Catherine May
@cmay99.bsky.social
Work: comms and external affairs for @PolicyWISE @Open University.
https://www.policywise.org.uk/
comparative policy research - devolution and beyond
Live: Cardiff
Communications for social good.
Lifts weights & runs sometimes.
https://www.policywise.org.uk/
comparative policy research - devolution and beyond
Live: Cardiff
Communications for social good.
Lifts weights & runs sometimes.
HIGHLY COMMENDED! We are pleased that @policywise.bsky.social was runner up in the "1 to watch" category at the inaugural @smartthinking.bsky.social awards. 2 years since we launched website, newsletter & Wise in 5s. What an adventure launching a new initiative to build understanding of devolution.
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
HIGHLY COMMENDED! We are pleased that @policywise.bsky.social was runner up in the "1 to watch" category at the inaugural @smartthinking.bsky.social awards. 2 years since we launched website, newsletter & Wise in 5s. What an adventure launching a new initiative to build understanding of devolution.
We've talked for a long time @policywise.bsky.social about creating a Weatherspoon's index across the UK. Price of a pint in each nation!
This is brilliant - and actually rather useful for anyone teaching methods (correlation isn't causation etc.) to undergraduates.
The "Waitrose & GAIL’s effect" vs the "ASDA reality" | Area360
How Waitrose, Gail’s and ASDA affect property prices in London. Data analysis reveals which shops signal pricey or affordable postcodes.
area360.uk
September 18, 2025 at 7:19 AM
We've talked for a long time @policywise.bsky.social about creating a Weatherspoon's index across the UK. Price of a pint in each nation!
Reposted by Catherine May
Bridging Divides: Lessons in Cross-Nation Collaboration from the PolicyWISE Roundtables from @cmay99.bsky.social
100+ leaders discussed intergovernmental relations and collaborative policymaking across the UK and Ireland.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridgi...
100+ leaders discussed intergovernmental relations and collaborative policymaking across the UK and Ireland.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridgi...
Bridging divides: lessons in cross-nation collaboration from the PolicyWISE roundtables.
Bridging divides: lessons in cross-nation collaboration from the PolicyWISE roundtables. In a time of shifting power dynamics, widening regional disparities, and voting volatility, how can the nations...
www.linkedin.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Bridging Divides: Lessons in Cross-Nation Collaboration from the PolicyWISE Roundtables from @cmay99.bsky.social
100+ leaders discussed intergovernmental relations and collaborative policymaking across the UK and Ireland.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridgi...
100+ leaders discussed intergovernmental relations and collaborative policymaking across the UK and Ireland.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/bridgi...
Event: Reimagining Disengagement. 3rd June, 12:00–1:30pm
www.policywise.org.uk/node/736
Join social commentator/author Darren McGarvey, @drdonnasmith.bsky.social & Dr Dan Taylor from @oupolitics.bsky.social for a thought-provoking conversation on what disengagement means & how we can respond to it.
www.policywise.org.uk/node/736
Join social commentator/author Darren McGarvey, @drdonnasmith.bsky.social & Dr Dan Taylor from @oupolitics.bsky.social for a thought-provoking conversation on what disengagement means & how we can respond to it.
Online event: Reimagining disengagement | policyWISE
Join Darren McGarvey, social commentator and author of Poverty Safari, The Social Distance Between Us and The Trauma Industrial Complex (out in August), alongside OU academics to discuss the causes of...
www.policywise.org.uk
May 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Event: Reimagining Disengagement. 3rd June, 12:00–1:30pm
www.policywise.org.uk/node/736
Join social commentator/author Darren McGarvey, @drdonnasmith.bsky.social & Dr Dan Taylor from @oupolitics.bsky.social for a thought-provoking conversation on what disengagement means & how we can respond to it.
www.policywise.org.uk/node/736
Join social commentator/author Darren McGarvey, @drdonnasmith.bsky.social & Dr Dan Taylor from @oupolitics.bsky.social for a thought-provoking conversation on what disengagement means & how we can respond to it.
Reposted by Catherine May
Can tomorrow's Council of Nations & Regions meeting navigate the big and small 'P' politics of national and local #devolution?
Watch our webinar with @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight www.youtube.com/watch?v=tru3...
Read our report www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
Watch our webinar with @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight www.youtube.com/watch?v=tru3...
Read our report www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance?
YouTube video by PolicyWISE
www.youtube.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Can tomorrow's Council of Nations & Regions meeting navigate the big and small 'P' politics of national and local #devolution?
Watch our webinar with @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight www.youtube.com/watch?v=tru3...
Read our report www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
Watch our webinar with @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight www.youtube.com/watch?v=tru3...
Read our report www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
Reposted by Catherine May
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance? UK Intergovernmental Relations and the Council of Nations and Regions." youtu.be/tru34dF5EvQ
The webinar explored new research calling for a step change in UK Intergovernmental Relations through the Council of the Nations and Regions.
The webinar explored new research calling for a step change in UK Intergovernmental Relations through the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance?
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance? UK Intergovernmental Relations and the Council of Nations and Regions." You can now watch the recording of our recent webinar, which explored new research calling for a step change in UK Intergovernmental Relations through the Council of the Nations and Regions. We discussed a new model of collaborative governance, the purpose and remit of the Council, the English dimension, and international examples of good intergovernmental relations. Our panellists, and report co-authors, were: Dewi Knight (PolicyWISE, The Open University) Professor Michael Kenny and Alex Walker (The Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge) The event was chaired by Catherine May (PolicyWISE, The Open University), and took place live on the 13th of May.
eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Watch the Webinar: "A More Collaborative Form of Governance? UK Intergovernmental Relations and the Council of Nations and Regions." youtu.be/tru34dF5EvQ
The webinar explored new research calling for a step change in UK Intergovernmental Relations through the Council of the Nations and Regions.
The webinar explored new research calling for a step change in UK Intergovernmental Relations through the Council of the Nations and Regions.
What a view! Happy to be back in Llandudno for the launch of the @openuniversity.bsky.social @taipawb.bsky.social report into Tenants’s experience of decarbonising social housing. @policywise.bsky.social we’re looking into how the findings can be shared across UK/Ireland.
May 14, 2025 at 9:41 AM
What a view! Happy to be back in Llandudno for the launch of the @openuniversity.bsky.social @taipawb.bsky.social report into Tenants’s experience of decarbonising social housing. @policywise.bsky.social we’re looking into how the findings can be shared across UK/Ireland.
I'm really looking forward to chairing this discussion today, and will be making sure there is a lot of time for the Q and A. Still time to sign up 👇
🗓 Join our webinar today - Tuesday 13 May at 13:00 - to hear from the authors - @michaelkenny.bsky.social @alwalker.bsky.social & Dewi Knight - & ask your questions.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e9af39...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e9af39...
May 13, 2025 at 10:03 AM
I'm really looking forward to chairing this discussion today, and will be making sure there is a lot of time for the Q and A. Still time to sign up 👇
Reposted by Catherine May
Tomorrow! Join Dewi Knight, @alwalker.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social to hear why the Council of Nations and Regions matters and the importance of working with all UK leaders no matter the politics....
Sign up www.policywise.org.uk/node/671
#intergovernmentalrelations #ukpolitics #webinar
Sign up www.policywise.org.uk/node/671
#intergovernmentalrelations #ukpolitics #webinar
May 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Tomorrow! Join Dewi Knight, @alwalker.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social to hear why the Council of Nations and Regions matters and the importance of working with all UK leaders no matter the politics....
Sign up www.policywise.org.uk/node/671
#intergovernmentalrelations #ukpolitics #webinar
Sign up www.policywise.org.uk/node/671
#intergovernmentalrelations #ukpolitics #webinar
Reposted by Catherine May
Free Webinar next Tuesday 1pm, discussing our new research report (alongside @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk) into UK Intergovernmental Relations and the Council of Nations and Regions. Sign up here! events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e9af39...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
May 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Free Webinar next Tuesday 1pm, discussing our new research report (alongside @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk) into UK Intergovernmental Relations and the Council of Nations and Regions. Sign up here! events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e9af39...
If you’re confused about what folks are voting for in England, @matthewfright.bsky.social from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explains it really clearly below.
And if you’re elsewhere in the UK like me - grab a deckchair, sit in the sun and get stuck into what’s happening over the border!
And if you’re elsewhere in the UK like me - grab a deckchair, sit in the sun and get stuck into what’s happening over the border!
With polls open for local and mayoral elections in areas across England, check out our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk briefings to see where they are taking place and what roles are up for election.
This Thursday, voters will elect four new regional mayors and 1750 English councillors.
For full details of this year’s local and mayoral elections, head to our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer 👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/local-and-mayoral-elections-2025
For full details of this year’s local and mayoral elections, head to our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer 👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/local-and-mayoral-elections-2025
May 1, 2025 at 12:37 PM
If you’re confused about what folks are voting for in England, @matthewfright.bsky.social from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explains it really clearly below.
And if you’re elsewhere in the UK like me - grab a deckchair, sit in the sun and get stuck into what’s happening over the border!
And if you’re elsewhere in the UK like me - grab a deckchair, sit in the sun and get stuck into what’s happening over the border!
What difference would it make if 16 year olds could vote in tomorrows mayoral/local elections in England? Our blog by Donna Smith from the @openuniversity.bsky.social
sets out the arguments for/ against reducing voting age (hint: it already is in Wales and Scotland and the PM has backed it).
sets out the arguments for/ against reducing voting age (hint: it already is in Wales and Scotland and the PM has backed it).
April 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
What difference would it make if 16 year olds could vote in tomorrows mayoral/local elections in England? Our blog by Donna Smith from the @openuniversity.bsky.social
sets out the arguments for/ against reducing voting age (hint: it already is in Wales and Scotland and the PM has backed it).
sets out the arguments for/ against reducing voting age (hint: it already is in Wales and Scotland and the PM has backed it).
Reposted by Catherine May
Did you know that in Scotland and Wales, 16 and 17 year olds can already vote in local and devolved elections? Now, there's a growing movement to extend this right across the UK.
Read more in our latest Wise in 5 here: www.policywise.org.uk/news/policyw...
Read more in our latest Wise in 5 here: www.policywise.org.uk/news/policyw...
PolicyWISE briefing highlights need for consistency on Voting Age across the UK and Ireland | policyWISE
The latest Wise in 5 briefing from PolicyWISE reveals a patchwork of voting rights for 16 and 17-year-olds across the UK and Ireland. While young people can vote in devolved elections in Scotland and ...
www.policywise.org.uk
April 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Did you know that in Scotland and Wales, 16 and 17 year olds can already vote in local and devolved elections? Now, there's a growing movement to extend this right across the UK.
Read more in our latest Wise in 5 here: www.policywise.org.uk/news/policyw...
Read more in our latest Wise in 5 here: www.policywise.org.uk/news/policyw...
Reposted by Catherine May
Mark your calendar for June 3rd, 12–1:30pm (online) for the launch of the ‘Engaging the Disengaged’ toolkit!
🔗 Register now: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cf613...
🔗 Register now: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cf613...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Mark your calendar for June 3rd, 12–1:30pm (online) for the launch of the ‘Engaging the Disengaged’ toolkit!
🔗 Register now: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cf613...
🔗 Register now: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9cf613...
Sounds like a good one for @policywise.bsky.social - looking forward to discussing this and more in Manchester on 30th April
Q: What can England learn from the approaches in devolved nations?
@jesstud.bsky.social: lots to learn in England e.g. Welsh future generations act and Scottish empowerment of communities act. The scale creates better system working. Would like to see more of this at sub-regional level in England.
@jesstud.bsky.social: lots to learn in England e.g. Welsh future generations act and Scottish empowerment of communities act. The scale creates better system working. Would like to see more of this at sub-regional level in England.
March 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Sounds like a good one for @policywise.bsky.social - looking forward to discussing this and more in Manchester on 30th April
Reposted by Catherine May
This weeks blog discusses what the UK Spring Statement could mean for all UK governments.
You can read this weeks edition and share any feedback here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/pothol...
You can read this weeks edition and share any feedback here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/pothol...
Potholes, funding formula, and the arts: what the UK Spring Statement could mean for all UK governments.
There have been rumours, leaks and hints of what will be in the Chancellor’s statement on Wednesday morning, and it seems to be so far, so glum – cuts, increased need for defence spending and an ever-...
www.linkedin.com
March 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This weeks blog discusses what the UK Spring Statement could mean for all UK governments.
You can read this weeks edition and share any feedback here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/pothol...
You can read this weeks edition and share any feedback here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/pothol...
Reposted by Catherine May
New from PolicyWISE in the latest edition of our blog, The Comparative angle, featuring our latest Wise in 5 on key gaps in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision, funding shortages, and the need for multilingual approaches to language education.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-br...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-br...
New Briefing Highlights Gaps in Language Education for Refugees and Migrants Across the UK and Ireland.
A new Wise in 5 briefing is published today highlighting disparities in language education policies for refugees and migrants across the UK and Ireland. Wise in 5: Language Education for Refugees and ...
www.linkedin.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:28 AM
New from PolicyWISE in the latest edition of our blog, The Comparative angle, featuring our latest Wise in 5 on key gaps in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision, funding shortages, and the need for multilingual approaches to language education.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-br...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-br...
Following yesterday’s @policywise.bsky.social post on devolution I reflected on a 2024 highlight presenting to 170+ civil servants at #DevoLearningWeek. Delivering clear explanations is critical for accurate reports, & effective policy-making.
📸 Not explaining Barnett Consequential from Westminster!
📸 Not explaining Barnett Consequential from Westminster!
February 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Following yesterday’s @policywise.bsky.social post on devolution I reflected on a 2024 highlight presenting to 170+ civil servants at #DevoLearningWeek. Delivering clear explanations is critical for accurate reports, & effective policy-making.
📸 Not explaining Barnett Consequential from Westminster!
📸 Not explaining Barnett Consequential from Westminster!
Reposted by Catherine May
You might've seen we recently updated our Wise in 5: Tourist Tax to reflect recent developments across the UK&Ireland, and cross-nation comparisons.
In today's edition of The Comparative Angle, Dewi delves into the emerging policy divergence across the governments: www.linkedin.com/pulse/poetry...
In today's edition of The Comparative Angle, Dewi delves into the emerging policy divergence across the governments: www.linkedin.com/pulse/poetry...
Poetry, Packed Bags & Positions of Power - The Comparative Angle on Tourism Policies
“Whatever is given – Can always be re-imagined.” Seamus Heaney’s words about creation, inheritance and imagination, might not seem an obvious starting point for a comparative policy blog.
www.linkedin.com
February 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
You might've seen we recently updated our Wise in 5: Tourist Tax to reflect recent developments across the UK&Ireland, and cross-nation comparisons.
In today's edition of The Comparative Angle, Dewi delves into the emerging policy divergence across the governments: www.linkedin.com/pulse/poetry...
In today's edition of The Comparative Angle, Dewi delves into the emerging policy divergence across the governments: www.linkedin.com/pulse/poetry...
Follow @policywise.bsky.social for more comparative policy analysis across UK and Ireland and artfully positioned coffee cups!
In the PolicyWISE team, we drink gallons of coffee - in the office, on our travels, and working from home. Each week we'll share a 'Comparative Coffee' photo from the week that's been (bean?!)' First up Catherine with a short black made in a mocha pot from her home office in northwest Cardiff.
February 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Follow @policywise.bsky.social for more comparative policy analysis across UK and Ireland and artfully positioned coffee cups!
Reposted by Catherine May
Following on from our last Mind Your Policy Language - NHS, in this video we look at the Scottish, Northern Ireland and Welsh health services.
February 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Following on from our last Mind Your Policy Language - NHS, in this video we look at the Scottish, Northern Ireland and Welsh health services.
Reposted by Catherine May
In our latest Mind Your Policy Language, Dewi gives the PolicyWISE rundown on who and what are running the four health services across the UK.
Today we start with England and on Monday part two will cover health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Today we start with England and on Monday part two will cover health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
January 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
In our latest Mind Your Policy Language, Dewi gives the PolicyWISE rundown on who and what are running the four health services across the UK.
Today we start with England and on Monday part two will cover health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Today we start with England and on Monday part two will cover health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Reposted by Catherine May
You can now read the second instalment of our blog, The Comparative Angle, on our website: www.policywise.org.uk/news/does-si...
Make sure to head over to our LinkedIn and subscribe to be the first to view our new blog on Wednesday 5th February!
Make sure to head over to our LinkedIn and subscribe to be the first to view our new blog on Wednesday 5th February!
Does Size Really Matter? It depends… | policyWISE
Whether you think small is beautiful. Or the bigger the better. We know that size matters, right? Well, wrong actually. Especially when it comes to smaller class sizes in schools. You might think it’s...
www.policywise.org.uk
January 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
You can now read the second instalment of our blog, The Comparative Angle, on our website: www.policywise.org.uk/news/does-si...
Make sure to head over to our LinkedIn and subscribe to be the first to view our new blog on Wednesday 5th February!
Make sure to head over to our LinkedIn and subscribe to be the first to view our new blog on Wednesday 5th February!
I'm really excited about this collaboration @policywise.bsky.social with @bennettinstitute.bsky.social and @alwalker.bsky.social tying together the "reset" of government relations and our roundtables in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Want to know more?
Read 👇👇
Want to know more?
Read 👇👇
PolicyWISE and the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge are collaborating on a new research project examining the recently established Council of the Nations & Regions. Click here to read our full announcement:
www.policywise.org.uk/news/new-res...
www.policywise.org.uk/news/new-res...
New research project to examine and strengthen intergovernmental structures and relationships | policyWISE
PolicyWISE and the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge are collaborating on a new research project examining the recently established Council of the Nations & Regions. I...
www.policywise.org.uk
January 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I'm really excited about this collaboration @policywise.bsky.social with @bennettinstitute.bsky.social and @alwalker.bsky.social tying together the "reset" of government relations and our roundtables in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Want to know more?
Read 👇👇
Want to know more?
Read 👇👇