Grow Social Capital

This year's #ModernCockneyFestival (March 1-31st) features live opera, poetry, theatre, and family fun day events along with online talks.
Check out at www.moderncockneyfestival.org.uk
Celebrate the culture, heritage, and identity of 'non-posh Londoners'

What 5 objects define your story of England, Englishness, or being English, or not? #averyEnglishchat campaign launched by @growsocialcapital.bsky.social to tackle growing division & polarisation in run up to #StGeorgesDay
What's you 5 objects?

thanks for sharing!

New cohesion plan offers welcome foundations – more action must follow - British Future Sunder Katwala discusses the government’s new social cohesion action plan, 'Protecting What Matters', published today.

'New cohesion plan offers welcome foundations – more action must follow' - our @sundersays.bsky.social examines 'Protecting What Matters', the government’s new social cohesion action plan, published today [1/2]
www.britishfuture.org/new-cohesion...

It’s real!
Excited that the paperback of #AnotherEngland is out on 20 Feb - with a new chapter on how the Labour Govt needs to offer meaningful change & tell a far more inspiring, compelling story, if it’s to see off the threat posed by the increasingly populist Right penguin.co.uk/books/453710/a…

Was reading about A Very English Chat today, a campaign to identify things that represent the diverse nature of modern Englishness. Here's my 5 choices.

1. The pork pie.
2. The band XTC.
3. Village cricket in beautiful locations.
4. The Lake District.
5. William Wordsworth.

#averyenglishchat

My five ‘objects’ for a #AVeryEnglishChat

1) The best of the countryside and built environment;
2) Back gardens;
3) BBC Radio;
4) The NHS;
5) Tea.

I don’t know why these were the first five that came into my head and I’m sure I’ll think of others that feel better.

The FA Cup would be a good choice for #AVeryEnglishChat

the idea is to actually explore the concept of Englishness so as to understand it more deeply and distinctly from Britishness

There are many who would say the latter has not been very helpful to the former

salt n shake crisps....lush

great choices

thanks for the support Caroline

Sgt Pepper's is a terrific choice

The Mini is a great choice Karen and built for many years at Longbridge in Brum

Campaign seeks 50 objects to ‘take the heat’ out of Englishness debate Billy Bragg, Caroline Lucas and Kojo Koram among those encouraging people to share cultural artefacts

So pleased to support #AVeryEnglishChat - at a time of division, by bringing individuals & communities together to share their own reflections on national identity, we can discover far more compelling & inclusive stories of who we are & who we can be 👇

Campaign seeks 50 objects to ‘take the heat’ out of Englishness debate Billy Bragg, Sarah Lucas and Kojo Koram among those encouraging people to share cultural artefacts For some people it’s a Morris Minor, for others, a beach windbreak, chicken tikka masala or Magna Carta. A new campaign is aiming to collect 50 objects that sum up Englishness in an effort to move the conversation away from reductive arguments over whether to hang a St George’s flag or not. Continue reading...

Campaign seeks 50 objects to ‘take the heat’ out of Englishness debate

two penguins are sitting in front of a microphone and a sign that says on air ALT: two penguins are sitting in front of a microphone and a sign that says on air

Our @llannerch.bsky.social is hosting a range of podcasting workshops after Easter

Details here:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/russell-todd

"Mum, we're in @theguardian.com!"

Launch of our 'A Very English Chat' campaign

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Ep.54 - How the Left lost the working class with Joan C Williams (Modern Cockney Festival) The 2026 Modern Cockney Festival kicked off with this compelling discussion with Prof Joan C Williams, from the University of California and author of the books 'White Working Class' and 'Outclassed:

The recording will be available on our YouTube channel soon but an edited version is already available on the brand new episode of the @cdpodcast.bsky.social

on.soundcloud.com/WWINvXW2EUjD...

What an amazing start to the 2026 Modern Cockney Festival!

Joan Williams from @uofcalifornia.bsky.social shared many profound insights from her many years researching class in the US with lessons for how the UK's political Left can re-appeal to working class #communities and tackle populism

Modern Cockney Modern Cockney – www.moderncockneyfestival.org.uk

Modern Cockney Festival 2026 kicks off today

Speakers include @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, Prof. Joan C. Williams from @uofcalifornia.bsky.social, United East End, Dr Christopher Strelluff from @warwickuni.bsky.social

Full programme and ticketing details

www.tickettailor.com/events/moder...

two penguins are sitting in front of a microphone and a sign that says on air ALT: two penguins are sitting in front of a microphone and a sign that says on air

Our @llannerch.bsky.social is hosting a range of podcasting workshops after Easter

Details here:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/russell-todd

2026 Modern Cockney festival:

What we can learn from the US in countering populism & overcoming division

w/ Prof. Joan C. Williams (@uofcalifornia.bsky.social), author of 'Outclassed and White Working Class: Overcoming class cluelessness in America'

2 March, 4pm (GMT)
FREE! 🎟️ lnkd.in/epiAUN-8

We were back in Usk today running the panel element of a Most Significant Change enquiry

Heddiw nôl ym Mrynbuga oeddem ni i redeg elfen panel y methodoleg Newid Mwyaf Arwyddocaol

Looking forward to joining @britishfuture.bsky.social today as part of a Healing The Divide event in Carmarthenshire

Among other things we're bringing a #socialcapital masterclass; techniques for holding positive conversations; how to stimulate progressive change; & discussing #trust in communities

Edrychwn mlaen at fod yng nghwmni @britishfuture.bsky.social heddiw fel rhan o sesiwn 'Cymodu’r Llen' yn Sir Gâr

Ymhlith eraill, down ni â dosbarth meistr ar gyfalaf cymdeithasol; technegau i gynnal sgyrsiau positif; ffyrdd o godi bwrlwm o blaid newid blaengar; a thrafod ymddiried yng nghymunedau

COMING SOON

We've been beavering away with a range of partners on A Very English Chat - How to have conversations for overcoming division and hatred around English national identity

Part of The Story of England

Watch this space

Community gardens function as essential social infrastructure, analysis suggests A new review in Current Opinion in Psychology finds that community gardens are vital social infrastructure. Analyzing 50 studies, researchers report these spaces foster psychological well-being, stren...

Love this | Caru hwn!

Community gardens function as essential social infrastructure

www.psypost.org/community-ga...

Community gardens function as essential social infrastructure, analysis suggests A new review in Current Opinion in Psychology finds that community gardens are vital social infrastructure. Analyzing 50 studies, researchers report these spaces foster psychological well-being, stren...

Love this | Caru hwn!

Community gardens function as essential social infrastructure

www.psypost.org/community-ga...

COMING SOON

We've been beavering away with a range of partners on A Very English Chat - How to have conversations for overcoming division and hatred around English national identity

Part of The Story of England

Watch this space

Our @llannerch.bsky.social in Birmingham discussing #communitydevelopment