Matt Lent

SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.

"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA

Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?

A million young people aren’t in a job or training. Britain has a problem | Richard Partington With the jobless rate now at 4.8%, ministers are urged to do more, especially for those with disabilities or health conditions

A million young people aren’t in a job or training. Britain has a problem | Richard Partington

About Youth Careers Collective YouTube video by Youth Careers Collective

We can finally share our new film, kindly funded by helpfilm and beautifully curated by Orlando Del Maestro. Check it out below: www.youtube.com/watch?si=jsX...

The big day is finally here! 👏

So it’s ok for these numpties to migrate to another country because of political differences, but not for others to migrate to another country to flee war, persecution, environmental disaster or severe economic hardship.

MAGA’s war on Antifa: ‘A terror network they have created in their own imagination’ | The News Agents House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned of Antifa-backed ‘hate America’ marches taking place this weekend, but is it just protests arranged by pensioners furious at Donald Trump’s administration?

"Trump has ordered a crackdown on Antifa, as if Antifa were an actual organisation with a head, phone number, or a committee.

"MAGA is associating people who protest with a radicalised terrorist network that they have created in their own imagination"

www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/maga...

British.

For those who don’t work in youth work, it’s hard to describe how bleak it is out there.

We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault

Watched the debate and fully agree. Our current drug laws are archaic and unworkable, but use of the word ‘legalise’ will dismay many with little understanding of the issues. Suggest going with ‘decriminalise’ which is much harder to argue against.

Britain's youth clubs have been quietly decimated. What's most revealing is that few seem to care | John Harris These vital spaces have been the first targets of cuts in a nation that favours age over youth – despite being the remedy for blights such as social division, polarisation and loneliness, says Guardia...

"More than half of the young people involved said they would like to reduce screen time, but 46% felt “unable” to. And then came the kicker: “93% of young people who have attended a youth centre say it has made a positive difference to their lives.”"

This.
Is.
Brilliant.

Wednesday, before Yom Kippur came in, I took three friends from my local Jewish community around the Houses of Parliament.
/

The wait is finally over.

For the past 6 months we’ve been working hard behind the scenes on an exciting and important change, and we are now very proud to let you know that from November this year, Spark! will become Youth Careers Collective.

UK faces ‘battle for the soul’ of the country, says Starmer amid Reform threat In a rallying cry to progressives around the world, the Prime Minister said allies must stop the ‘politics of predatory grievance’.

“Let’s call it for what it is: bullshit. The truth is, politicians have talked about little else but immigration for decades and in the most dehumanising ways.

Polanski added: “Stop the boats’ is all we hear. Well, today I'm saying ‘stop the bullshit’.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

How to Defeat the Far Right: Lessons From Hope Not Hate ‘A brilliant and challenging book’ GORDON BROWN From the founder of Britain’s leading antifascist organisation, HOPE not hate, this is an urgent call to resist the forces of extremism on the march in ...

1243 youth centres have closed since 2010. 42 percent of local authorities have no council-run youth centres in their area.

I wonder why so many young people feel disconnected.

(From harpercollins.co.uk/products/how...)

Trump has dragged the US to the abyss and Nigel Farage would do the same to Britain. Here’s how to stop him | Jonathan Freedland It’s not too late to puncture the Reform leader’s populist myth. His ‘make Britain great again’ act is out of step with the British people, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

'Farage's core claim is that he somehow speaks for the British people, that his views reflect the “commonsense” views of the silent majority. It’s not true. On issue after issue, including those that define him, he is out of step with most Britons.' Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

There is no organisation called Antifa, at best it’s a loose affiliation of activists, with some vague common values and goals, i.e. being anti-fascist.

What this made up classification as a terrorist organisation means is, they can lock up/disappear whoever they want by just calling them #Antifa.

Our CEO, @mattlent.bsky.social and our Head of Impact, Jay St.John Levy, were pleased to be at the launch of the #YouthCensus2025 this afternoon, hosted by Youth Employment UK. An important annual census into the experience of young people across the country.

We all need to be having these conversations.

Helen Goulden: Our institutions need to work together differently to achieve better social outcomes But as I leave the sector after 17 years, the prospect of meaningful action to accompany government rhetoric feels intangible

"I’ve grown increasingly frustrated making the case for why investment in communities – and building trust within them – is essential to solving political, social, environmental and economic challenges"

@helengou.bsky.social
@theyoungfdn.bsky.social

Congratulations @damedianajohnson.bsky.social for being appointed to Minister of State at the Department Work and Pensions. The whole team @sparkcharity.bsky.social look forward to working with you to constructively address the youth unemployment crisis.

I’ve always been astounded by the apparent randomness of reshuffles and cabinet appointment. MPs confidently taking on hugely complex remits with massive multi-disciplinary teams, and no relevant experience or subject expertise. I mean Liz Kendall studied History,

Supporting young people away from violence | The Young Foundation At this exclusive showcase, the Peer Action Collective (PAC) will unveil key research findings. Join us to explore the systems and support young people need to stay safe from involvement in violence.

EVENT📢| Supporting Young People Away from Violence

Hear from the #PeerActionCollective as they share key research insights on how to address the root causes of violence affecting young people today.

📅 Wed 24 Sept | 4:15–5:30pm
👉 Register: bit.ly/47SGO0y

Gov. Pritzker: “It's wrong to deploy the National Guard and active duty Marines into an American city over the objection of local law enforcement, just to inflame a situation and create a crisis.”

🧵 One of the biggest myths in education since I started teaching in 2010 is this:

The knowledge-rich curriculum

The myth is that knowing more will improve the quality of children's lives.

It's built on the lie that knowledge = grades = good job = happiness.

It's a lie.

They’re not mutually exclusive

Interesting, thanks, I’ll read it properly tomorrow.

With 1 in 8 young people NEET something clearly isn’t working. And the number one barrier young people give for struggling to gain employment - a lack of work experience.