A poster for an event titled "Kate Pickett: The Good Society" on 6 May. It also includes the Festival of Debate logo and a profile shot of Kate Pickett, with her arms folded and smiling away from the camera

How do we ensure everyone has good health? How do we ensure justice and a sustainable environment for all?

On 6 May, @profkepickett.bsky.social comes to #Sheffield to talk with with @simonduffy.bsky.social about building The Good Society 🏗️

More info and tickets ➡️ tickettailor.com/events/festi...

A poster showing an image of a young girl on a swing looking out over some mountains. The text states "HOW TO REIMAGINE TRAVEL. A free event featuring a panel of local speakers and Q&A discussion. 23rd April 2026, 6:45pm. Join us in Sheffield or online"

This event by @flightfreeuk.bsky.social in #Sheffield on Thursday evening looks great ⤵️

"Join our panel of local speakers as we explore why it's important to fly less AND how we can still travel without the high carbon footprint."

Free tickets and more info ➡️ www.tickettailor.com/events/fligh...

"Don't step in line": Seb Lowe at the Foundry Who listens to protest music on a Friday night?

"At the moment the news feels overwhelming – back-to-back pessimism – but Seb’s music offers an antidote, a chance to hear someone who shares many of the same frustrations we all do"

Seb Lowe at Foundry, #Sheffield.

✍️ Hamish Yewdall

An audience in a lecture theatre watching Richard Sulley from the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures give a talk behind a podium.

Could the 'People's Emergency Briefing' be the key that unlocks a mass response to the #ClimateCrisis?

@nowthenmag.bsky.social spoke to @richsulley.bsky.social to find out the motivations behind hosting the live film screening.

Read here ⬇️
tinyurl.com/ymhs7mhp

@nebriefing.bsky.social #PEBuk

Why we can’t tackle Sheffield’s most urgent problems without talking about neighbourhoods — Opus …and why neighbourhood governance without economic agency is a performance we can't afford.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 🏠

On the Opus Blog, we've got a fascinating new think-piece by James Lock about why neighbourhood governance without economic agency is a performance we can't afford ⤵️

Why the National Emergency Briefing could be the key that unlocks a mass response to the climate crisis A new film screening in Sheffield lays bare the predicament we find ourselves in, with expert testimony on the grave challenges we face interspersed with viewer reaction.

It’s peppered with hope without feeling glib, occasionally witty without being gimmicky, and harrowing without leaving you fully numb. @nebriefing.bsky.social's brilliance lies in the simple fact that it is harder to ignore than it is to respond to.

✍️ @lucygavaghan.bsky.social

‘I think we feel stuck’: Kate Pickett on how to build a better, fairer, less stressed society In her new book, the co-author of The Spirit Level gathers jaw-dropping facts about the inequality crisis in the UK – and explores creative ways to address it

“We have fallen out of the habit of thinking that we can choose to do what it takes to create the best society possible"

@profkepickett.bsky.social joins us at the Festival of Debate in #Sheffield on 6 May to discuss her new book, The Good Society 📚

Tickets ➡️ tickettailor.com/events/festi...

An infographic with the text: The People's Newsroom Story Club How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell An online discussion group for anyone interested in telling stories that transition us to a better world. Join us for a three part meetup to slow down, metabolize and building on this book, together: April 21 May 5 May 19 "Once we can start paying a new kind of attention, she writes, we can undertake bolder forms of political action, reimagine humankind's role in the environment, and arrive at more meaningful understandings of happiness and progress."

The team at The People's Newsroom are about to launch their second Story Club – an online book group exploring radical resistance and emerging futures.

We'll be reading How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell.

Register here ➡️ us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

How can Opus approach AI wisely and with intent? Some ideas (and an invitation) — Opus Late last year here at Opus, we came to the conclusion that we need to open up an intentional space for co-learning around AI technologies and what they mean for a system change organisation like us.

Late last year here at Opus, we came to the conclusion that we need to open up an intentional space for co-learning around AI technologies and what they mean for a systems change organisation like us.

Some ideas (and an invitation) ⬇️

Sheffield's classical scene has so much potential – why are we not making the most of it? Composer and outgoing programmer at Music in the Round Dr Benjamin Tassie writes for Now Then about why the city’s scene is at its best when it takes risks and rewards experimentation.

It's an absolute scandal that @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, through their National Portfolio, spend just £6.59 per person in Sheffield, compared to £44.60 in Manchester and £35.65 in Leeds.

Our city deserves better!

Great piece in @nowthenmag.bsky.social by @benjamintassie.bsky.social 👇

Sheffield's classical scene has so much potential – why are we not making the most of it? Composer and outgoing programmer at Music in the Round Dr Benjamin Tassie writes for Now Then about why the city’s scene is at its best when it takes risks and rewards experimentation.

Whereas Sheffield leads in areas from documentary film to podcasts, we lag behind in classical music. Any strategy that overlooks this is incomplete, and risks limiting our potential as a cultural powerhouse.

✍️ @benjamintassie.bsky.social

#Sheffield #ClassicalMusic

Great to have this engagement and response from my recent piece for @nowthenmag.bsky.social. This shows the need to have conversations about prevention work and how it might be possible to de-escalate the far right. Read if you haven’t already - nowthenmagazine.com/articles/hal...

Surrendering ever more urban public space to car owners increases pollution, ruins cities, and fuels foreign wars.

But local authorities push for it because car owners are the only constituents they can imagine representing.

Excellent report here by @samwake.bsky.social.

@samwake.bsky.social thoroughly explores the implications of road widening & effect on levels of NO

Health effects of increased pollutants from car congestion are not limited to respiratory disorder, effects can last a lifetime, disproportionately affecting youngest, oldest & poor communities

Power to the people: why Sheffield's energy transition must belong to its communities National funding for warm homes and community energy is arriving at scale – the question for South Yorkshire is how we ensure it empowers people as well as homes.

Sheffield has a long tradition of cooperation, mutual aid and civic innovation. The energy transition gives us a chance to apply those same instincts to one of the defining challenges of our time.

✍️ Gavin Martin

@nea.org.uk #Sheffield

Half of Rotherham's riot arrests had already been reported for domestic abuse – is enough being done to de-escalate before violence occurs? We heard from people working within communities in Sheffield to understand the pull towards extremes, and what action can be taken to prevent far-right violence in future.

Of the first 72 people arrested following the riot at a #Rotherham hotel in 2024, and the attempted murder of the refugees housed within it, 35 had reports of domestic abuse made against them previously.

How can we begin to address this link?

✍️ @rose-mason.bsky.social

@hopenothate.org.uk

A well-researched, vital, yet alarming piece by @samwake.bsky.social in @nowthengirl.bsky.social ⬇️

It's really worrying that @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social are still looking to expand road capacity at Shalesmoor even though evidence suggests this will worsen air pollution at a nearby primary school.

A "moral and ethical" plan to widen Sheffield's ring road saw pollution go up. So why are we about to do it again? Despite promises from councillors and council officers, air pollution actually went up when the inner ring road was expanded in 2020.

I'm sure those who supported Sheffield's previous road expansions thought they would help. But the increases in air pollution should give us a clear warning. And when it induces more traffic, we can’t even rely on it to solve congestion.

✍️ @samwake.bsky.social

#Sheffield

Select tickets – Festival of Debate presents Jessica den Outer: The Forest Fights Back, A Global Movement for the Rights of Nature – Sheffield Energy Hub Festival of Debate presents Jessica den Outer: The Forest Fights Back, A Global Movement for the Rights of Nature – Sheffield Energy Hub, Thu 21 May 2026 - In association with the River Dôn Project 6p...

Then Jessica den Outer is here on 21 May with The Forest Fights Back, about how the Rights of Nature movement is taking on the legal system to recognise the rights of rivers, forests, and mountains to exist, flourish, and sustain their ecological balance ⬇️

#RightsOfNature

Select tickets – Festival of Debate presents Kate Pickett: The Good Society – Sheffield Energy Hub Festival of Debate presents Kate Pickett: The Good Society – Sheffield Energy Hub, Wed 6 May 2026 - 6.30pm Doors, 7pm Start All tickets will include one complementary drink of red wine / white wine / ...

First up, we have The Spirit Level author @profkepickett.bsky.social joining us on 6 May with her new book The Good Society, which shows how a fairer, healthier, more caring and sustainable society is entirely within our grasp ⬇️

A poster for two Festival of Debate events. One is on 6 May and is titled "Kate Pickett: The Good Society" with a picture of Kate Pickett next to it. The other is on 21 May and is titled "Jessica den Outer: The Forest Fights Back, A Global Movement for the Rights of Nature", with a picture of the author next to it

Festival of Debate returns for 2026! 🥳

We might not be running a full festival programme this year, but fear not! We're instead hosting a series of special events throughout 2026 inviting some of the most exciting and innovative thinkers of our time to Sheffield⤵️

#Sheffield #FofD #FestivalofDebate

Write for Now Then We use our platform and our skills to help people make sense of a Sheffield in transition, sharing s…

Got a good idea about #Sheffield and fancy writing for Now Then? ✍️

We've recently updated our 'Write for Us' page to set out more clearly the kinds of pieces we're looking to publish.

Give it a read, and get in touch with your ideas ⬇️

Akinseye Oke’s curatorial approach reflects the places that shaped him. In #Nigeria, he remembers music as something woven into daily life. Moving to #Sheffield introduced him to the city’s long reputation for independent music culture.
@nowthenmag.bsky.social

🔖 nowthenmagazine.com/articles/sou...

That's some psychic timing posting this this week, after The Lughole's campaign yesterday!

Can't say I agree with minimum wage increases being considered a problem, but this is a really insightful summary if you're not aware of the issues grassroots venues face constantly

Has recovery now plateaued for the UK's live music sector? We unpack a plethora of developments to highlight the good, the bad, and what comes next for our grassroots music venues.

The @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social found that 30 venues shut permanently in 2025 with job losses of 6,000 (a 19% reduction in the workforce), while the majority of small venues are now just one unexpected financial surprise away from disaster.

✍️ Steve Hunting

A poster for an event

This Saturday, the Sheffield Emergency Relief Fund for Gaza are hosting their spring fundraiser at Crookes Social Club, with music from the Jamming Codgers and the Free Radicals, as well as poetry from Nell Attwood.

Tickets are £10 (£6 unwaged) ⬇️

snappytickets.co.uk/event/free-r...

"Holds up world events as a mirror": Living at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse Leo Butler's state-of-the-nation family drama sometimes suffers from its uneven pace, but its portrayal of Sheffield life over more than five decades is skilful and resonates with the home crowd.

"Leo Butler's state-of-the-nation family drama sometimes suffers from its uneven pace, but its portrayal of Sheffield life over more than five decades is skilful and resonates with the home crowd"

✍️ Paul Szabo on Living, a brand-new play from @sheffieldtheatres.bsky.social

#Sheffield #Theatre

The Suncharms - Darkening Sky With one LP in 30 years, then two in just three years, Sheffield's shoegaze maestros move from paucity to profligacy with their most accomplished release to date.

"With one LP in 30 years, then two in just three years, Sheffield's shoegaze maestros move from paucity to profligacy with their most accomplished release to date"

Steve Hunting reviews the second comeback album from #Sheffield indie veterans @thesuncharms.bsky.social.

@sundayrecords.bsky.social

Long overdue. Hoping they get it right... better routes, more frequent, services running later at night...

I already use the buses a lot, but this will potentially make life so much easier.

How Sheffield is pushing back on plastic The costs to the planet are mounting. Two years on from our last interview, Sheffield Action on Plastic is showing that reuse works – at festivals, in cafes and through a growing movement that’s turning everyday choices into collective action.

🥤 “To see a festival in the centre of Sheffield using solely reusable cups for their bar was great.”

Ros Ayres catches up with Greg from Sheffield Action on Plastic to find out about the growing movement of people pushing back on plastic across the city.

https://loom.ly/wZJNbNk