James Plunkett
@jamestplunkett.bsky.social
Interested in more human ways to govern our lives together, and how technology can help. Blog: https://medium.com/@jamestplunkett 🏳️⚧️
Back at one of our favourite venues. Very impressed if anyone guesses it!
December 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Back at one of our favourite venues. Very impressed if anyone guesses it!
Christmas Day walk to a mountain temple in Lampang. Not quite on brand for the day maybe but very beautiful.
December 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Christmas Day walk to a mountain temple in Lampang. Not quite on brand for the day maybe but very beautiful.
Eugh, I know HMRC digital services are much improved, and this has taken endless toil. But after being stuck in a loop trying to sort a trivial task let’s just say there is still work to do. Also: please employ more service designers.
December 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Eugh, I know HMRC digital services are much improved, and this has taken endless toil. But after being stuck in a loop trying to sort a trivial task let’s just say there is still work to do. Also: please employ more service designers.
A Friday share of this 👇 Perfect hopeful reading for the Christmas wind down:)
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Rewilding Civic Life — Can we cultivate social capital? If so, how? — Kinship Works
In this Working Paper we curate the lessons from Big Local, a 15 year experiment in revitalising the capacity of local communities. We explore what Big Local did and the practices the programme employ...
www.kinship.works
December 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
A Friday share of this 👇 Perfect hopeful reading for the Christmas wind down:)
One of my favourite insights from this Working Paper on Big Local: the power of taking a more organic approach to governance.
Rather than designing governance in Whitehall - a chart that looks neat on paper - cultivate it as a local capability. 🧵
Rather than designing governance in Whitehall - a chart that looks neat on paper - cultivate it as a local capability. 🧵
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Rewilding Civic Life — Can we cultivate social capital? If so, how? — Kinship Works
In this Working Paper we curate the lessons from Big Local, a 15 year experiment in revitalising the capacity of local communities. We explore what Big Local did and the practices the programme employ...
www.kinship.works
December 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
One of my favourite insights from this Working Paper on Big Local: the power of taking a more organic approach to governance.
Rather than designing governance in Whitehall - a chart that looks neat on paper - cultivate it as a local capability. 🧵
Rather than designing governance in Whitehall - a chart that looks neat on paper - cultivate it as a local capability. 🧵
Reposted by James Plunkett
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Rewilding Civic Life — Can we cultivate social capital? If so, how? — Kinship Works
In this Working Paper we curate the lessons from Big Local, a 15 year experiment in revitalising the capacity of local communities. We explore what Big Local did and the practices the programme employ...
www.kinship.works
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Rewilding Civic Life — Can we cultivate social capital? If so, how? — Kinship Works
In this Working Paper we curate the lessons from Big Local, a 15 year experiment in revitalising the capacity of local communities. We explore what Big Local did and the practices the programme employ...
www.kinship.works
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
🔔 New report out today 🔔 🪴 Rewilding Civic Life 🪴
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Today at @kinship.works, we’re publishing a Working Paper that pulls together the evidence from Big Local, one of the world’s biggest-ever experiments in revitalising civic life and restoring social capital. 1/n
www.kinship.works/publications...
Reposted by James Plunkett
One for people working in government evaluation and analysis teams. Also research councils. 👇
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
One for people working in government evaluation and analysis teams. Also research councils. 👇
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
One for a Friday coffee! 👇
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
One for a Friday coffee! 👇
One for people working in government evaluation and analysis teams. Also research councils. 👇
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
One for people working in government evaluation and analysis teams. Also research councils. 👇
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
How can we broaden our field of view to see and spread more promising alternatives?
Reposted by James Plunkett
If you read @jamestplunkett.bsky.social 's piece earlier this week (and linked again in the thread) considering "What if government is stuck in a local maximum?" then this response from @mssophiaparker.bsky.social is well worth your time.
sophiaparker-241.medium.com/a-larger-rea...
sophiaparker-241.medium.com/a-larger-rea...
A larger reality: how governments can escape the local maximum
Back in September, James Plunkett and I launched The Centre for the Edge, a new collaboration between JRF and Kinship Works. We are…
sophiaparker-241.medium.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
If you read @jamestplunkett.bsky.social 's piece earlier this week (and linked again in the thread) considering "What if government is stuck in a local maximum?" then this response from @mssophiaparker.bsky.social is well worth your time.
sophiaparker-241.medium.com/a-larger-rea...
sophiaparker-241.medium.com/a-larger-rea...
New post this week 👇 People are worried that the scientific discovery process has got stuck, and this has led to a new discipline of metascience.
But what if the same has happened to policy-making and Government more generally? And. if so, what do we do about it?
But what if the same has happened to policy-making and Government more generally? And. if so, what do we do about it?
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
New post this week 👇 People are worried that the scientific discovery process has got stuck, and this has led to a new discipline of metascience.
But what if the same has happened to policy-making and Government more generally? And. if so, what do we do about it?
But what if the same has happened to policy-making and Government more generally? And. if so, what do we do about it?
Reposted by James Plunkett
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
The case for broadening our field of view
medium.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM
What if government is stuck in a local maximum?
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Today I'm publishing a new post exploring whether the evidence standards and control mechanisms we use in government are limiting us to a dangerously narrow field of view. If so, what could we do about that?
medium.com/@jamestplunk... 1/n
Honestly, the extent to which you now need to work around the machinery of government (in stealth, against the rules, etc.) in order to save it from itself is truly extraordinary.
December 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Honestly, the extent to which you now need to work around the machinery of government (in stealth, against the rules, etc.) in order to save it from itself is truly extraordinary.
A Friday share of this 👇 Should we make a hit list of the top 500 buildings in deliquent ownership? Could we help to setup a safe harbour scheme - holding buldings of civic value while communities raise funds to buy them? All of this and more....!
🔔 Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership? 🔔 We're hosting a conversation @kinship.works to share ideas...
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership?
Across Britain, there are countless examples of land and buildings in the heart of communities lying empty and deteriorating, often stuck in unclear or absent ownership. We can all think of examples: ...
cado.kinship.works
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
A Friday share of this 👇 Should we make a hit list of the top 500 buildings in deliquent ownership? Could we help to setup a safe harbour scheme - holding buldings of civic value while communities raise funds to buy them? All of this and more....!
Oop, internet broken again?
December 5, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Oop, internet broken again?
Reposted by James Plunkett
🔔 Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership? 🔔 We're hosting a conversation @kinship.works to share ideas...
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership?
Across Britain, there are countless examples of land and buildings in the heart of communities lying empty and deteriorating, often stuck in unclear or absent ownership. We can all think of examples: ...
cado.kinship.works
December 3, 2025 at 8:34 AM
🔔 Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership? 🔔 We're hosting a conversation @kinship.works to share ideas...
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
🔔 Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership? 🔔 We're hosting a conversation @kinship.works to share ideas...
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership?
Across Britain, there are countless examples of land and buildings in the heart of communities lying empty and deteriorating, often stuck in unclear or absent ownership. We can all think of examples: ...
cado.kinship.works
December 3, 2025 at 8:34 AM
🔔 Is it time for a new push on delinquent ownership? 🔔 We're hosting a conversation @kinship.works to share ideas...
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
cado.kinship.works. 1/n
Went to a brilliant presentation tonight about urban rewilding by @citizenzoo.bsky.social Heard the background to the Ealing beaver reintroduction and lots more about white storks, glow worms and grasshoppers
More on their work and volunteering opportunities here: www.citizenzoo.org
More on their work and volunteering opportunities here: www.citizenzoo.org
Citizen Zoo© Official Site | Rewilding Our Future
Pioneering rewilding organisation Citizen Zoo leading the way to rewild nature in Britain through conservation & restoring wildlife back to parts of the country where it was once found!
www.citizenzoo.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Went to a brilliant presentation tonight about urban rewilding by @citizenzoo.bsky.social Heard the background to the Ealing beaver reintroduction and lots more about white storks, glow worms and grasshoppers
More on their work and volunteering opportunities here: www.citizenzoo.org
More on their work and volunteering opportunities here: www.citizenzoo.org
Reposted by James Plunkett
Over on the place where Links are In, I reflected on this thoughtful piece by @jamestplunkett.bsky.social and @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, that beyond *new applications* of public interest tech, we should need to build the scaffolding that allows compelling innovations to scale and interoperate.
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology? We've been doing some thinking at Kinship Works with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and co at Careful Industries - what it would take for 2026 to see public interest/civic tech to reach its full potential? Some ideas:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology?
Yes — if funders step up
medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Over on the place where Links are In, I reflected on this thoughtful piece by @jamestplunkett.bsky.social and @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, that beyond *new applications* of public interest tech, we should need to build the scaffolding that allows compelling innovations to scale and interoperate.
Do any political/election data/GIS nerds fancy helping out with some number crunching? If anyone has experience of things like lookups to link LSOAs to wards, and analysis of election data drop me a line.
I can pay a small amount but it would have to be done partly for interest/nerdery!
I can pay a small amount but it would have to be done partly for interest/nerdery!
December 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Do any political/election data/GIS nerds fancy helping out with some number crunching? If anyone has experience of things like lookups to link LSOAs to wards, and analysis of election data drop me a line.
I can pay a small amount but it would have to be done partly for interest/nerdery!
I can pay a small amount but it would have to be done partly for interest/nerdery!
Reposted by James Plunkett
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology? We've been doing some thinking at Kinship Works with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and co at Careful Industries - what it would take for 2026 to see public interest/civic tech to reach its full potential? Some ideas:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology?
Yes — if funders step up
medium.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology? We've been doing some thinking at Kinship Works with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and co at Careful Industries - what it would take for 2026 to see public interest/civic tech to reach its full potential? Some ideas:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Reposted by James Plunkett
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology?
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and @jamestplunkett.bsky.social have co-authored a blog on what it would take for 2026 to see public interest / civic tech realise its full potential.
We'd love to know what people think.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and @jamestplunkett.bsky.social have co-authored a blog on what it would take for 2026 to see public interest / civic tech realise its full potential.
We'd love to know what people think.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology?
Yes — if funders step up
medium.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology?
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and @jamestplunkett.bsky.social have co-authored a blog on what it would take for 2026 to see public interest / civic tech realise its full potential.
We'd love to know what people think.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and @jamestplunkett.bsky.social have co-authored a blog on what it would take for 2026 to see public interest / civic tech realise its full potential.
We'd love to know what people think.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Reposted by James Plunkett
Public interest tech - that does good for people, communities and the planet - is a no-brainer, so why does no one want to fund it? @jamestplunkett.bsky.social and I have 4 recs for how the UK civic and community tech landscape could be better supported www.careful.industries/blog/2025-12...
Could 2026 be the year of public interest technology? — Careful Industries
Four ideas for sparking investment in UK public interest tech. Written in collaboration with James Plunkett from Kinship Works.
www.careful.industries
December 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Public interest tech - that does good for people, communities and the planet - is a no-brainer, so why does no one want to fund it? @jamestplunkett.bsky.social and I have 4 recs for how the UK civic and community tech landscape could be better supported www.careful.industries/blog/2025-12...