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Motherhood in Western Europe

Insights from Western European Mothers

The changing face of motherhood — Western Europe

The accompanying reports combine a review of existing literature with an analysis of original quantitative data derived from a poll of 9,582 mothers from 12 countries in Western Europe, making it one of the largest studies of this kind ever conducted

Child Obesity and Health

An analysis of the latest available data from the Health Survey for England (HSE)

Child Obesity and Health — download the full report in pdf format

In this ‘National Childhood Obesity Week’, the SIRC report, Children, obesity and heath: Recent trends, holds up a true mirror, accurately reflecting the trend towards slimmer, healthier children. more

The Future of Freemasonry

An examination of the role of Freemasonry in the 21st century

Freemasonry

This report is, as far as we know, an account of the first ever study that has been commissioned by Freemasons from a non-Masonic body. None of the SIRC members involved in the project are Freemasons, a fact that evoked surprise and welcome in equal measure from the Lodge members we met. more

The Changing Face of Motherhood

Insights from three generations of mothers

Motherhood

The report seeks to answer some specific questions about the changing face of motherhood and determine the extent to which modern ‘solutions’ to motherhood are more or less beneficial than the solutions of the past. more

Naming and Praising Update

June 2000 'Naming and Praising' Award – for responsible reporting of health and science issues – goes to BBC Online for their item on new worries about the contraceptive pill.

The piece follows the guidelines in the SIRC/RI Code of Practice to the letter. The BBC clearly recognise the dangers of causing another panic about the pill, and give reassurance about the minimal risks in the second line, repeated regularly throughout the article, which is calm, balanced and thoughtful. Even the headline is non-alarmist, a rare example of responsible sub-editing.

Any journalist looking for a textbook example of how to cover health-risk issues should read this BBC item.