Simon Hanson

From pubs to populism: what the decline of community space means for democracy

Rosa Marks explores how rebuilding social & cultural infrastructure can help reverse the UK’s slide into distrust, division & populist politics?

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/social-...
@britishacademy.bsky.social

The government might also look to find its storytellers, as I argued in relation to the missions a couple of years ago medium.com/@joshwesterl...

Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it's not stopping The report delves into the nuances of Parisian cycling culture, exploring the vibrant community of riders who navigate the city's streets

Paris urban biking DOUBLED in just one year.

“Cycling in Paris has transcended mere trendiness; it’s become a fundamental aspect of the city’s identity. Despite challenges like inclement weather, cyclists continue to flock to the streets, setting new records and reshaping the urban landscape.”

Why are "missions" proving so difficult? We have a guest post today from James Plunkett.

For weekend readers: I wrote a long read on Labour’s five missions for Sam Freedman’s Substack to mark a year since the 2024 UK General Election. How’s it going, why does Whitehall find missions difficult, and how could Labour be bolder?
samf.substack.com/p/why-are-mi...
@samfr.bsky.social
1/n

Why are "missions" proving so difficult? We have a guest post today from James Plunkett.

It’s a year today since the 2024 UK General Election, so I’ve written a guest post for Sam Freedman’s Substack on Labour’s five missions.
How’s it going, why does Whitehall find this stuff difficult, and how could they be bolder?
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w.... (1/n)

We are offering one year innovation fellowships of up to £120k for researchers to work with central government on sustainability issues. And there’s a webinar on 3rd July with more info
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/inno...

Place and Evidence | Michael Little | Substack This work is produced by Ratio, Stories of Change and Place Matters. Click to read Place and Evidence, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Great piece with much to think about. You might be interested in this placeandevidence.substack.com that @johnhitchin.bsky.social, Michael Little, and Anna Waldie have been writing.

Seeing like a place Place-based work can be smarter and less bureaucratic, but can it rise to the political moment?

Seeing like a place. A weekend share of this. Some reflections from great summit on child poverty last week. More local approaches can be more intelligent and intentional, but can they rise to the gravity of the political moment?

medium.com/@jamestplunk...

New thing klaxon! How do you know if your organisation is mission-driven? Today we’re releasing a mission maturity framework I’ve co-authored with @danhonig.bsky.social and Vinuri Dissanaya at Georgetown Better Government Lab in collaboration with Nesta. Link: www.nesta.org.uk/report/on-mi.... 1/n

Public Service Reform | LinkedIn Public Service Reform | 688 followers on LinkedIn. A multidisciplinary team leading public service reform from the Cabinet Office. | We are working to reform public services so they are more people-c...

www.linkedin.com/company/publ... been meaning to cross post this on here. First PSR newsletter! Please share @pollymackenzie.bsky.social @simonparker.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social @jamestplunkett.bsky.social

I shared some thoughts on the Spending Review, focused on reform of the state. | James Plunkett I shared some thoughts on the Spending Review, focused on reform of the state. Key points: ✅ Overall: the reform agenda is moving in the right direction, and gaining momentum. In some ways the SR is...

Headline thoughts on the Spending Review, with a focus on the urgent task of reforming the state. shorturl.at/56Yed

Full post here: medium.com/@jamestplunk...

Feels like mission led Government is in danger of becoming the equivalent of the Big Society approach in the 2010s

Launch Authority - Tynemouth

I'm part of a great crew down the #RNLI Tynemouth station. We are looking for a volunteer to help a key role to help with launches 👇🛟🌊🚤🦺
volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/laun...

Available for work As you may know, I’ve finished my role at TPXimpact as a Senior Partner, managing a portfolio of clients and projects across Wales. I’ve had some time off, can’t claim it has been particularly relaxin...

It's time to start looking for work. It's always hard to describe what I do and the type of thing/s I am looking for so I spent some proper time thinking about it, writing it down and getting feedback on it.

blog.annkempster.com/available-fo...

Have a read, get in touch.

TransformGov Talks : Fifth event · Luma For our next event we have the following two excellent speakers. Catherine Day, Cabinet Office, on the cross-government participatory methods forum The Cabinet…

🚨 EVENT KLAXON! 🚨

The next @transformgovtalks.bsky.social event will be at the MoJ and online on Weds April 30th with the following great speakers.
* Catherine Day - cross-government participatory methods forum
* ​Cabinet Office Test, Learn and Grow team

Register here : lu.ma/c3wlyoz0

Internet of Public Service Jobs - Test/Learn/Grow This is a special edition supporting the Cabinet Office's Test, Learn and Grow team with their recruitment campaign. I have nothing to do with the team in any capacity and nobody asked me to do it but...

A special edition of my newsletter focused on the Cabinet Office Test, Learn and Grow team vacancies (and principles).

@karakane-kk.bsky.social

newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs/internet-of-...

YouTube video by Streetfilms® Ghent Kicked Out the Cars So You Can Walk, Bike, Live & Thrive in the City (Velo-City 2024)

I am dropping this on Bluesky first since I think this is the place to be.

This is my 1,111th Streetfilm so it's a cool numerical milestone! But even better this is a great 15 minute film and definitely consider one of my Top Ten.

For my birthday give it a play! #Urbanism

youtu.be/VSN1BR6es6E

I think we all need good news stories

Starmer's missed milestone? The outlook for living standards at the Spring Statement While on average all families are forecast to see a fall in living standards this Government, families on the lowest incomes are set to bear the brunt of the pain.

@jrf-uk.bsky.social full writeup here.

www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...

NEW from @jrf-uk.bsky.social

Much has been made of the pressure on public finances.

Household finances remain the elephant in the room.

If OBR adjust their Mar forecast in line with the BoE in Feb, it will see the average family £1,400/yr worse off by 2030, compared with today.

Thread.

Senior Fellow - Prevention (Public Health Consultant) Permanent part-time contract Salary: £79,484 pro rata, plus a pro rata premium to reflect the public health consultant pay scale Application deadline: 14 April 2025, 23.59

We are looking for a Senior Fellow to join our team.

You'll design and deliver a range of research and influencing activities on public health and prevention, supporting our work on improving health and reducing inequalities.

Find out more and apply by 23.59 on 14 April ⬇️

buff.ly/7fZt9QU

YouTube video by Streetfilms® Utrecht: Planning for People & Bikes, Not for Cars

WATCH: “You really get the idea that people are the boss on the street, & not machines.” Watch a GREAT mini-film on one of the most inspiring world cities, #Utrecht Netherlands, via exceptional urban film-maker @streetfilms.bsky.social with @modacitylife.com @bicycledutch.bsky.social & more. #Dutch

The Cabinet Office Test, Learn and Grow team are hiring 11 roles across product, delivery management, data analysis and design. Come work with us on public sector reform! www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...

A text box with the words: R&D Mission Programme: Mission Challenge Directors

🚨 Hiring news! 🚨 I’m looking to hire five really important new roles. Each will lead a major new innovation programme to tackle one of five major national challenges.

Fed up with what’s going on in the world but still wanna change it? Come and work with us…

A Garden of Ideas An exhibit for the Oslo Architecture Trienniale 2022, about neighbourhood spaces for reworking the neighbourhood.

About The Garden of Ideas, an exhibit by Einar Sneve Martinussen, Joakim Formo, me + AHO students: a pop-up student-led studio prototyping the idea of every neighbourhood having a place to collectively imagine, discuss and prototype the future of the neighbourhood
medium.com/dark-matter-...

A yellow front loading 'Yoonit' cargo bike, parked on the pavement in front of the Cargo Bike movement HQ in Edinburgh

Dammit. Someone nicked our cute lil yellow Yoonit. A mini cargo bike.

Share around, and keep an eye out around Edinburgh. Shout at @cargobikemovement.bsky.social if you see it. Let's make this thing too hot to handle.

Bike theft is the worst. Bike theft from a CHARITY is something else 😤

Missions x Neighbourhoods Original draft of my essay for the ‘Mission Neighbourhood’ book, exploring participative transformations of the Nordic Model

Cities & missions: not an obvious match, but it can work medium.com/dark-matter-... "In cities, could we downplay the linear, time-bound & targeted metrics implicit to ‘moonshots', whilst doubling-down on the participative & systemic, the ambiguous & transdisciplinary?" @cityofsound.bsky.social

Mobilisation Nation: Why the government’s missions need enabling reforms Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

According to the Prime Minister, Labour's missions are "not just government missions, but missions for the entire country".

In our new @demos-uk.bsky.social paper, we argue that it's essential to put these words into action if the government is to achieve its missions.

demos.co.uk/research/mob...

Since I posted this last night we're now at 71 sign ups. Hope springs eternal 🍃🌼