Alison Gelder

Britain’s social fabric has been torn but it’s just easie... The real causes of serious problems are ignored and those responsible are let off the hook

Realistic but depressing piece in @theobserveruk.bsky.social by @kenanmalik.bsky.social. The question is - what can we do to mend the brokenness and restore our social fabric?

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

ACT NOW, CHANGE FOREVER On 9th July, thousands people from every corner of the UK will come to Westminster to tell our MPs: this is a moment for leadership that protects what matters most — our health, our nature, our commun...

I'm joining thousands in Westminster on 9 July to meet my MP and stand for a fairer, healthier, safer future. 🌱💚 Join me! www.theclimatecoalition.org/act-now-chan... @theCCoalition #ActNowChangeForever

Hey @theguardian.com just had to pay the extra 20p @whsmithofficial.bsky.social to exchange my Saturday coupon for the paper. Hope that goes to you guys…

Quakers condemn police raid on Westminster Meeting House Police broke into a Quaker Meeting House last night (27 March) and arrested six young people holding a meeting over concerns for the climate and Gaza.

🚨 Outrage as 20 police officers break into Westminster Quaker Meeting House and arrest six. 🚨
This shocking violation of a place of worship is a direct result of crackdowns on protest and dissent - freedom of speech, assembly and democracy are at risk.🕊️
👉 www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

British parents to gain right to bereavement leave after miscarriage Exclusive: Women and partners who suffer pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to be entitled in England, Wales and Scotland

I lost a baby very early doors (5 weeks) while I was out of the country on holiday. It was an awful experience. I really needed some time to just have a break but felt I couldn't even ask as it "only a chemical".

This is long overdue and so welcome.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

In other news, Nigel Farage didn't bother to turn up to the debate on grooming gangs in the House of Commons just now

Good to see you here too, @jennyedwards.bsky.social - and the swans…

Totally depends on the child. Some can find things before they leave primary school; others still can’t see things in their 30s…

@tinabeattie.bsky.social testing the water over here - we’ll worth the read

Welcome to Bluesky 😊

I was there shaking a collection bucket from 7.30 - 9am. The least you can do is donate…

The farmers march on Westminster

unherd.com/2024/11/a-fa... The straw that broke the farmers’ backs?
Worth reading this passionate explainer from James Rebanks…

Also big supporters of the Robes Winter Night Shelter for homeless people, turning out to cheer up those taking part in the annual sleep out at Southwark Cathedral.

NEW: The closure of youth clubs in the 2010s led to increased offending and worse GSCE results.

Teenagers entitled to free school meals were most affected.

Read @carmenvillaecon’s briefing: https://buff.ly/4fIiRK7

Read the working paper: https://buff.ly/3APnHq6

I’m a farmer – and I’m glad to see tax loopholes closing for cynical investor landowners | Guy Singh-Watson It could have been better designed, but Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tweak will help farmers with mud on their boots, says farmer Guy Singh-Watson

I’m a farmer – and I’m glad to see tax loopholes closing for cynical investor landowners.

Riverford founder Guy Singh-Watson on why the farming community is deluding itself about Rachel Reeves' changes to agricultural property relief from inheritance tax.

So what do people think of the 4B Movement? Echoes of 70s radical feminism for me…

Temporary accommodation has essentially become all but permanent for so many.

Nothing exemplifies our chronic, systemic short-termism more than our lack of social housing, so we now leech ££ to low quality private sector - insufficient & fragile as it is - to the detriment of families in need.

Today a coffee shop tried to sell me a 12oz black Americano. That is 50ml of espresso in *310ml* of water. How did this ever become an acceptable drink? Should be outlawed.

Decommissioning Sellafield: managing risks from the nuclear legacy - NAO report Sellafield nuclear site is not yet achieving value for money due to concerns over project management, the pace of delivery and staffing.

Here's the National Audit Office doing what it does best - keeping an eye on things everyone else forgets about. In today's report it looks at progress on the cleaning up of the Sellafield site, which is expected to take until 2125 (yes you read that correctly)
www.nao.org.uk/reports/deco...

Just one of those photos that has to be shared. Bodiam Castle, Sussex. (1/1)

Pittlesden, Tenterden, Kent - postwar council housing built by Tenterden Borough Council. The tile hung upper storeys reflect the local vernacular and the wooden shutters on a number of the houses are original.

A striking finding from my colleagues:

Every £1 spent on Sure Start saved approximately 19p in public spending on youth justice and children’s social care - on top of savings from educational improvements, reductions in special educational needs and reductions in hospitalisations.

Is AI supplanting human minute takers? This came up at my Tenants and Residents meeting last night. We wondered if we could use AI to do a volunteer role no one wants…

Better engagement for better outcomes Taking a rapid test and learn approach to engagement with people out of work due to disabilities and poor health

Record numbers of people being long-term unemployed due to health & disabilities has led to calls to apply stricter conditions on benefits

But my new @neweconomics.bsky.social paper argues that DWP could do much more to foster voluntary engagement with support...🧵 neweconomics.org/2024/08/bett...