"Creating sustainable social change: in today’s new world, what will it take from leaders across the private, public & civil society sectors?" With @mds49.bsky.social, @pollyneate.bsky.social, Aline Santos Farhat) London 01 Oct www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/news-and-eve... #charities

Caught @pollyneate.bsky.social latest substack post this morning, sharing in support: “Being concerned about immigration doesn’t make you a racist” substack.com/@pollyneate/...

So large numbers of racist rioting men are also violent to their female partners. Who knew? Well, the entirety of what’s known as the “VAWG” (violence against women and girls) sector knew, for a start… Want to read more? You can over on my Substack: open.substack.com/pub/pollynea...

At @futuregovforum.bsky.social we were delighed to announce our own new initiative alongside the Covenant: A new 'Social Insights Panel', led by @pollyneate.bsky.social, to bring civil society expertise to bear on x-cutting, 'wicked' challenges futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

Really pleased we can announce his today to coincide with the govt’s new civil society covenant - and looking forward to getting cracking with @pollyneate.bsky.social on this next week!

Excited to announce this project with the Future Governance Forum today, in the wake of the government’s launch this week of the Civil Society Covenant and phase 2 of the Test, Learn & Grow approach to public service reform. Check it out on Substack: substack.com/@pollyneate/...

People on the frontline @sheltercharity.bsky.social see the racism of the housing system devastating lives daily. But to get change it’s not enough to know something, you have to prove it. Hence this important work by @heriotwattuni.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Last week I had a powerful experience: a private discussion at @bristoluni.bsky.social of alumni and staff involved in the “Vincent Out” protests of 1986 and their (considerable) aftermath. My reflections on what I’ve learned both then and since are on my Substack: open.substack.com/pub/pollyneate…

One year since the Labour landslide - I’m swimming against the tide with my usual undeterred optimism. Check out my post over on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/pollynea...

Great piece by @sambowman.co in @theguardian.com - though I think you’ll find that the gains from fixing housing aren’t bigger than *anyone* imagined (see pic)😉 www.theguardian.com/books/2022/j...

I wrote on Substack about why leaders should be free to change their minds. In fact, encouraged to when it’s so often the only rational response in our weird world. open.substack.com/pub/pollyneate…

The biggest step forward in abortion rights for decades. Congratulations ⁦‪@BPAS1968‬⁩ ⁦‪@fawcettsociety‬⁩ and the whole coalition of women’s and medical organisations who supported this www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Successful campaigns and clear, ambitious, well communicated organisational strategy are two sides of a coin, not two separate things. I’ve teamed up with Forster Communications to help non-profits get this right. www.linkedin.com/posts/forste...

A big step in the right direction. What a relief. This is the biggest boost to social housing for a generation, a major advance for social justice and a genuine strike against homelessness www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

“NHS budget to rise in spending review at expense of other services” Let’s hope it’s not at the expense of housing. Homes (or lack of) that make people physically and mentally ill will eat up this NHS investment and more. www.thetimes.com/article/abb4...

Civil society leader looking ahead to the party conferences? I posted six tips over on linked in: linkedin.com/posts/polly-ne… And I’ve got lots more tbh

Spot on from the Guardian. Wall to wall in yesterday’s news was the ugly sight of the worst conditions in social housing. Part of the irrefutable case for more social homes. More and better. 1. It can be done. 2. Cutting homelessness is impossible without it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The 10th anniversary of ine of my career campaigning highlights over the last week led me to get all controversial over on Substack open.substack.com/pub/pollynea...

I’ve seen this first hand, in myself and others. I sought out such moments in London. Now I’m in nature every day, they just happen. I’m old enough to remember when those benefits were just assumed and young people who had less access to them were given opportunities www.thetimes.com/article/fc6d...

Thank you @sheltercharity.bsky.social for inviting me to say farewell to the great @pollyneate.bsky.social and welcome to fab new CEO Sarah Elliott

I’ve been in this building quite a few times in various roles, but today is the first time I’ve ever seen #LarryTheCat - I kind of thought he was a myth. But nope, he’s real - almost tripped over him on the doorstep!

So excited & proud to see these @sheltercharity.bsky.social posters in Westminster station today! You can help ensure a new generation has the opportunities a safe home brings. It’s a right - or it should be. #InvestInSocialHousing #HomeIsEverything campaigns.shelter.org.uk/chancellor-i...

Thanks @alifortescuenews.bsky.social @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social & Paddy O’Connell for being such great company on the Sunday Papers review on Radio 4 this morning. You can listen on catch-up here (45 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

I’ll be reviewing tomorrow’s papers live on BBC Radio 4 Broadcasting House tomorrow morning, really looking forward to it. Do listen in

Excellent piece by @rcquaker.bsky.social on suppression of dissent and its dangers for civil society. It’s genuinely a bitter pill for governments that civil society is a vital partner who will also publicly hold to account. Both must be accepted constructively www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/paul-...

Thanks to @turn2us.bsky.social for inviting me to open their staff conference this week. Preparing for it really helped with my thinking on strategy-setting & leadership that allows for learning, responsiveness to events, local autonomy, yet also sets the clear direction organisations depend on.

Thanks to @grainnecuffe.bsky.social @insidehousing.bsky.social for this profile of me. It made me laugh and cringe a bit - which in my case is evidence of accurate quoting and reporting! www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...

New research by @sheltercharity.bsky.social shows the changes the government is making so far won’t be enough to stop the continuing rise in child homelessness - which will cost the taxpayer billions. Billions which could instead be invested in social homes to give children a decent start in life

Huge congratulations Sarah - it’s a fantastic job leading the most committed and talented teams you could ever wish for. Look after @sheltercharity.bsky.social - I know you will!

First holiday for 30+ years as a senior manager & leader in commercial & civil society life where I can 100% drop it all. Yes, freelance life doesn’t quite work like that. But if I go AWOL it can harm no one but me. Feels weird but good. Yes I’m reading a new book on coaching! I don’t have to tho…

New episode of the #BetterWayNetwork podcast is out! 📢 I’ve admired @lauraseebohm.bsky.social ever since my @womensaid.bsky.social days. It was a real privilege to have her on the show. Absolutely one of the best. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

Rents sky high? @sheltercharity.bsky.social has a petition for that. campaigns.shelter.org.uk/rent-stabili...

I’ll be on the panel reviewing today’s top stories on Times Radio 9-9.30 if you fancy a listen www.thetimes.com/radio

Thanks @emilyharle.bsky.social @thirdsector.co.uk for this profile piece. My departing thoughts as I leave the awesome @sheltercharity.bsky.social ⬇️

Super interesting to be on Local News Commission @publicinterestnews.org.uk It’s not often I can use the knowledge from my 2 careers: journalism & civil society. Final report outlines the vital role of local news in our democracy and how to preserve it. www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/_files/ugd/c...

The right to protest - exercised for many reasons, eg by farmers who shut down Whitehall without this sort of heavy-handed treatment - is under threat. That’s why UK is only Western European country whose civic freedoms are “obstructed” according to Civicus Monitor www.thetimes.com/article/ea7d...

Well. I’ve left @sheltercharity.bsky.social Being me, I won’t know how I feel about it for several weeks. I miss my team already though. This lot have had my back through thick and thin. The most diverse leadership team Shelter has ever had - in more ways than a photo shows. Ready for the future.

This downpayment on the next Affordable Housing Programme is great news for getting spades in the ground asap - to deliver the social homes the country desperately needs. Good now, good sign: fingers still crossed for a transformative Spending Review for social housing

This downpayment on the next Affordable Housing Programme is great news for getting spades in the ground asap - to deliver the social homes the country desperately needs. Good now, good sign: fingers still crossed for a transformative Spending Review for social housing

Now in my final week at @sheltercharity.bsky.social looking forward to my last ELT meeting today. This is the “official” photo taken on my first day. The start of 7.5 years in my actual dream job. I was amazed to be standing there. I thought “This is going to be fantastic.” Boy have I had fun.

Over 40 renowned economists, including 4 Nobel laureates, have signed an open letter urging the Chancellor to invest in social housing in the spring statement, for the good of our economy england.shelter.org.uk/professional...

The latest #BetterWayNetwork podcast is out! This episode, Rog and I chat to @nikkifuller.bsky.social about system change - often discussed but less often understood maybe?? Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

Thanks @redbrickblog.bsky.social for inviting me to reflect on my 7.5 years at @sheltercharity.bsky.social and where housing is going. And more important, where it needs to go next to get out of the utter meltdown it’s in redbrickblog.co.uk/2025/03/10-y...

Disco is my ❤️. Nile Rodgers is one of my heroes. But this list is just wrong and I’m going there. A) Let’s Dance has to be one of the most overrated songs ever. B) Thinking of You should be at 1. I could go on but luckily for you I won’t. Everybody dance: Nile Rodgers’ 20 greatest tracks – ranked!

Want to know exactly *how* the government can build the social homes we @sheltercharity.bsky.social are calling for? My super-clever colleagues have laid it all out for them. Read our Brick By Brick report - then join our campaign england.shelter.org.uk/professional...

Yet another emergency housing response that costs multimillions and is no solution. Meanwhile, homeless families continue to suffer. Everyone, including the government, knows the only answer is investment in social homes. That’s what we need in the spending review www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Following my excitement about the local beavers, an update. Yesterday evening we went to try and see them. Dusk fell and we were very chill, listening to birdsong and watching bats. Then we saw one, swimming not 5m in front of us! Made my weekend.

Think homelessness mainly affects men? Think again. On #IWD2025 join @sheltercharity.bsky.social to show the government that women’s safety and equality depend on building social homes. england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do/u...

Can we on #IWD look clearly at the new tools of patriarchy?Feminism is being crushed under men’s indignation and fury. Yet we still say men can’t express their feelings. Men: make #JacksonKatz your hero. And speak up for women. If there was ever a time, its now. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Very excited about these beavers on my (new) doorstep! Don’t know if I’ll ever have the patience to actually see them but I still love to know they’re there