Image designed by Freepik Investing in Deliberation: A Cornerstone for Stronger Democracy As public budgets are being reviewed and set, it is worth considering where deliberative democracy fits within our broader political framework. For years, I have facilitated Citizens’ Assemblies and mini-publics, witnessing how these processes sharpen and strengthen our local democracies. Deliberative democracy, a[…]
The Government’s July 2018 report ‘The economic and social costs of crime – second edition’ found that the cost of crimes against individuals exceeds £50 billion each year. While every violent crime with injury was found to cost over £14,000, £2,500 of that total is associated with the costs of responding to, and investigating those[…]
Serious crime is an issue that blights many of our urban and rural communities. Dealing in drugs, weapons, fake cigarettes and booze are all part of a growing concern within policing. We have recently seen reports of gangs using children as young as seven to carry drugs for payment. The term county[…]
…… there seems to be a common theme of me writing my blogs while contemplating things sat on the train. I am coming back from the Participatory Budgeting Event that we held at Hugh Baird College in Litherland, Merseyside. I reflected that this may be the final time that I am going[…]
A few weeks ago, I would never have pictured myself in the position I am today (working with MutualGain) and being part of meaningful work. As a young woman growing up in a small town all her life, the opportunity to discover what social capital is and how to build it was completely new and[…]
…… please indulge me briefly while I give a little background before I share my experience of working with the guys at Kempston, Bedfordshire. I retired from policing a few years ago, and I was in a lucky position to pick and choose what I did next. I made a decision that after 30[…]
‘If only society was friendly and non-judgmental then maybe we wouldn’t feel lonely’, commented one participant at a recent workshop discussing the meaning of loneliness for a large NHS foundation trust. As the number one concern for its service users, the organisation has committed to exploring how to respond effectively and creatively. But that comment captures[…]
A few weeks ago Susan and I were fortunate to be invited to the House of Lords for the launch of a new book, Whose Government Is It, edited by Dr Henry Tam. Dr Tam was a senior advisor to the Blair New Labour government and has written extensively on the value[…]
I am writing this blog for three reasons: The practice of PCSOs is changing and I don’t agree we are going in the right direction @GMHales recently tweeted about the role of PCSOs being about engagement and asked me to blog some initial thoughts I am regularly frustrated by the missed potential of the[…]
In October 2018 MutualGain had the opportunity to meet a range of health and social practitioners from across the country when exhibiting at the King’s Fund conference, Community is the best medicine: making a reality of community-based health. Although there were examples of some fantastic practice it was hard not to be left with the[…]
