Gary Austin (circleindigo)'s Avatar

Gary Austin (circleindigo)

@circleindigo.bsky.social

Professional Facilitator. Engagement Lead - Training at Involve.org.uk

532 Followers  |  1,016 Following  |  51 Posts  |  Joined: 08.09.2023  |  2.0241

Latest posts by circleindigo.bsky.social on Bluesky

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πŸ’­ Scaling deliberative democracy has to be about more than numbers.

πŸ€” Many practitioners and researchers working in democratic innovation have been thinking hard about what scaling really means, and how we can grow participation without losing depth, trust, or connection...

🧡 πŸ‘‡

29.01.2026 10:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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A permanent citizens' assembly has been in place in @stadtaachen.bsky.social since 2022. Following three mini-publics on various topics, a change to the rules of procedure has now been decided.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/new-...

#CitizensAssembly

28.01.2026 13:08 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Democracy Goes Digital: Social Media and Bulgaria’s Gen Z Protests Standing in her closet, folding clothes and speaking into a spatula suspended from the ceiling as a prop microphone, Bulgarian influencer and self-declared β€œGen Z Machiavellian” Flora Stratieva (@flor...

When protests go viral, democracy goes digital. Democracy Assessment Intern Bjorn Carlson sits down with Bulgarian activists Malena Malcheva and Valeria Berkova to unpack how Gen Z is turning social media into a tool for democratic participation. Read more: bit.ly/49XpxTB

26.01.2026 12:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just one week more to enjoy 10% off any 2026 @ica-uk.bsky.social ToP #facilitation training in this #JanuarySale - register now!

26.01.2026 11:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just one week more to enjoy 10% off any of our 2026 ToP #facilitation training in this #JanuarySale - register now!

26.01.2026 11:01 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨BOOM!! πŸ’₯ YOU DID IT!!!

The Petition for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party has hit 100,000 signatures!

NOW LETS HAVE A DATE FOR A DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

Cc @HoCpetitions

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

22.01.2026 23:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1069    πŸ” 270    πŸ’¬ 47    πŸ“Œ 18
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🚨Now closing on 93,000 signatures!

The Petition calling for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party is getting so close to the 100,000 needed.

Let’s keep going!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

22.01.2026 17:33 β€” πŸ‘ 278    πŸ” 167    πŸ’¬ 12    πŸ“Œ 7
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🚨BOOM! Now over 90,000 signatures!

The Petition calling for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party is getting so close to the 100,000 needed.

Let’s keep going!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

22.01.2026 13:22 β€” πŸ‘ 604    πŸ” 367    πŸ’¬ 22    πŸ“Œ 16
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🚨The Petition calling for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party now has 43,000 signatures! Let’s get the 100,000 needed!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

20.01.2026 13:50 β€” πŸ‘ 775    πŸ” 546    πŸ’¬ 47    πŸ“Œ 52
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Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...

They claim they’re putting personal ambition aside and defecting to Reform to help fix the country.
To stop that pisstaking farce, they should be made to hold by-elections in their constituencies and let the voters decide if that’s ok with them. Please sign.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

20.01.2026 19:47 β€” πŸ‘ 667    πŸ” 322    πŸ’¬ 37    πŸ“Œ 14
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🚨The Petition calling for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party now has 55,000 signatures! Let’s get the 100,000 needed!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

20.01.2026 18:10 β€” πŸ‘ 265    πŸ” 155    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 17
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ToP Group Facilitation Methods training - Sitges, Barcelona ToP Group Facilitation Methods training - Sitges, Barcelona

β€œHow can I have more purposeful & productive conversations, develop creative solutions and build a group consensus?”

Join me in March in Barcelona or London for @ica-uk.bsky.social ToP Group #Facilitation Methods, with 10% off with the code JanuarySale!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/top-group-...

20.01.2026 15:20 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Nigel Farage with Donald Trump during a previous meeting in the United States - a relationship that once burnished
Farage's profile but is increasingly seen as a political liability in Britain

(Photo of Farage with his huge mouth open talking to Trump who doesn’t look like he rates what’s being said)

Nigel Farage with Donald Trump during a previous meeting in the United States - a relationship that once burnished Farage's profile but is increasingly seen as a political liability in Britain (Photo of Farage with his huge mouth open talking to Trump who doesn’t look like he rates what’s being said)

In an effort to leverage his
relationship with the White House into something positive, he has also promised to "have some words" with the American delegation in Davos, in the hope that the new tariff attack may be reduced or eliminated entirely.
That's probably Farage's best option when it comes to turning the undeniable minus of their relationship into a plus, but it will only work if Trump actually listens.
There's the rub. Look at the President's recent and increasingly erratic behaviour: deriding allies, trampling hard-won friendships, denouncing nations which sent men and women to bleed and die for America in Afghanistan as unreliable and now threatening war within Nato itself.
Right now, Trump doesn't look like he is in the mood to listen to anyone.

In an effort to leverage his relationship with the White House into something positive, he has also promised to "have some words" with the American delegation in Davos, in the hope that the new tariff attack may be reduced or eliminated entirely. That's probably Farage's best option when it comes to turning the undeniable minus of their relationship into a plus, but it will only work if Trump actually listens. There's the rub. Look at the President's recent and increasingly erratic behaviour: deriding allies, trampling hard-won friendships, denouncing nations which sent men and women to bleed and die for America in Afghanistan as unreliable and now threatening war within Nato itself. Right now, Trump doesn't look like he is in the mood to listen to anyone.

British voters don’t like Trump. In foreign affairs, he’s all Farage has got. Unless he wants to go public about Putin. So now, what does Farage do? Apparently he’ll have β€œsome words” with the American delegation in Davos. Hahahaha.

Delusional, traitorous clown.
liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/417...

20.01.2026 08:11 β€” πŸ‘ 406    πŸ” 126    πŸ’¬ 34    πŸ“Œ 3
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Dr. King believed our democracy would only make sense when every child was fed, every mind was educated, and every community had dignity and freedom.

That vision is still unfolding. So, on this MLK Day, let us recommit to the work of building the world he dared to imagine.

19.01.2026 16:44 β€” πŸ‘ 3893    πŸ” 1141    πŸ’¬ 108    πŸ“Œ 57
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Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...

30k signs in just a couple of days. Have you signed?

By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

19.01.2026 17:26 β€” πŸ‘ 161    πŸ” 107    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 11
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Great to be in the #TDG50🌐!

As Taiwan’sπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό cyber ambassador, I’ll keep advancing responsible technology policy, digital governance & international cooperation in the age of AI, cybersecurity & digital transformation.

▢️ tdgi.org/tech-diploma...

Let’s #FreeTheFutureπŸ–– β€” together.

19.01.2026 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Join our powerful community of organisers from across the UK to support each other and work together for justice.

As an Act Build Change member, you will have access to... πŸ§΅β¬‡οΈ

19.01.2026 13:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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What should the media landscape of the future look like? A citizens' forum in Baden-WΓΌrttemberg discussed this question. On 17 January 2026, the final report was presented to State Parliament President Muhterem Aras and media professionals.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/maki...

#CitizensAssembly

19.01.2026 08:37 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The EU needs Britain's arms industry.
And Britain needs the EU economic and security blanket.
The UK's armed forces are small and impoverished, with their chiefs saying they face a Β£28bn funding shortfall.
According to a recent report by the Centre for Economic Policy: "By 2025, we estimate that UK GDP per capita was 6-8 per cent lower than it would have been without Brexit. Investment was 12-18 per cent lower, employment 3-4 per cent lower, and productivity 3-
4 per cent lower."
Other estimates put Britain's losses at lower levels, but there can be no doubt that Brexit has been a strategic economic failure.

The EU needs Britain's arms industry. And Britain needs the EU economic and security blanket. The UK's armed forces are small and impoverished, with their chiefs saying they face a Β£28bn funding shortfall. According to a recent report by the Centre for Economic Policy: "By 2025, we estimate that UK GDP per capita was 6-8 per cent lower than it would have been without Brexit. Investment was 12-18 per cent lower, employment 3-4 per cent lower, and productivity 3- 4 per cent lower." Other estimates put Britain's losses at lower levels, but there can be no doubt that Brexit has been a strategic economic failure.

"Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address this inside Nato," she added.
The EU needs help from the UK to do that. Britain has much to give the EU: its armed forces and military industries would accelerate and improve the bloc's security.
Trump's attacks on the very existence of Nato, his contempt for Europe in general, and his continuing support for Putin's land grabs mean that the UK could negotiate better terms for re-entering the EU now than it would have done before the US president tore up international law and turned on the US's oldest friends.
The Greenland crisis is Britain's best opportunity.

"Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenland's security is at risk, we can address this inside Nato," she added. The EU needs help from the UK to do that. Britain has much to give the EU: its armed forces and military industries would accelerate and improve the bloc's security. Trump's attacks on the very existence of Nato, his contempt for Europe in general, and his continuing support for Putin's land grabs mean that the UK could negotiate better terms for re-entering the EU now than it would have done before the US president tore up international law and turned on the US's oldest friends. The Greenland crisis is Britain's best opportunity.

β€œβ€¦if the crisis caused by Trump is seized as an opportunity for Britain to rejoin the EU on terms that bind the UK to the mainland. This would make both parties safer – and stop Putin from dancing a happy jig around the Kremlin”

Time to fix stupid.
app.independent.co.uk/2026/01/19/2...

19.01.2026 07:41 β€” πŸ‘ 643    πŸ” 176    πŸ’¬ 21    πŸ“Œ 8
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Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...

PETITION: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

18.01.2026 08:40 β€” πŸ‘ 178    πŸ” 108    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 12
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Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...

This makes no sense…

An MP can wake up one morning, ditch the party you elected them for, & sign up to a completely different manifesto…

No thanks

If they defect to a different party, we should get a vote

Sign the petition & help make that law.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

18.01.2026 22:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1402    πŸ” 699    πŸ’¬ 80    πŸ“Œ 40
GOV.UK AI Updates from the GOV.UK AI Studio

My current role at GDS is to communicate the work we’re doing in GOV.UK’s AI Studio - exploring the role agentic AI could play in government services and how to introduce it safely and responsibly.

One way we’re doing that is writing about work across the studio on alphagov.github.io/govuk-ai/

15.01.2026 14:10 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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🌊 A once-in-a-generation cross-border project is happening at Carlingford Lough β€” and we need your help.

A Citizens’ Jury is bringing people together to help decide the Future of Carlingford Lough β€” yet a postal delay means some households may not receive their invitations in time.

🧡 πŸ‘‡

15.01.2026 11:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

1 week left to apply to join our team!

15.01.2026 10:19 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

In this Newsletter:
2025 SURF Award Winners Revealed

Open Access Article: Democratic Innovation beyond the Deliberative Paradigm?

Reclaim the Economy Week

The People Powered 2026 Convening: Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions

Open Calls: Piloting and Twinning Programs for Scaling Democratic Innovations

Report and Thought Pieces: The Global Conference on New Ways of Governance

New Guidelines: Ensuring Impact – A Guide to Effective Set-up and Follow-up of Citizen Participation

New Series: This is Community Wealth Building

New Article: Exploring the Interplay Between Democratic Innovations and Social Sustainability – A Scoping Review

Blog post: Migrant Women’s Experiences of Policy Making and Political Decision Making

In this Newsletter: 2025 SURF Award Winners Revealed Open Access Article: Democratic Innovation beyond the Deliberative Paradigm? Reclaim the Economy Week The People Powered 2026 Convening: Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions Open Calls: Piloting and Twinning Programs for Scaling Democratic Innovations Report and Thought Pieces: The Global Conference on New Ways of Governance New Guidelines: Ensuring Impact – A Guide to Effective Set-up and Follow-up of Citizen Participation New Series: This is Community Wealth Building New Article: Exploring the Interplay Between Democratic Innovations and Social Sustainability – A Scoping Review Blog post: Migrant Women’s Experiences of Policy Making and Political Decision Making

πŸ—“οΈThe first 2026 newsletter of the Citizen Participation Network is out πŸ—žοΈ including awards, publications, guidelines, funding and events curated from across the field #democracy #participation #deliberation #commons πŸ€”Available here πŸ‘‰πŸΌ www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...

15.01.2026 08:42 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How to engage youth in a climate assembly?

πŸ“Œ At this KNOCA Learning Call participants will be learning about the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly

πŸ“… January 22nd, 2026 | 15:00 – 16:30 (CET)

πŸ”— Register now: www.knoca.eu/events/learn...

#CitizensAssembly

15.01.2026 07:08 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The German city of Moers should establish guidelines for citizen participation and create an office for citizen participation. These are two of the most important recommendations of the Citizens' Jury β€˜Shaping Participation Together’.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/that...

#CitizensAssembly

13.01.2026 11:04 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Develop Leaders through Coaching – Community Organising Foundations Coaching develops leaders by building agency, not dependence. Support people to find their own solutions and capability to take action.

Have you signed up to our Develop Leaders through Coaching workshop yet?

This training explores what effective coaching looks like in organising, where the goal isn't just personal development but collective power-building.

πŸ—“οΈ Mon 19 Jan | Book now:

12.01.2026 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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What Is Mamdani's 'Mass Engagement Office' Actually Supposed to Do? The mayor is taking lessons from Obama '08 with a constellation of organizations poised to stop the campaign energy from withering away.

With the creation of the Office of Mass Engagement, Mamdani is signaling that he wants the grassroots movement that got him elected to keep going long after his victory, and to somehow fold it into City government itself.

11.01.2026 00:05 β€” πŸ‘ 80    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1

Here at Involve, we are working on the citizen’s assembly with the National Gallery πŸ‘‡πŸ½

11.01.2026 07:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@circleindigo is following 20 prominent accounts