen neighbourhoods, and create fairer, more resilient places to live.

Creative care: A co-operative art workshop

Organised by Dr Francesca Gagliardi in collaboration with artist Jane Glynn, this thought provoking art workshop is a first step to considering the benefits of a co-operative care company  - companies run on a co-operative basis, owned by the care workers, the people receiving the care, heir families - or a mixture of all three.

Whose club is it anyway?

In an era of sovereign wealth funds, private equity takeovers, and skyrocketing ticket prices, a vital question faces football fans and sports leaders alike: Who really owns the game? 30-minute panel discussion featuring University of Salford researchers and FC United management and fans on benefits and growth potential of co-operative football club model followed by 15-minute tour of the FC United grounds.