Sure Start is coming back. The Labour government is to open 1000 Best Start Family Hubs covering every local authority. The first will be in place by April 2026 & all by 2028. They will combine existing Family Hubs & the Start for Life programme & also cover areas without these services. 1/2

When young people design relational practice training in their own words, on their own terms. And a short thread of why community-led participatory design matters a great deal🧵

I know the world is a bit of a bin fire and everything but for the love of all that is good and pure can someone please tell me how to turn off Copilot in Word.

Study on London 20 mph limits shows: - collisions ⬇️ 35% - casualties ⬇️ 36% - fatal/serious injuries ⬇️ 34% - child casualties ⬇️ 46% - child deaths ⬇️ 75% - walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists killed/seriously injured ⬇️ 28% etsc.eu/20mph-limits...

"I don't want to rise 'above' my community. I want to rise *with* it." This sentiment is often expressed to me by young people. They want individual success *and* to see improved conditions for all in their communities. This is a theme I explore in this blog: mabdallah.substack.com/p/mattering-...

This year London is the place to see a stellar line up of women’s sport. Top athletes from across the world are competing in the capital and inspiring the next generation across the city and the globe.

Enjoying this by Mark Furlong. Packed with practice ideas for folk working in public services to intensify their efforts to strengthen formal and informal social connections of the people they support (with good reason, not just 'coz').

This from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social is so worth a read. "The future of the State is not just a technical project. It’s an emotional one. A politics that wants to build relational, preventative, participatory services must start by creating the emotional climate" www.linkedin.com/pulse/mobili...

More of this please. Co-designing play spaces with children and young people near their homes led to “what researchers say is the highest increase in children’s physical activity ever recorded by an intervention of its kind”

Some thoughts sparked by a great event in Leeds yesterday on neighbourhood health and the UK government's Test, Learn and Grow intiative. How do we make neighbourhoods engines of change? medium.com/@jamestplunk...

I wish we talked more about social infrastructure in childrens services. Plus this from Geoff Mulgan & co re the effect of declining birthrates on social support networks. If we want strong social support for children, we'll need social infrastructure to enable it tial.org/news/designi...

I thought my first post on Bluesky should be something positive and motivational

This work is so inspiring ❤️

Turning national reform into an opportunity for local participatory design - a short story🧵 Today in Camden was the final session of our Design Group (frontline childrens services staff) and our Families Sounding Board (parents, carers and family members) working together on Family Help reform.

Join us for the launch of our upcoming report 'Closing the void' for a discussion on rebuilding trust in democracy from the ground up. With 💠 Charlotte Hollins @right-here.org 💠 Deborah Mattinson, political consultant 💠 @mds49.bsky.social @uclpolicylab.bsky.social Book your spot: bit.ly/44BsV5g

This from James is well worth a read if the current political climate is wearing you down (*puts hand up). There's some magic stuff happening to reimagine institutions so they have cooperative practices at their core. "Ways we can make our lives better together". Yes please.

⬆️ Are you ready to take your skills in public engagement to the next level? 👀 Take a look at our upcoming training! 👇 👥 Public Engagement Training 📆 Thurs July 3 📆 Thurs Nov 6 🗣️ Facilitating Public Engagement Training 📆 Thurs April 10 📆 Thurs Nov 13 www.involve.org.uk/news-opinion...

Biased I may be given this is the topic of my doctorate, but this free webinar on the role of community and social support in child welfare really does look terrific. Registration link in Cormacs post 👇🏻

My mum sent me this for COVID day of reflection. First lockdown, my folks were shielding so the kids would bike to their house during their allotted exercise outdoors and write messages on their front path. My mum and stepdad are waving from the window. Surreal then and now.

Like many care-experienced people, I am ambiguous about #careday25 - it mostly feels like a day for big orgs to gain PR opportunities/fish for likes. That being said, it would be remiss not to mention Free Loaves on Fridays, written by 100 care experienced children & adults.

🚨New publication klaxon🚨 My latest paper with colleagues from UEA is out now in advance access in the British Journal of Social Work. It's a scoping review of reflective group interventions with social workers & is available open access academic.oup.com/bjsw/advance... #AcademicSky #SocialWorkSky

We're live! The call for abstracts is now open for the JUSWA conference June 26-27 2025 at UCLan in Preston, UK. For everyone interested in social work research. Its titled: Shaping Our Future: Proactive messages from social work practice, education and research

I’m really looking forward to this FREE online event - all about the transition to adulthood. Managers and leaders across the children’s and adults sector - book your place now!

NEW: One in four children in England need social care services by the age of 18, either for health-related services or child protection The findings of a new study have sparked warnings over the impact of poverty and austerity on children By me, for the Observer www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

So much of great practice leadership is about addressing siloes & creating connection across system boundaries. We’re now offering a leadership development programme for colleagues *across both* children’s & adults services. We are always #BetterTogether www.researchinpractice.org.uk/all/news-vie...

🔴Twenty Government Reforms the Media Hasn’t Been Telling You About You probably won’t have read much about these announcements over the past few weeks bylinetimes.com/2025/01/24/w...

I didn't think David Runciman could top the original History of Ideas podcast but every series coming out of @ppfideas.bsky.social so far has been majestic. Can't recommend highly enough.

The recording of our webinar Growing Up in Kinship Care, where our speakers shared research and reflections on the experiences and challenges faced by kinship families and the implications of these for policy and practice, is now available: buff.ly/4fpr4SS

I get to spend a lot of time with residents with lived experience of public services. Right now it's on codesigning Camden's version of the government family help reforms. Those residents make me think differently every single time. Collaborate - there is always more to know than you know.

🏉 Rugby 🏏 Cricket ⚽ Football 🤾🏽‍♀️ Athletics And much more to come in 2025. London is the undisputable global capital of women’s sport.

This is well worth a read for folk thinking about building relational cultures in organisations. I'll say it again - educational psychologists are a precious (and often underappreciated) source of relational wisdom in local authorities.

My article on supervisory spaces and the dispersal of supervision functions in social work has hit 1000 views in early view. Great that open access enables a wider audience to read and engage with research. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #AcademicSky #SocialWorkSky

I meet people in significant psychological distress & yes it can be helpful to talk to someone. But sometimes what'd be more helpful would be someone to tidy up the house, to make a healthy dinner, to help out with the kids- practical help. Money. A break. So many people living in chronic stress.

Departing thoughts from Surgeon General Murthy: "I have come to see there are three essential elements that fuel our fulfillment and well-being: relationships, service, and purpose." #loneliness #publichealth #VivekMurthy #Medsky #mentalhealth #Psychsky

Hi folks, here's a list of so many good people, who are working to put relationships at the heart of healthcare. There is a lot of hope and inspiration here... go.bsky.app/6b22bQq

Recent rises in living costs are putting incredible pressure on both services and families. We are looking for professionals to take part in research about families facing persistent financial challenge and the impact this has on children’s social care. ow.ly/uYxT50UAoLE

Everyone once in a while you stumble across an idea that you can't unsee. Current one is Peter Fonagy's work on mentalisation and epistemic trust.

Buying another book even though the four I bought last week are still sitting untouched. It’s called self-care, look it up.

Doctorate reading day, and getting a lot from this report on children's relational health. Makes you think about the informal social connections professionals can help make and 'braid' for children to create a buffering effect www.gse.harvard.edu/sites/defaul...

Now an annual tradition in our house to start the year with #REDJanuary. For us it's to walk or run a minimum of a mile outside each day. Less enjoyable in a new years day howling gale. Worth it though. Just. join.redjanuary.com

“In London, everyone is different. But that means anyone can fit in.” Beautifully put. Thank you, Paddington. ❤️

Any unwanted Christmas gifts (toys, clothes etc) in the Yorkshire region - please DM. Our Adult Social Workers in Bradford are continuing to support people, inc children, in local hotels who are seeking asylum/refuge here. Happy to collect. Thank you #RefugeesWelcomeHere ❤️💚💜💛💙🧡🩵

Grateful for the recognition. More grateful to have a boss who lets me publish an authentic response: www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-am-h...

In Georgia, a mom facing eviction reached out to DFCS for help. They offered her nothing. Soon the agency took her kids away because of "inadequate housing." The state then paid *$6,200 a month* to house her kids in foster care. One of the most important and infuriating stories I read this year:

26k raised for Centrepoint in under 24 hours and it's still going - well done @rhodri.biz and Blueskyers 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 if you've not yet snorted with laughter at #duvetknowitschristmas then do so immediately. And see the link below to donate too.

I have made a #DuvetKnowItsChristmas bingo card! And done alt text on it (as everyone else should, if they're able).

Okay NOW its Christmas. Relax and enjoy the joyful madness of #duvetknowitschristmas the Bluesky remix. Nice one Rhodri🎄

Time for my annual shoutout to local authority adults and children's social care emergency duty teams who are helping people every night, every holiday, every weekend. You don't see them. But they're one of the most creative, problem-solving teams you'll ever meet. Thanks EDTs 🙏🏻

Exactly 150 years ago today, 9 headmistresses met in Camden to found the Association of Headmistresses. This is our story ascl-heritage.org.uk /1

If I could choose any gig to watch, it would be NPR's Tiny Desk without hesitation. Some majestic performances to enjoy on this list.