³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ

I am a Lecturer in Social Policy at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Since 2025, I have also contributed teaching for the Criminology programmes. I have published extensively on poverty and welfare, including a co-edited book with Charlotte Williams on social policy in Wales - 'Social Policy for Welfare Practice in Wales' (2021), with a foreword by the Rt Hon Mark Drakeford. My recent journal articles have focused on universal basic income and welfare reform. I completed my doctorate at Keele University and my BA and MA degrees at Swansea University. I am a supervisor for several PhD and MA students. My undergraduate and postgraduate teaching concentrates on poverty, social security, inequality, and housing. I engage in public scholarship through media commentary, webinars, social media, and outreach activities to make social policy debates accessible outside academia. I received the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ 2026 Student-led Thesis/Dissertation Supervisor of the Year award.

My contact email is h.gwilym@bangor.ac.uk

I am the School's Postgraduate Taught Examinations Officer

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education, History
• Diploma in Social Work
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education
• Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy
  Higher Education Academy,
• Doctorate
  Keele University,
• BA Politics
  Swansea University,
• MA Politics
  Swansea University,

I teach the following modules:

HPS1001 Social Policy and the State

SXP2010 Poverty and Inequality

SXP3210 Housing Policy

SXP4040 Key Issues in Social Policy

Combined Work Placement Module

BA and MA Dissertations

I also offer PhD Supervision

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2025

• E-pub ahead of print
  Gwilym, H., Beck, D., Jones, E., Ellis, D. & Closs-Davies, S., 23 Jul 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: World Affairs. 188, 3, 6 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of print
  Gwilym, H. & Gabuljah, S. G., 6 Oct 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Global Social Challenges. 4, 2, p. 208-221 14 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H. & Pithouse, A., 30 Jun 2025, International Handbook of Social Work. First ed. Valencia: tirant humanidades, Vol. First. p. 1332-1374 32 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2024

• Published
  Gwilym, H. & Beck, D., 26 Jul 2024, In: Critical Social Policy. 45, 1
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of print
  Gwilym, H. & Beck, D., 2 Jan 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) Diversity and Welfare Provision: Tension and Discrimination in 21st Century Britain. Gregory, L. & Iafrati, S. (eds.). 1st ed. Bristol: Policy Press, p. 60-74 14 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2023

• Published
  Gwilym, H., 10 Jun 2023, Social Work in Wales. Policy Press
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• Published
  Beck, D. & Gwilym, H., Jul 2023, In: Social Policy and Society. 22, 3, p. 545-561 17 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H. (Editor), 1 Aug 2023, Social Work in Wales. Bristol: Policy Press, p. 5-16
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H. & Beck, D., 6 Dec 2023, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2022

• Published
  Beck, D., Closs-Davies, S. & Gwilym, H., 17 Mar 2022, Senedd Cymru.
  Research output: Other contribution
• Published
  Closs-Davies, S., Beck, D. & Gwilym, H., 9 May 2022, Policy Press.
  Research output: Other contribution
• Published
  Closs-Davies, S., Gwilym, H. & Beck, D., 17 Mar 2022
  Research output: Other contribution

2021

• Published
  Closs-Davies, S., Gwilym, H. & Beck, D., 16 Sept 2021
  Research output: Other contribution
• Published
  Gwilym, H. & Williams, C., 22 Mar 2021, Social Policy for Welfare Practice in Wales. Gwilym, H. & Williams, C. (eds.). 3rd ed. The British Association of Social Workers.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H. (Editor) & Williams OBE, C. (Editor), 22 Mar 2021, 3rd ed. Birmingham: The British Association of Social Workers. .
  Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H., 22 Mar 2021, Social Policy for Welfare Practice in Wales. Gwilym, H. & Williams, C. (eds.). 3rd ed. The British Association of Social Workers.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2020

• Published
  Beck, D. & Gwilym, H., Oct 2020, In: Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. 28, 3, p. 383-399 17 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

• Published
  Gwilym, H., Aug 2019, In: Critical and Radical Social Work. 7, 2, p. 203-214 12 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• Published
  Gwilym, H., 1 Nov 2018, In: Critical and Radical Social Work. 6, 3, p. 407-413 7 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

2017

• Published
  Gwilym, H., May 2017, In: International Journal of Social, Behavioral, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering. 11, 5, p. 1094-1097 4 p., 49.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H., 1 Mar 2017, In: Critical and Radical Social Work. 5, 1, p. 59-74 16 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• Published
  Beck, D., Lane, E. E., Gwilym, H. M., Harris, I. & Gwilym, H., 23 Feb 2016, ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ.
  Research output: Other contribution
• Published
  Gwilym, H., 11 May 2016, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2015

• Published
  Krayer, A. M., Gwilym, H. M., Krayer, A., Seddon, D., Robinson, C. A. & Gwilym, H., 6 Mar 2015, In: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 24, 2, p. 135-151
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

• Published
  Krayer, A. M., Gwilym, H. M., Seddon, D., Krayer, A., Robinson, C. A., Gwilym, H., McKeown, G. & Hodrien, C., 1 Jan 2012, Unknown Publisher.
  Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

2011

• Published
  Gwilym, H. M., Gwilym, H. & Williams, C. (Editor), 1 Oct 2011, Social Policy for Social Welfare Practice in a Devolved Wales 2nd Edition. 2011 ed. Venture Press
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• Published
  Gwilym, H. M., Gwilym, H. & Reimer, J., 1 Jan 2011, In: Sozialmagazin. 36, p. 46-53
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Gwilym, H. M., Baker, S., Gwilym, H. & Brown, B. J., 1 Jul 2011, In: Gwerddon. 8, p. 28-44
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2007

• Published
  Gwilym, H. M., Gwilym, H. & Williams, C. (Editor), 1 Jan 2007, Social Policy for Welfare Practice in a Devolved Wales. 2007 ed. Venture Press
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• Published
  Gwilym, H. M. & Gwilym, H., 1 Mar 2007, In: Journal of Public Mental Health. 6, 1, p. 6-9
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2004

• Published
  Gwilym, H. M., Saycell, K., Sims, J., Hughston-Roberts, J., Lancelot, A., Underwood, P. & Williams, H., 2 Sept 2004, In: Mental Health Practice. 8, 1, p. 18-22
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2026

• 28 May 2026 – 28 May 2029

  Links:

  Activity: Types of Business and Community - Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel (Contributor)

• Interviewed on BBC Radio Cymru Dros Frecwast on Ofgem's statement that household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as increasing costs caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran hit bills for the first time. I discussed the importance of getting good advice on paying bills, such as through Citizens Advice.

  27 May 2026

  Links:

  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)

• ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Student-Led Awards

  6 May 2026

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

• A presentation on our research findings with musicians in Ireland in receipt of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA), for Welsh Government civil servants.

  29 Apr 2026

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• As part of the Campaign for Social Science’s 2026 series on devolution, this webinar, in partnership with the Centre for Public Policy, focused on the cost-of-living crisis. Surveys have consistently identified the cost of living as the most important issue among voters ahead of the elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd. But what can the devolved governments do, within their spheres of constitutional powers, to reduce the costs of living? Do they have sufficient powers? Are the party manifestos offering solutions? Given that cost-of-living is a policy challenge that spans devolved and reserved competence, can the devolved governments and the UK government collaborate more effectively? The panel included Professor Kezia Dugdale FAcSS, Associate Director, Centre for Public Policy, University of Glasgow (chair), Professor Nicola McEwen FAcSS, Director, Centre for Public Policy, University of Glasgow, and Dr Hefin Gwilym, Lecturer in Social Policy, ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ.

  21 Apr 2026

  Links:

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• Sharing key findings of research with Irish musicians who have received the BIA since 2022, for a research Seminar in the Department of Music, ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ.

  25 Feb 2026

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2025

• 18 Aug 2025

  Links:

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2024

• There have been many Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilots worldwide and a large literature has emerged outlining mostly positive findings but also acknowledging that no government has implemented the policy. In June 2022 the Welsh Government launched the UK's most important UBI pilot to date with young adults who have been looked after by the statutory care system (referred to as ‘care leavers’). The pilot would be appraised by an ongoing rigorous evaluation process until 2025 with the results not fully known until 2027. However, even before the results of the evaluation are known, the Welsh Government has decided not to roll out a permanent UBI to care leavers after the pilot ends because of costs. We consider the implications of the Welsh pilot with special focus on continuing austerity and the cost-of-living crisis, and within the context of Welsh Government's commitment to the well-being of future generations. With another UBI-curious government deciding not to adopt it, it further undermines worldwide confidence in UBI as a credible policy.

  26 Jul 2024

  Links:

  Activity: Publication peer-review (Editorial board member)

2023

• On 26 October 2023, the Academy, in partnership with Cardiff University, co-hosted a panel discussion examining how public policy might do more to uplift the collective well-being of Wales. As part of ESRC’s 2023 Festival of Social Science, the panel, chaired by Professor Chris Taylor (Cardiff University), explored issues around loneliness and isolation, including young people’s mental wellbeing, the impact of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales, how emerging policies like Universal Basic Income (UBI) might play a role in shifting the dial on wellbeing, and what Wales’ business community are doing to contribute to communities.

  26 Oct 2023

  Links:

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2022

• Written evidence (BSW0013) was submitted to this enquiry, and subsequently the evidence was used in the writing of the report.

  17 Mar 2022

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2021

• Launch of Social Policy for Welfare Practice in Wales with Rt Hon Mark Drakeford. The book is co-edited by Dr Hefin Gwilym and Professor Charlotte Williams.

  22 Mar 2021

  Links:

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2019

• In this paper we discuss key changes in the Welsh Government’s approach to social services reflected in flagship policy documents published in 2007 and 2011, before and after the financial crisis of 2008. Changes in emphasis between these two texts reflect wider political shifts away from the simple pursuit of fiscal discipline in public services towards a more significant neoliberal reduction in their overall size and scope, a retrenchment of the welfare state. We contextualise this development in the historical advance of neoliberalism across the UK (and elsewhere) since the mid-1970s. We argue that Wales – with its historic radical and socialist tradition – has been only marginally successful in resisting this tide. We use content analysis to demonstrate these shifts of emphasis across the texts, which we argue is a useful tool in getting to grips with policy texts.

  7 Jul 2019

  Links:

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• Political Evidence

  2019

  Links:

  Activity: Consultancy (Consultant)

2017

• 16 Mar 2017

  Links:

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

2016

• 2016

  Links:

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)