Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, at first light, 2021, photo by Bruce Cutts.

Why is Bradford on Conde Nast's Seven Wonders of the World list? The reserve has been named as the only UK location in luxury travel magazine Conde Nast's wonders list.

Conde Nast Traveller has selected Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve as one of its Seven Wonders of the World for 2026. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🎟️ Early Bird Tickets for Solace Summit 2026 are here!
📍 ACC Liverpool | 📅 21–22 Oct

💬 “It reminded me why we do what we do — and how we can do it better.”

— Connor Conneely, Senior Economic Development Officer, Torbay Council.

For public service leaders.

👉 portal.solace.org.uk/s/community-...

RIP Tony Harrison

He was kind enough to let me use this poem in my Texture book - one of several of his that invariably make readers cry, specifically at exactly two and a half lines from the end

💛 It’s #YouthMentalHealthDay
Solace is proud to support:

💛 Young Minds
🏡 St Augustine’s Centre, Halifax

Chosen by @robintuddenham.bsky.social, Chief Exec of @calderdale.bsky.social & Solace President

Donate here:
👉 givewheel.com/fundraising/8600/solace-charity-campaign-202425-supporting-youngmin

95 Candles 🎂 today for SONNY ROLLINS - one of the most important & influential Jazz musicians of all time.

Sonny Rollins is 95 today which feels slightly miraculous, a survivor from his art form's heroic age

Looking forward to chairing first day of #LGC summit in Birmingham 17/18 September. Brilliant line up of speakers & colleagues attending from across the country @sarahcalkin.bsky.social summit.lgcplus.com/2025/en/page...

🔷 Lemn Sissay’s keynote at #SolaceSummit is about more than his journey — it’s about yours, too.

The system he grew up in is the one you help shape.

🎟️ Join us: solace-summit.com

📩 Interested in partnering or sponsoring Solace events? events.sponsorship@solace.org.uk

#LocalGov #SocialCare

🎧⚖️ “We must shift power.”

Robin Tuddenham (@robintuddenham.bsky.social), CEO of Calderdale Council (@calderdale.bsky.social), shares powerful insights on listening to unheard voices, leading with humility, and why purpose is a privilege. Listen: solace.org.uk/local-govern...
#LocalGovernmentStories

Thank you, government Recognising what our leaders get right is as important as blaming them for what goes wrong

Opinion: Recognising what our leaders get right is as important as blaming them for what goes wrong, says Simon Kuper https://on.ft.com/3FK5sVC

A met office map showing extent of drought for spring 2025

Yet another drought spring...☀️🔥

🛩️ For aerial archaeology these used to come along every 5-8 years. Now they're every other year. A useful article from the #MetOffice

#ClimateHeritage #ClimateChange

www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...

Why does closing the inequality gap in LGBTQ+ NHS staff experience remain so hard? It is vital that we support our LGBTQ+ NHS staff to fully thrive at work, writes Dr Layla McCay.

For International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia aka #IDAHOBIT I wrote about LGBTQ+ staff experience in the NHS. www.nhsemployers.org/articles/why...

“Yippee ki-yay…”

We are excited to tell everyone that Westminster Council decided on May 1st that the Prince Charles Cinema would be included in the list of Assets of Community Value maintained by the Council under section 87 of the Localism Act 2011.

Happy Birthday to Iggy Pop, Born April 21, 1947 Please join the Albumism team in celebrating Iggy Pop’s musical legacy and share your personal memories of him with us.

Happy Birthday Iggy Pop! Explore his musical legacy (including audio & video highlights) here: album.ink/IggyPopHBD

The World Curlew Day logo.

Happy #WorldCurlewDay!

On this day - the best day of the year - we celebrate the beautiful Eurasian Curlew and its wonderful cousins around the world.

As Mary Colwell says: Love them, celebrate them, protect them 💚

📊 #IFSSatStat: London has the highest per-person identifiable government spending (£14,858) of all English regions.

But London has the lowest government spending as a share of its regional GDP at 22.1%, compared to the North East of England’s 47.7%.

The sun is shining. Time for a beverage & get started on my new reading material from the wonderful @littletollerbooks.bsky.social

Nearly 20 councils in England ‘at risk of insolvency’ due to Send costs Exclusive: Councils say multibillion pound debts caused by years of overspends on special educational needs support * Why scores of English councils could go bankrupt when hidden Send debt reappears Nearly 20 councils have warned publicly that they are at risk of insolvency because of multibillion pound debts caused by years of overspends on special educational needs support, the Guardian can reveal. Overspending on special educational needs and disability (Send) services in England is forecast to grow by nearly £2bn over the next 12 months, a Guardian investigation shows. Continue reading...

Nearly 20 councils in England ‘at risk of insolvency’ due to Send costs

Chart shows percentage of 16- to 64-year-olds claiming disability benefits, by main condition, England and Wales. Title states: "7.5% of 16- to 64-year-olds in England and Wales are claiming disability benefits."

NEW: Over half of the rise in disability benefit claims since the pandemic comes from those whose main condition is a mental health problem.

THREAD on our new report with evidence of a worsening of mental health since the pandemic funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social & @healthfoundation.bsky.social: [1/7]

Action for healthier working lives The Commission for Healthier Working Lives’ final report sets out the need for a new approach to work and health, outlining seven key recommendations to lay the foundation for sustained long-term…

📣 NEW: Final report by our Commission for #HealthierWorkingLives.

The Commissioners say government and employers must act early when health issues arise – not wait until people have already left work ⬇️

buff.ly/EfkpBQu

Angie Stone was a wise singer who deeply understood the power of love and lust The neo-soul artist, who has died aged 63, had years of experience by the time she became a star – and brought it to bear on a carnal, careworn catalogue

Angie Stone was a wise singer who deeply understood the power of love and lust

Yorkshire and Humber could pave the way on green agenda, says region’s new Climate Commission chair The largest organisation of its type in the country, the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission's (YHCC) territory covers a population of around 5.5 million people, roughly the same as the population...

Yorkshire and the Humber could provide a blueprint for the rest of the country on how to tackle #climate issues, says our new Chair, Asif Husain-Naviatti.

Read about Asif's thoughts in today's @yorkshirepost.co.uk, in which he sets out how success in the region can influence and inspire others.

More information on the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion.
www.britishfuture.org/new-independ...

The call for evidence is now available here. British Future & Belong are conducting an initial evidence gathering phase with the Together coalition
www.livingwelltogether.org.uk

Yorkshire's real riot women: The female bands keeping punk alive Ahead of the Sally Wainwright TV show Riot Women, we speak to some of Yorkshire's female punk stars.

'We're Yorkshire's real Riot Women musicians'. Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright has penned a drama about five middle-aged women who form a makeshift punk rock band in Hebden Bridge. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

If Rachel Reeves wants growth, improved community cohesion could be essential | Heather Stewart A new paper has found that social capital ‘is the cake, not the icing’ of a strong, well functioning economy

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Solace president: ‘We need to build a positive narrative’ New Solace president Robin Tuddenham talks to LGC about the evolving role of council chief exec, his...

My interview with new Solace president @robintuddenham.bsky.social about the evolving role of council chief exec, his fears for public services and supporting community cohesion in challenging times

www.lgcplus.com/politics/wor...

Charles Mingus: The legendary bassist takes a bow When we talk about jazz, and famous jazz musicians, and we listen to�and examine trios, quartets, and even larger groups, discussion usually centers on the pianist, the horn players, or drummers.� ...

Remembering bassist extraordinaire Charles Mingus, who joined the ancestors on January 5, 1979.
Reposting: Charles Mingus: The legendary bassist takes a bow
www.dailykos.com/stories/2020...