We've just invested £250 in @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social's brilliant initiative to help secure the future of some of the UK's best grassroots music venues, including #Sheffield's beloved Gut Level. They're still £150k short of their target with 12 hours to go – consider investing if you can 👇

"This is your chance to recognise the deep challenges we face in #Sheffield and beyond, and be part of responding to them together" We've got the full low-down on this year's @sheffieldtransformed.org, which returns to South Yorkshire later this month. ✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social

Next Thursday, we're inviting the team behind Regen Melbourne – a community of more than 200 organisations committed to creating a thriving city living within our planetary boundaries – to Sheffield 🌏 Find out more at the link below, or grab a ticket ⬇ www.tickettailor.com/events/wordl...

🚨 We've decided to take a year out from our full Festival of Debate programme in 2026 But don’t worry – we’ll still be hosting six headline events throughout the year that will welcome some of the most interesting and radical systems change thinkers to #Sheffield @nowthenmag.bsky.social have more⬇️

We live in a world where we have too much of what we don't need and too little of what we do – but it doesn't have to be this way 🌱 This Thursday, join us for an exciting conversation about Radical Abundance with Keir Milburn. 🕖 7pm 📌 The Workstation 🎫 tickettailor.com/events/wordlife/1838497

Here's an exclusive extract in @nowthenmag.bsky.social from Keir Milburn, @kaiheron.bsky.social & @bertrussell.bsky.social's new book 'Radical Abundance' Keir is coming to #Sheffield next Thursday to explore how we can “create a world of true abundance” 📚 Tickets 👉 buytickets.at/wordlife/183...

Next Thursday, Keir will be joining us to discuss 'Radical Abundance' with Debs Grayson. In a discussion session hosted by Now Then, we'll explore how we can “create a world of true abundance” right here in Sheffield. @plutopress.bsky.social Tickets ➡️ tickettailor.com/events/wordlife/1838497

"Under capitalism, for the sake of generating a bullshit abundance of privatised wealth for the few, our collective freedom and capacity to flourish is constrained" Here's an exclusive extract from Keir Milburn, @kaiheron.bsky.social and @bertrussell.bsky.social's new book 'Radical Abundance' 🌱

Capitalism has created a world of bullshit abundance, where we have too much of what we don’t need and too little of what we do. Join us in Sheffield on 2 October to hear Keir Milburn in conversation about the alternative: Radical Abundance ✨ Tickets 👉 tickettailor.com/events/wordlife/1838497

Join us in #Sheffield on 2 October for an exciting in conversation between Keir Milburn and Debs Grayson about Keir’s new book 'Radical Abundance', co-written with Kai Heron and Bertie Russell. 📅 2 October 📌 Workstation 💷 £5 (£10 solidarity) Tickets 👉 tickettailor.com/events/wordlife/1838497

At Opus, we’re in the process of moving our company savings to a more ethical platform with better interest rates. @sammgreg.bsky.social spoke to colleague Bashkim Muca about the thinking behind the switch, and what learning we hope to offer to other organisations devoted to systems change ⬇️

"This year’s programme is a true reflection of our city – diverse, vibrant and welcoming to all" We're super excited about the lineup for this year's @otsfestival.bsky.social, led by Lemn Sissay, @lucyworsley.bsky.social and @kenanmalik.bsky.social, plus loads more 📚 @sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

📢 "Westminster didn't fix anything for us. We demanded the right to do more for ourselves." Andy Burnham @mayorofgm.bsky.social‬ speaks on the power of devolution and the future of the North of England at Festival of Debate 2025, with ‪@metromayorsteve.bsky.social‬.

This bonus episode is a raw, unflinching conversation recorded live at #Sheffield #FestivalofDebate by @weareopus.bsky.social with 3 of the most brilliant minds of our time: @kateraworth.bsky.social @indyjohar.bsky.social & James Lock accidentalgods.life/brilliant-mi #AccidentalGods #Podcast

A statement from Opus on the government's decision to proscribe @palaction.bsky.social. You can also read the full statement on our website, where all of our sources are linked. ➡️ weareopus.org/post/opus-te... #PalestineAction

Climate change is here. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone won’t save us — we must adapt and act now! ⚠️ You can now watch the full recording of this fascinating @festofdebate.bsky.social event hosted by our Grantham Scholars. ⬇️ 📽️ youtu.be/IxV3D7t3Oxg?... #FoD2025 #ClimateCrisis

🌱 "There's a quiet nagging, an imperceptible whisper just out of earshot, calling us to witness our collective grief." It was an honour to have award-winning environmental justice researcher and educator Joycelyn Longdon at the festival this year, to discuss her book Natural Connection.

🚨 "What's being promised to us as a shiny new world of tomorrow is actually just recycling old forms of misogyny, and baking them into the building blocks of our future society." Laura Bates speaks on AI and misogyny at Festival of Debate 2025.

✨ Our 2025 programme is now over - thank you all so much for coming along and taking part for another year. It's such a source of hope to see people coming together to explore some of the most important issues we face. See you next year! Photos by Adva Photography 📸

Yesterday at Soft Ground, we heard from Sheffield Community Land Trust about their plan to take our city back into common ownership, providing affordable housing and cultural spaces right in the city centre 🏘️ #Sheffield #CommunityLandTrust #FofD

Join us at The Showroom tonight for a free screening of a powerful documentary exploring how Sheffield’s social enterprises are leading systemic change in response to the interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time. Free tickets ⬇️ #Sheffield #FofD #SocialEnterprise

Don't miss our final @festofdebate.bsky.social event tonight! Co-Director, Tony Ryan, will be exploring how bio-based plastics can suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere to help combat climate change. 🕖 7:00-8:30pm The Diamond, Lecture Theatre 2 Book here ⬇️ 🎟️ tinyurl.com/2s4arvf4 #Sheffield

It was my absolute pleasure to speak with Joycelyn Longdon for the #FofD @festofdebate.bsky.social. Please also buy her fantastic 📖 Natural Connection: What indigenous wisdom & marginalised people teach us about environmental action www.penguin.co.uk/books/454481...

♻️ 28 May - The planet actually needs you to use more plastic! Join @granthamcsf.bsky.social‬ Co-Director Tony Ryan for an open Q&A session, to explore an alternative, sustainable future for plastics. Register now for free: loom.ly/BXDMuxY

Sheffield’s Poverty Truth Commission has been meeting for over a year, listening to the stories of local people and their experiences of poverty. "The system" is a theme that comes up time and time again. At our event on Thursday, we explored what it is and whether it works ⬇️

"In radical collectives we need to centre femme work, the legacy of mothers and aunties – the work of checking in, finding out how everyone feels, trying to understand how we might ourselves be being exclusionary" Mijke van der Drift exploring their book 'Trans Femme Futures' on Wednesday evening 🏳️‍⚧️

"The idea that pausing and thinking and giving space for reflection is an elitist thing is very flawed. Those of us who don't work in research are still theorists and have stories to tell" Joycelyn Longdon in conversation with @rtakver.bsky.social on Wednesday evening 🌱 #FofD

Yesterday, we workshopped how policies like retrofit can unlock dozens of co-benefits that enhance and revitalise our communities. Thanks to the Centre For @thrivingplaces.bsky.social 📍

What's he on about now?? In what I think we can all agree is a deliberately provocative video Tony tries to convince you there is a future where more single use plastic rather than less is the answer.

Super proud to be part of the ##UnravellingBiofilms workshop at the #FoFD @festofdebate.bsky.social. We were chats to folks about sewage fungus, river pollution and our hopes for the Don and her catchment... whilst crafting! #Crochet #NeedleFelting #SciArt @sheffieldhallamuni.bsky.social

Enjoyed chairing this discussion. Thanks to @festofdebate.bsky.social for inviting me. It was great to hear more about @andyburnham.bsky.social and @metromayorsteve.bsky.social 10 point plan, their anger about what's wrong and their passion to change things. Loads to agree with and get stuck into.

⚡️TOMORROW⚡️ Mijke van der Drift and @fullnommunism.bsky.social envision the future through everyday actions that revolutionise our lives. 🗓️Wed, May 21 ⏰7 pm 📍Festival of Debate

"We need to integrate logical, emotional, and moral aspects when interpreting and presenting evidence" We're learning about 'Public Research for Public Good: Closing the Health Gap', with @felly500.bsky.social ⚖️ #FofD

"We have huge disparities in living standards in the north. It feels like we're living in a different country. The north-south divide is no accident – it's national policy" – @andyburnham.bsky.social speaking at our event with @metromayorsteve.bsky.social and @itsbethperry.bsky.social last night.

Opus, @nowthenmag.bsky.social and @festofdebate.bsky.social are proud to stand beside City of Sanctuary & organisations across Sheffield in signing this statement, opposing the government's hostile immigration policies and calling for safety and welcome for the many diverse communities in this city.

The planet actually needs you to use more plastic! 🌎 Join us for our @festofdebate.bsky.social event where our Co-Director, Tony Ryan, will challenge common perceptions and outline an alternative, sustainable future for plastic. 📅 Wed 28 May, 7pm Book here ⬇️ lnkd.in/eiP6kFm4 #FofD #Sheffield

We're looking forward to hosting our @festofdebate.bsky.social #FofD #Sheffield event tomorrow: 'Public Research for Public Good: Closing the Health Gap' with @felly500.bsky.social @joelangley.bsky.social Fiona Marshall and Naeema Ahmed. It's a sell out! festivalofdebate.com/2025/public-...

📸 Some snaps from some of our events so far! Photos by ADVA photography. 💕 Thank you to everyone who has attended our events, engaged in conversation, & challenged our speakers with your questions! There's still loads more to come, so check out the rest of our programme here: loom.ly/IlK4lN4

We had a great time hosting the ‘Creating Resilient Places’ @festofdebate.bsky.social event today! Some really interesting and insightful presentations from Jonathan Hind, Roger Nowell and Owen Hayman on climate-resilient retrofitting, sustainable flood resilience and the Grey to Green scheme.

A letter to the editor in the Financial Times backs #RightsForNature - that's progress Particular note for this week's Sheffield @festofdebate.bsky.social event at which I chaired on the subject this week www.ft.com/content/2a65...

On Wednesday, we hosted @compassoffice.bsky.social and Who Is Your Neighbour? to explore conversations that disrupt division and build democracy 💬 #FofD

"Retrofit is an essential component of decarbonisation – and if done properly, offers huge opportunities to build community wealth" Yesterday at the @thegreenestate.bsky.social, we learnt all about creating resilient places through the built and natural environment with SY Ecofit. #FofD

🌱 21 May - Join Joycelyn Longdon to explore her new book Natural Connection, which illuminates the wondrous awe of the natural world & celebrates the histories and extraordinary acts of marginalised people across the globe. More info & tickets ➡️ loom.ly/CqxllcU

Thanks to everyone who took part in our @festofdebate.bsky.social workshop on trade union organising yesterday! Thank you especially to our speakers — Lydia Hughes, Bob Jeffery and Fraser McGuire — for kickstarting the discussion.

Lovely - my evening will be talking #RightsofNature with @festofdebate.bsky.social

🚨 "I think we've failed...We're in a moment when we are being forcibly re-entangled at a planetary scale" @indyjohar.bsky.social shares his thoughts on the complex entanglement of crises we collectively face at Festival of Debate 2025. View the full 2025 programme: loom.ly/XsfWr7U

🔎 What's on this week at Festival of Debate! This week we'll be diving into the topic of AI and misogyny with author Laura Bates, as well as co-hosting events with local orgs @riverdonproject.bsky.social, Gut Level and more! 🎟️ Grab your tickets now to attend: loom.ly/IlK4lN4

"Striving for 'perfection' is as fruitless as it is exhausting" From our workshop this morning on 'Working Well: Avoid Burnout and Create Balance and Joy'. #FofD

"When I came here I discovered a new alphabet of fighting injustice" - Manuchehr, from Iran/Sheffield His contribution to 'Activism Across Borders' @festofdebate.bsky.social last night was a political education and an inspiration for the audience. Refugees are more than victims and survivors #FofD

"I'm neither from here or from there...but when I see blood being spilt in Chile, I feel it's mine" - Maria Vasquez-Aguilar. Refugees from 3 continents discussing what's it like to live as an exiled activist in UKs hostile environment @festofdebate.bsky.social Activism Across Borders SYMAAG event