Freya Barnes
@freyabarnes.bsky.social
I do PR & storytelling for social change. Comms counsel to charities, think tanks & public figures. Previously Engage Britain, Shelter.
Nature & politics. Weird about The Beatles. Aspiring goat owner🐐
freyabarnespr.co.uk
Nature & politics. Weird about The Beatles. Aspiring goat owner🐐
freyabarnespr.co.uk
Pinned
Freya Barnes
@freyabarnes.bsky.social
· Nov 19
I've been followed by so many fab third sector folk lately thanks to being included in a starter pack and thought I'd share the love around.
So here's one of all the people out there shouting about social change - my fellow third sector comms people and campaigners
go.bsky.app/DBMtM8Y
So here's one of all the people out there shouting about social change - my fellow third sector comms people and campaigners
go.bsky.app/DBMtM8Y
Good morning. Have you, like me, just realised your 'quiet week' now contains 11 meetings, endless redrafts and a migraine?
Please take ten minutes with your favourite mug to sit in the sunshine. It will make everything so much easier to face
Please take ten minutes with your favourite mug to sit in the sunshine. It will make everything so much easier to face
May 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Good morning. Have you, like me, just realised your 'quiet week' now contains 11 meetings, endless redrafts and a migraine?
Please take ten minutes with your favourite mug to sit in the sunshine. It will make everything so much easier to face
Please take ten minutes with your favourite mug to sit in the sunshine. It will make everything so much easier to face
Genuinely devastating that such a courageous woman couldn't bear the toll of her experiences in the end. So many abuse survivors are still tragically failed. We need to do so much better at understanding it, and holding abusers accountable. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser, dies aged 41
Giuffre’s family issue statement confirming she killed herself at her farm in Western Australia
www.theguardian.com
April 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Genuinely devastating that such a courageous woman couldn't bear the toll of her experiences in the end. So many abuse survivors are still tragically failed. We need to do so much better at understanding it, and holding abusers accountable. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
So excited to dive into this new @ianleslie.bsky.social book. I've always found the Lennon McCartney relationship endlessly fascinating, touching, extraordinary in its impact on the world. Glad that finally their story is being properly told.
March 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM
So excited to dive into this new @ianleslie.bsky.social book. I've always found the Lennon McCartney relationship endlessly fascinating, touching, extraordinary in its impact on the world. Glad that finally their story is being properly told.
Seeing a great PR lobbying response from the charity sector to the latest welfare cut proposals - advocacy doesn't have to be months in the making 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
PIP benefits: 'Worrying' number of teens lose payments at age 16
More than 124,000 young people have had claims for adult disability benefits refused, the BBC finds.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Seeing a great PR lobbying response from the charity sector to the latest welfare cut proposals - advocacy doesn't have to be months in the making 🧵
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
At a time when we all need a little more positivity, it was lovely to help get this story into the Guardian.
So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them!
gwitness.org/41uBGev
So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them!
gwitness.org/41uBGev
A moment that changed me: I was 16, gay and bullied for it. Then my father wrote to the Guardian …
Britain in the 90s seemed to see homosexuality as something shameful. My father told the world how proud he was of me
gwitness.org
March 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
At a time when we all need a little more positivity, it was lovely to help get this story into the Guardian.
So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them!
gwitness.org/41uBGev
So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them!
gwitness.org/41uBGev
Why do some campaigns fail to shift public opinion, while others break through?
Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵
Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵
March 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Why do some campaigns fail to shift public opinion, while others break through?
Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵
Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵
Have I found the loveliest coffee place to work from in London?
February 19, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Have I found the loveliest coffee place to work from in London?
Winter in this country is absolutely unacceptable and I don't know why we all continue to put up with it.
February 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Winter in this country is absolutely unacceptable and I don't know why we all continue to put up with it.
This is not only horrendous for the journalists but will make it so much harder for the paper to report on important social issues - and for us charity PR people to get our stories over the line.
Truly abysmal goings-on at the Mirror, as reported in Private Eye. Literally holding my head in my hands reading this.
February 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
This is not only horrendous for the journalists but will make it so much harder for the paper to report on important social issues - and for us charity PR people to get our stories over the line.
Sometimes you just can't beat a good hut.
February 2, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Sometimes you just can't beat a good hut.
A blow out celebration for the end of January instead of the beginning of it.
January 31, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A blow out celebration for the end of January instead of the beginning of it.
Twitter is a mess. We all know it. That’s why most of us aren’t there anymore.
I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree.
Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵
I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree.
Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵
January 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Twitter is a mess. We all know it. That’s why most of us aren’t there anymore.
I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree.
Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵
I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree.
Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵
I see there are still far too many people online desperately trying to have edgy opinions about The Beatles. Can't we all just be allowed to enjoy the things we enjoy?
January 26, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I see there are still far too many people online desperately trying to have edgy opinions about The Beatles. Can't we all just be allowed to enjoy the things we enjoy?
The way Prince Harry has taken on the tabloids is nothing short of heroic. I hope there's some reflection from broadcast media here about how often their talking points are still set by unreliable press stories. Our media ecosystem has to change in so many ways. www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prin...
Tom Watson praises 'predator' Prince Harry as Sun owner offers ‘full apology’
Lord Tom Watson described the Duke of Sussex as a "predator" in a statement after Prince Harry settled his legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), who offered a “full and unequivocal apology...
www.independent.co.uk
January 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The way Prince Harry has taken on the tabloids is nothing short of heroic. I hope there's some reflection from broadcast media here about how often their talking points are still set by unreliable press stories. Our media ecosystem has to change in so many ways. www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prin...
Reposted by Freya Barnes
So that’s the Mirror & Murdoch down, only the Mail to go. And people still wonder why UK newspapers are so vile to Prince Harry & Meghan…
January 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
So that’s the Mirror & Murdoch down, only the Mail to go. And people still wonder why UK newspapers are so vile to Prince Harry & Meghan…
Reposted by Freya Barnes
Everyone excusing Elon Musk’s behavior due to his alleged autism should be chased into the sea with pitchforks
it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true
it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true
January 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Everyone excusing Elon Musk’s behavior due to his alleged autism should be chased into the sea with pitchforks
it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true
it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true
Daft Saturday post but it's It's Winnie the Pooh day today and bear with me (pun intended), but here's why I love him as a role model for aspiring thought leaders 🧵🍯
January 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Daft Saturday post but it's It's Winnie the Pooh day today and bear with me (pun intended), but here's why I love him as a role model for aspiring thought leaders 🧵🍯
Reposted by Freya Barnes
Zoe Amar: What does Meta’s fact-checking announcement mean for your charity? www.thirdsector.co.uk/zoe-amar-doe...
Zoe Amar: What does Meta’s fact-checking announcement mean for your charity?
The move signals that the political climate charities are working in is becoming more politicised and antagonistic
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 18, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Zoe Amar: What does Meta’s fact-checking announcement mean for your charity? www.thirdsector.co.uk/zoe-amar-doe...
The simple pleasure of a cup of coffee, a blank page and an unexpectedly sunny day.
Even January can have its moments..
Even January can have its moments..
January 16, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The simple pleasure of a cup of coffee, a blank page and an unexpectedly sunny day.
Even January can have its moments..
Even January can have its moments..
Has anyone managed to overcome the overwhelming urge to hibernate in January? Please share tips
January 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Has anyone managed to overcome the overwhelming urge to hibernate in January? Please share tips
Reposted by Freya Barnes
The flippant/snarky tone of Playbook works better for Westminster village nonsense than for child sex abuse
January 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The flippant/snarky tone of Playbook works better for Westminster village nonsense than for child sex abuse
Happy twixmas from this very soggy cow
December 30, 2024 at 12:35 PM
Happy twixmas from this very soggy cow
What a view to wake up to on Christmas morning! Have a wonderful day all - and love to anyone for whom this is a difficult time of year.
December 25, 2024 at 12:19 PM
What a view to wake up to on Christmas morning! Have a wonderful day all - and love to anyone for whom this is a difficult time of year.
All my life I will never forget seeing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr playing together. It's every Beatles fan dream Christmas gift. I'm overjoyed
December 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM
All my life I will never forget seeing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr playing together. It's every Beatles fan dream Christmas gift. I'm overjoyed
Seeing Macca for the second time and can decisively say he is a god
December 19, 2024 at 9:52 PM
Seeing Macca for the second time and can decisively say he is a god