George Gosling

Dr George Gosling is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Wolverhampton, within the Department of History, Politics and War Studies in the Faculty of Arts, Business, and Social Sciences. He is also the former Programme Leader for History (2021–2024) and an active contributor to curriculum development, particularly in skills and global perspectives. His academic career includes prior roles at the University of Warwick, University of Liverpool, and City, University of London.

• PhD, Oxford Brookes University (2011)
• MA (Distinction), History of Medicine, Oxford Brookes University (2007)
• BA (First Class Honours), History and Social Policy, Bangor University (2006)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and Professional Practice, University of Wolverhampton (2017–2018)

George Gosling’s research centers on modern British history, with a focus on the intersections of medicine, charity, welfare, and consumerism. He investigates how voluntary organizations have navigated commercial practices while maintaining social missions. His work explores themes such as gender, citizenship, and the evolution of the welfare state. He is particularly known for his studies on pre-NHS hospital payment systems and the social history of charity shops.

The most recent publications reflect a deep engagement with charity retail, humanitarianism, and the NHS. Trends include interdisciplinary approaches combining social, economic, and gender history, with a strong emphasis on archival research and public engagement. His work often bridges academic scholarship with community and policy relevance, especially in healthcare and voluntary action.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2018)

Dr Gosling supervises PhD students on diverse topics including masculinity in wartime, autism history, council housing, and visual representations of poverty. He has been involved in significant research projects, including those funded by or affiliated with the Institute of Historical Research and the Social History Society. His professional service includes co-convening the Contemporary British History seminar series at the IHR and leading the Charity, Welfare and Humanitarianism strand at the Social History Society conferences. He has also contributed to curriculum design and digital teaching innovations, especially during the pandemic.

He is actively involved in public history through media appearances (BBC, Free Thinking, German Wissen), public lectures, and events such as the Being Human festival. He contributes to academic discourse as a peer reviewer for journals like Voluntary Sector Review and Social Science and Medicine, and serves on editorial boards including Social History Exchange.