🧵A Nation of Neighbours | New coalition of the willing 🤝 Across Britain, communities are quietly leading change – from food banks to youth centres, from local enterprises to new models of care. This energy and creativity is powering a story of national renewal rooted in neighbourhoods.

Good for the soul

I may well be biased but 100% agree - come and visit!

🍂 Don’t miss out – the deadline for GM Walking Grants is just days away! Your project could help people keep moving and connecting even as the weather turns colder. ✅ Apply today: buff.ly/7ELkUcE

The road cycling world championships in Kigali is going to be amazing. And the course for the men's elite race is *brutal*: 5,500m of climbing in 268km of racing. Link: www.uci.org/race-hub/202...

Fascinating paper exploring the economic impact of populist leaders coming to power. Lots in here but two key things for me: 1. Over 15 years GDP/capita decreases by 10%; with 2. No discernible change to inequality over same period. Paper: iacmr.org/wp-content/u... HT @justinwolfers.bsky.social

Absolutely love this 🌳 Sign me up!

Absolutely love this 🌳 Sign me up!

*David Attenborough voice* "And here we see the the final destination of great summer Lime migration having gathered size and momentum across the urban expanse"

"Using a real-time recession detection algorithm trained on a century of broader labour market data, Michaillat...estimates a 71 per cent probability that the US economy was already in recession in May." Link: on.ft.com/42eg2w5

On complicated topics I reach for @frameworks.bsky.social research & comms advice. 1. Lead with moral arguments in contentious communication contexts. 2. Focus on shared humanity more than rights-based language. 3. Explain specific solutions. 4. Emphasize the collective benefits of immigration.

On complicated topics I reach for @frameworks.bsky.social research & comms advice. 1. Lead with moral arguments in contentious communication contexts. 2. Focus on shared humanity more than rights-based language. 3. Explain specific solutions. 4. Emphasize the collective benefits of immigration.

Watched Adolescence on Netflix this weekend. I haven't been intensely gripped and emotionally moved by a TV series like this before. Remarkable on many fronts and on many levels. It's going to stick with me for a long time.

Is it me or has Brian Moore become even more dour and negative as time has gone on? Less 'the glass is half empty' and more 'the glass is always empty and I told you it would be'. #ENGvSAM

Prevention focused and person-centric early intervention. Government should back VCFSE organisations like this.

*Counts coins in Piggy Bank*

Fascinating paper exploring the economic impact of populist leaders coming to power. Lots in here but two key things for me: 1. Over 15 years GDP/capita decreases by 10%; with 2. No discernible change to inequality over same period. Paper: iacmr.org/wp-content/u... HT @justinwolfers.bsky.social

Was lucky enough to be able to spend the long weekend away from the news and social media to repoint our house in the sun. Restorative and productive for the soul. Today's news and ongoing online commentary has been tough. Can feel like we're all breathing toxic fumes.

Important report from GM Active and State of Life, outlining the benefits of #GreaterManchester's exercise referral programmes. Lots of data and detail in the full report, but it all boils down to *significant* improvements in physical and mental wellbeing and reduced demand on the NHS. Big wins.

Super useful to catch up with @evefrancisholt.bsky.social this morning to talk all things Greater Manchester Strategy & how @gmmoving.co.uk can continue to demonstrate impact; and then to meet @andyhollers.bsky.social for coffee and devolution chat. Head is firmly back in the game post-bank holiday!

Embedding physical activity into health systems has many wide-ranging benefits. We're proud to have worked closely with our partners, colleagues, & localities across Greater Manchester as we begin to deliver on our commitment as a ‘prevention demonstrator’. Link: www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/new-imp...

Lots to unpack here! - Replace SDLT with seller transaction tax at higher threshold (CGT vibes?) - Move to annual land+building tax to replace council tax (avoiding CT revalue & electorate fallout?) - Build in transition time by introducing on new sales (existing owners exempt but gums up market?)

Embedding physical activity into health systems has many wide-ranging benefits. We're proud to have worked closely with our partners, colleagues, & localities across Greater Manchester as we begin to deliver on our commitment as a ‘prevention demonstrator’. Link: www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/new-imp...

This would 100% make me support a phonebook comeback.

Important #ukhousing news!

Started watching this series and it is so inspiring to see such skill, creativity, and humility in their craft 🙏🏻 A classic BBC Four programme that has me hooked 👏🏼 Well worth a watch.

Great. Plus regular reminder that the health service needs in turn to play its part in wider outcomes too, such as ensuring its facilities can easily be reached by public transport including evenings.

📣 Super important paper 📣 It explores what's needed to ensure placemaking, the built environment, & transport can play a role in health creation & overcoming inequalities. Systems thinking is vital: foster the right leadership, collaborate across disciplines, and empower. (HT @sfrost.bsky.social)

One of the greatest pieces of writing that remains so powerful today. www.newyorker.com/magazine/194...

Really enjoyed listening to @adamgrant.bsky.social speak with @jacindaardern.bsky.social on his podcast. Interesting reflections on leading with empathy and humility; the potential self-selection bias in high profile public roles; and the difference for her between 'regret' and 'remorse'.

📣 Super important paper 📣 It explores what's needed to ensure placemaking, the built environment, & transport can play a role in health creation & overcoming inequalities. Systems thinking is vital: foster the right leadership, collaborate across disciplines, and empower. (HT @sfrost.bsky.social)

Really enjoyed listening to @adamgrant.bsky.social speak with @jacindaardern.bsky.social on his podcast. Interesting reflections on leading with empathy and humility; the potential self-selection bias in high profile public roles; and the difference for her between 'regret' and 'remorse'.

Hold on. Stockport station is closed for engineering work on a bridge so Northern puts on a replacement bus service from half way between Buxton and Piccadilly (which doubles the travel time), halves the number of trains, and doubles the price of a ticket for the privilege?!

Super stuff - this looks really good and much needed. "Demos is launching a new programme of work...to understand and dismantle the cultural and systemic blockers that hold back progress" Worth following @demos-uk.bsky.social & @amygandon.bsky.social

It’s International Friendship Day and Love Parks Week 🌿 We’re celebrating how parks bring people together to walk, connect, and thrive across Greater Manchester.

Super stuff - this looks really good and much needed. "Demos is launching a new programme of work...to understand and dismantle the cultural and systemic blockers that hold back progress" Worth following @demos-uk.bsky.social & @amygandon.bsky.social

Couldn't agree more. The thing I want to ask is 'if you weren't already on X would you join today?'

Currency x Blue Peter-style submissions 👏👏👏 Link: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Really interesting differences. And with everything that's happened since it doesn't surprise me to see the GFC essentially 'forgotten'. Would love to see a follow up question such as 'and how many of these things do you think are connected?'

Important HoC Work & Pensions Committee report on pensioner poverty. "After a decline in pensioner poverty in the 2000s, the number of pensioners in relative low-income started to rise again from 2010...exacerbated by increases in the cost of living" Link: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

Place matters more than ever. Prevention is at the heart of lasting change. @joesarling.bsky.social explores what this means for Greater Manchester, and for all of us working across partnerships. Read more: buff.ly/LMGjVXS What approaches are you seeing in your area?

“The vision comes into the brain from the eye, but the brain says: ‘This isn’t lined up properly, I’m going to ignore it’.”

Important HoC Work & Pensions Committee report on pensioner poverty. "After a decline in pensioner poverty in the 2000s, the number of pensioners in relative low-income started to rise again from 2010...exacerbated by increases in the cost of living" Link: committees.parliament.uk/publications...

"The true value of service mapping lies not in the artefact itself but in the conversations and consensus that emerge from the mapping process." @publicdigital.bsky.social Link: public.digital/pd-insights/...

Excellent <4-minute video on working with complex societal systems using a place-based aproach. HT @joesarling.bsky.social and @gmmoving.co.uk youtu.be/fDaRZUkxteY?...

Looking across recent policy announcements I think government is sending a clear signal on desired goals without being prescriptive. Places can improve outcomes by joining these policy dots & working in a whole-system way. Big moment for us all. Link: www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/a-big-o...

Four nations coming together and touring the other side of the world every four years is such an incredible endeavour. The Lions is a unique and special tradition - we must do everything to support and protect it for future years. And what an amazing finish in front of 90,000 today!

Food for the soul

Looking across recent policy announcements I think government is sending a clear signal on desired goals without being prescriptive. Places can improve outcomes by joining these policy dots & working in a whole-system way. Big moment for us all. Link: www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/a-big-o...

"Simply put, this is the best 50+ minute climbing effort in cycling history. Both Vingegaard and Pogačar did nearly 6.5w/kg for an hour, and that included multiple attacks and finessing into a headwind." #tdf #tourdefrance (ht @indy.bsky.social)