From Viviana Zelizer’s Pricing the priceless child (1985) “Children cannot obtain space and can lose rights to what they have when others demand more, so children suffer…the new 20thC rules for urban outdoor space, designed by adults for their convenience, constricted the public life of children.”

I should follow up to say, if we want to open our front doors for children to play, we should make (temporarily) closing streets to cars easier, we should ensure there are welcoming, playable spaces within (independent) walking distance, and we should make local walking and cycling routes safe.

I'll go with Skenazy's headline - "If you want your kids to thrive this summer, don’t just turn off their phones – open your front door, too" - but not this: "the original experience blocker is fear". Blaming parental fear avoids big questions about cars, hostile public space, and austerity.

#NorthShields The four Lighthouses of North Shields as pictured on this day, 15th July 2006.

There are so many good points in this interview with Candice Ogders (a more nuanced account of the evidence, the diverse roots of declining adolescent mental health, the power of Haidt, who really causes risk on social media, etc.) but it was especially good to see this. Definitely worth of read.

In perhaps our most devastating briefing we find early career staff in the humanities as a whole have declined by 20% since 2016/17. Between 23/24 and 24/25 early career staff across all SHAPE subject areas fell by 6%, (from 52,795 to 49,410 FPE). That is the pipeline for our disciplines

So a key question now is whether the new @andyburnham.bsky.social led administration will take the higher education funding crisis seriously as a threat to his aspirations around regional growth and skills…

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

“New pitches and leisure centres have value, but children also need ordinary places where movement does not require a booking system, a membership card or an adult with a free Saturday morning” Great write up of new campaign calling on Burnham to “… restore children’s freedom to play close to home”

Today with 40+ other organisations and individuals, I’ve supported a vital call, for more space for children to play on their doorsteps, as Andy Burnham - central to Labour's 2008 national play strategy - is himself on the doorstep of No. 10. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

John Harris talked about how, for many, austerity is experienced as ambient, “litter everywhere, overgrown grass verges, potholed roads, rusty slides and swings” - the responses to Newcastle City Council’s Big Conversation seems to confirm this:

“nearly 4,000 academic posts in social sciences, humanities and the arts have been axed in one year alone”

Meanwhile in NYC, Mamdani has launched "parents' nights out", offering free, supervised care for children in NYC parks recreation centres: "providing a free, safe and fun experience for children while giving families a few hours to themselves" www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic...

“The State of Child Health report shows that we are categorically failing children in the UK, but especially those from ethnic minorities and poorer backgrounds.” Austerity, inequality, hostile and poorly-designed public space and built environments, pressured school environments, and much more…

Hadn’t realised it was the anniversary of Live Aid today, but have just coincidentally attended a meeting about a trip for UK teenagers to go to Mexico for 10 days to build a house (having raised £3000 each to do so) and have very, very mixed feelings about the politics of it all.

I made an animation which shows the effects of air pollution on pedestrians waiting to cross the road, along with what can be done to reduce its harmful effects: stepback.gregdev.com Thank you to @ianwalker.bsky.social for the inspiration for doing so during a conversation a couple of weeks' back!

Chalked animals and hopscotch on the pavements of my new street. I love that the kids here play out (on the pavement and back lanes, it’s a very quiet road but is a through-road), and am a little bit sad that my daughter is now too old for this.

Good news from Lancashire 👏 “Parents who have been closing their road to through-traffic every week so their children with special educational needs can play outside have said it has had a life-changing effect.” Much more of this 🙏

Good response from UK Youth to North Tyneside Council’s threatened closure of High Borrans outdoor education centre: www.ukyouth.org/2026/07/outd...

Making the the East Coast Main Line have 4 tracks to Morpeth or even Alnwick would be a great option instead. It would allow more local stopping services, new stations and reduce the number of cars traveling up the A1 making it safer. The mayor should lobby for this over polluting road schemes.

We are concerned that many Northumberland politicians are creating the impression that dualling alone can solve safety issues on the A1 and save the Northumberland economy. Investment in speed cameras and improved public transport could achieve the same aims. northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...

I wrote this to encourage urbanists to reflect on the ways the history of empires created the conditions for the ascendancy of the automobile. At the same time, I want to draw the problem of automobility to the attention of those already interested in imperialism and its legacies.

"There aren't many council services that people love, but people love High Borrans" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'More than half of the free school meal pupils in inner London had entered higher education by age 19, compared with just 18.4 per cent in the south-west of England.' (Research Professional News, 8 am Playbook) Great time to cut course provision in the south-west of England, then.

As of today, the speed limit on 270 roads in Utrecht has been lowered to 30 km/h. An important first step in improving road safety, although for now, it only involves new signage and the installation of speed cameras. The necessary redesign of many roads will take place over the coming years.

If I was a Labour councillor in North Tyneside, I’d be ashamed that it was the local Tories making this call: “North Tyneside Tories call on council to reverse High Borrans decision amid closure upset” www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

I spent the day at the NE Mayoral Strategic Authority’s summit to review and refresh the child poverty strategy one year after it launched. Lots of real achievements already, and some fabulous advocacy from NE Youth Alliance Peer Ambassadors.

Town of Culture shortlist announced, just 15 out of almost 400 that applied. Stockton (Town Centre Ward?) the only north-eastern town shortlisted. There will be lots of disappointed folk across the region. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Good evening from the screechy rooftops of #NorthShields #PhotoHour #EastCoastKin #UrbanGaze

“People act as though the Netherlands is so tolerant … Maybe it is … but it’s pretty awful to show children of 10, 11 and 12 that they are not equal. You are showing them that whatever you do, however you live, you are never the same as a white child.”

This is good piece, responding to the proposed closure: "framing the question as simply one of “can we afford this?” misses something essential. Asking instead, “what does this deliver, and what replaces it if it goes?” forces a discussion about the true nature and value of the experience."

I've had replies from a cllr & my MP's researcher (also a cllr), whilst awaiting replies from the mayor & cabinet member for children & young people. All sent the same response - High Borrans is too expensive to maintain - but no evidence they have researched its value or alternatives to closure.

This is so rubbish, on so many levels. No appropriate assessments, no consultation and no accountability.

For North Tyneside and adjacent folk, please act to contest the closure of High Borrans outdoor education centre. The petition needs 2000 signatures to be discussed at council (it's at 1600 already), and the sooner this happens the better in terms of timing of the decision.

For NE folk, the consultation is open here (until 28th Sept): www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/consultation... Given the recent shifts in the region's political landscape, as much vocal explict support for franchising and for better buses as possible is desperately needed.

Are you working in the north of England to support children and young people’s play? @childofthenorth.bsky.social @cfyounglives.bsky.social would like to hear about your work. www.n8research.org.uk/what-we-do/r...

Today is a huge day for public transport in the North East. After many years of campaigning, this morning the consultation on returning our buses to public control launches. It's vital that everyone across the region has their say and supports bus reform. 1/3 www.facebook.com/share/v/14q6...

In case you wonder how such a neighbourhood may look like: a recently built neighbourhood, also in Utrecht, gives a good impression: -mixed high- and low density housing -lots of trees and green space -multiple playgrounds -ample space for walking and cycling

One of the stories, across the generations, of the young Jewish refugees who arrived in Tynemouth in 1939 -

I mean, I don’t really want a huge AI data centre in North Tyneside, but this doesn’t look good for the council, the combined authority or the government, and doesn’t look like the sort of vague, headline promise we should be building our local economy around:

This week, University of Lincoln, have briefed 142 colleagues that ~33 roles need to be cut across 7 schools before Sept 2026. We are processing the news with members, and now in a collective consultation with the SLT. The rationale is as murky as ever. Send solidarity our way, more info to come

Almost 400 towns applied for Town of Culture (including my own) - how on earth can this be the way to support towns, especially when there’s clearly so much need?

North Tyneside folk, there’s now a petition to contest the closure of High Borrans - please do sign and share: democracy.northtyneside.gov.uk/mgEPetitionD...

A forlorn back lane basketball hoop, next to a bit of church land, unloved and with a No Ball Games sign. Feels like this is a space the church could animate a bit, with space to play, sit and connect, rather than neglect and constrain.

“We can’t have @righttoroam.bsky.social without educating the public how to enjoy the countryside responsibly.” How we going to do that when austerity is wiping out outdoor education centres?

From High Borrans: Lots of anger and sadness in the comments, but also some hope - it seems it was threatened with closure years ago and survived, and there’s a call to fight back.

North Tyneside Council is closing its outdoor education centre, High Borrans in Windermere. Owned by the council since 1967, for 60 years children and young people from North Tyneside have had free and subsidised trips to walk, climb, kayak, and play together. Another loss to austerity.

Niche question, but does anyone have any good ideas about/experience of ethical and environmental (but also not too pricey) options for paving a small backyard (6m x 2m approx)? Is ethically-sourced Indian stone better than UK-manufactured concrete? What else could I consider? Thanks!

We (adults) have created a world in which teens use smartphones to "navigate daily life" and "access to support networks" over exactly the same period that we have diminished the infrastructures that enable all this in 'real life' - accessible public space, youth clubs, reliable transport, etc etc.

'Students who participated in the research said banning smartphones restricted access to “essential” tools they relied on to navigate daily life and support their learning, such as bus timetables, weather forecasts and homework apps.' 1/2