State, Market and Civil Society — Different Spheres and Different Values

Leicestershire County Council is currently consulting about their plans to slash the budgets of libraries, museums, adult education and creative services. The principles and strategy officalis and…

Cancer isn’t a battle, it’s cancer | Notes from a cancer spouse

Sadly, Victoria Wood has died from cancer — but no way did she ‘lose’ a ‘battle with’ it. She has died from it. My wife Jane had cancer too, a very serious Stage 4 cancer. Victoria Wood and my wife were very ill— but…

Optimism pays

In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when wrong, they are positive, and that is the way of achievement, correction…

The Langtons Dissenters Academy

Our action as residents together during 2016 in the Leicestershire village of Church Langton secured a future for our pub which we supported. In the face of a decsion for inaction by our parish council, and fearful of losing our village pub for development, we demonstrated…

20 Questions for Self-improvement for Charities

The knives are out in many quarters for charities and charity. To get better, we must look at ourselves, not blame others … Finding useful questions is a…

How to improve adoption services?

I do not know whether amid their red-boxes and brimming email, politicians and officials have time for a question they may find impertinent — but it is a question whose importance is growing. For those of us involved in charities that are Voluntary Adoption Agencies…

A Learning Village

Our action as residents together during 2015 in Church Langton secured a future for our pub. In the face of a decision for inaction by the parish council, fearful of losing our village pub to development, we demonstrated that ‘ordinary’ people can exercise some control over their lives through…

New Proverbs for An Internet Age

1. The web finds work for idle hands.

2. Tweeting is believing.

3. One post does not a blogger make.

4. Never tweet ill of the dead.

Key principles for a suitable, feasible and acceptable political manifesto

The first of August: a renewed dedication to some reading and thinking!

Key principles for a suitable, feasible and acceptable political manifesto for any party (or coalition)…

Evidence-based advocacy, or advocacy-based evidence-making?

A plea for better use of statistics by the NSPCC and other leading charities