Ross Mudie
@rmudie96.bsky.social
Head of Research Analysis, @iconeighbours.bsky.social. Former Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), United Nations University, and local government.
Pinned
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
The £440mn boost to the budgets of council in some of the deprived places is welcome. But it's crazy that the Fair Funding Review has not delivered actual fair funding. Let's hope future, permanent changes are coming so councils arent facing a cliff edge in a few years.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Communities set to benefit from fairer funding
Fairer funding as part of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement will help to tackle deprivation and improve public services
www.gov.uk
February 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM
The £440mn boost to the budgets of council in some of the deprived places is welcome. But it's crazy that the Fair Funding Review has not delivered actual fair funding. Let's hope future, permanent changes are coming so councils arent facing a cliff edge in a few years.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Thanks also to @joshhalliday.bsky.social for covering the work, and lovely to see comments in here from @zoebillingham.bsky.social and @drjennings.bsky.social too!
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Thanks also to @joshhalliday.bsky.social for covering the work, and lovely to see comments in here from @zoebillingham.bsky.social and @drjennings.bsky.social too!
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
The whole programme of work is split across two papers and id recommend anyone interest in high streets, communities, regeneration takes a look at both
Pride in Parades I: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades II: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades I: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades II: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades I: The State of Neighbourhood Social Infrastructure - Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods
One of the most common concerns that residents of some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods raise with us is the decline of their local high street. But often the concerns they raise with us are o...
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The whole programme of work is split across two papers and id recommend anyone interest in high streets, communities, regeneration takes a look at both
Pride in Parades I: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades II: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades I: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
Pride in Parades II: www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/pride...
The government wants to make this happen - Pride in Place, and powers in the English Devolution Bill, will help.
Here are Popular's final recommendations for us - a playbook for government, councils, businesses, and communities to step up themselves and improve their parades.
Here are Popular's final recommendations for us - a playbook for government, councils, businesses, and communities to step up themselves and improve their parades.
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The government wants to make this happen - Pride in Place, and powers in the English Devolution Bill, will help.
Here are Popular's final recommendations for us - a playbook for government, councils, businesses, and communities to step up themselves and improve their parades.
Here are Popular's final recommendations for us - a playbook for government, councils, businesses, and communities to step up themselves and improve their parades.
They found four things
Someone steps up to 'seize the initiatives'
They intentionally curated their parade, saying no to units that could cause harm
People were brought together - trades, councils, community facilities, to develop a common vision
Activate - brand the parade, make it special!
Someone steps up to 'seize the initiatives'
They intentionally curated their parade, saying no to units that could cause harm
People were brought together - trades, councils, community facilities, to develop a common vision
Activate - brand the parade, make it special!
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
They found four things
Someone steps up to 'seize the initiatives'
They intentionally curated their parade, saying no to units that could cause harm
People were brought together - trades, councils, community facilities, to develop a common vision
Activate - brand the parade, make it special!
Someone steps up to 'seize the initiatives'
They intentionally curated their parade, saying no to units that could cause harm
People were brought together - trades, councils, community facilities, to develop a common vision
Activate - brand the parade, make it special!
In Part I of the report there are lots of charts and so much more telling this story
But there are reasons to be positive.
There are places that have seen their parades decline and bounce back. We asked the team at Popular to visit them and learn what they did.
What they found gives me confidence
But there are reasons to be positive.
There are places that have seen their parades decline and bounce back. We asked the team at Popular to visit them and learn what they did.
What they found gives me confidence
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
In Part I of the report there are lots of charts and so much more telling this story
But there are reasons to be positive.
There are places that have seen their parades decline and bounce back. We asked the team at Popular to visit them and learn what they did.
What they found gives me confidence
But there are reasons to be positive.
There are places that have seen their parades decline and bounce back. We asked the team at Popular to visit them and learn what they did.
What they found gives me confidence
Parades in deprived areas have many more formal health spaces (e.g. health centres) than informal spaces where people go to stay healthy (e.g. gyms), and lots and lots more takeaways and places selling unhealthy food.
In such places you more likely to be a patient than a player, or participant...
In such places you more likely to be a patient than a player, or participant...
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Parades in deprived areas have many more formal health spaces (e.g. health centres) than informal spaces where people go to stay healthy (e.g. gyms), and lots and lots more takeaways and places selling unhealthy food.
In such places you more likely to be a patient than a player, or participant...
In such places you more likely to be a patient than a player, or participant...
But it's nuanced. I was also shocked to find that parades in deprived areas tend to have more formal third spafes (e.g. community centres) but significantly less informal spaces (e.g. pubs, cafes)
And it seems there's some link between these spaces and how strong people's social bonds are.
And it seems there's some link between these spaces and how strong people's social bonds are.
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
But it's nuanced. I was also shocked to find that parades in deprived areas tend to have more formal third spafes (e.g. community centres) but significantly less informal spaces (e.g. pubs, cafes)
And it seems there's some link between these spaces and how strong people's social bonds are.
And it seems there's some link between these spaces and how strong people's social bonds are.
This means parades are unusually important for developing social capital, and keeping people healthy and connected with one another.
But in many of the most deprived areas they *do not* do this - in here parades have seen their social instiutions fade and "bad" retail (eg vape shops) take over
But in many of the most deprived areas they *do not* do this - in here parades have seen their social instiutions fade and "bad" retail (eg vape shops) take over
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
This means parades are unusually important for developing social capital, and keeping people healthy and connected with one another.
But in many of the most deprived areas they *do not* do this - in here parades have seen their social instiutions fade and "bad" retail (eg vape shops) take over
But in many of the most deprived areas they *do not* do this - in here parades have seen their social instiutions fade and "bad" retail (eg vape shops) take over
I was amazed to find that parades tend to have more social institutions (e.g. pubs, social clubs), and lots of public services including health centres, nurseries, etc
Their function is overhwelmingly social - supporitng people's daily encounters and upholding the civic life of their areas.
Their function is overhwelmingly social - supporitng people's daily encounters and upholding the civic life of their areas.
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
I was amazed to find that parades tend to have more social institutions (e.g. pubs, social clubs), and lots of public services including health centres, nurseries, etc
Their function is overhwelmingly social - supporitng people's daily encounters and upholding the civic life of their areas.
Their function is overhwelmingly social - supporitng people's daily encounters and upholding the civic life of their areas.
High streets vary but there are broadly three types:
- Major desinations (big town and city centres)
- Regular high streets (large, see examples)
- Parades (small, based inside people's estates)
There has been barely any research trying to understand parades and - crucially - their function..
- Major desinations (big town and city centres)
- Regular high streets (large, see examples)
- Parades (small, based inside people's estates)
There has been barely any research trying to understand parades and - crucially - their function..
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
High streets vary but there are broadly three types:
- Major desinations (big town and city centres)
- Regular high streets (large, see examples)
- Parades (small, based inside people's estates)
There has been barely any research trying to understand parades and - crucially - their function..
- Major desinations (big town and city centres)
- Regular high streets (large, see examples)
- Parades (small, based inside people's estates)
There has been barely any research trying to understand parades and - crucially - their function..
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Reposted by Ross Mudie
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms
England’s poorest communities have 70% more vape shops, off-licences and bookmakers than wealthier ones and far fewer cafes and gyms, a study has found.
The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), chaired by the Labour peer Hilary Armstrong, said ministers risked overlooking vitally important neighbourhood shopping precincts by focusing on town centres. In deprived areas, local shops have roughly double the number of retailers selling unhealthy food and significantly higher vacancy rates, its research has found. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Speaking as someone whose area got £20m Pride in Place this autumn, I am over the moon for more areas to join the programme
It will be transformative
It will be transformative
Sir Keir Starmer pledges to 'reverse devastating decline' with £800m extra investment in 40 communities
In a speech on Thursday, the prime minister will attack what he calls the "scorched earth of Tory austerity", while recognising the threat from Reform UK, comparing it to a "contest between renewal an...
news.sky.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Speaking as someone whose area got £20m Pride in Place this autumn, I am over the moon for more areas to join the programme
It will be transformative
It will be transformative
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Reform councillors in Kent told the FT that they were surprised not to find lavish spending on wokeness from their predecessors
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
February 5, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Reform councillors in Kent told the FT that they were surprised not to find lavish spending on wokeness from their predecessors
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
I am hoping many of the areas announced today are ones picked out in our Neighbourhood Recovery Pipeline - which would reach all of the most deeply disadvantaged areas over a twenty year rollout
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/no-sh...
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/no-sh...
No Short Cuts: Towards a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Recovery - Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk
February 5, 2026 at 7:38 AM
I am hoping many of the areas announced today are ones picked out in our Neighbourhood Recovery Pipeline - which would reach all of the most deeply disadvantaged areas over a twenty year rollout
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/no-sh...
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/no-sh...
Another £800m of investment in 40 more deprived neighbourhoods, as the Prime Minister will announce an expansion of the Pride in Place programme this morning.
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
Sir Keir Starmer pledges to 'reverse devastating decline' with £800m extra investment in 40 communities
In a speech on Thursday, the prime minister will attack what he calls the "scorched earth of Tory austerity", while recognising the threat from Reform UK, comparing it to a "contest between renewal an...
news.sky.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Another £800m of investment in 40 more deprived neighbourhoods, as the Prime Minister will announce an expansion of the Pride in Place programme this morning.
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
Lots of great organisations and people contributed their thoughts on the ideas we set out in @iconeighbours.bsky.social's Green Paper last year.
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
Neighbourhood Policy Green Paper: Summary of Consultation Responses and Policy Testing Exercise - Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Lots of great organisations and people contributed their thoughts on the ideas we set out in @iconeighbours.bsky.social's Green Paper last year.
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
Reposted by Ross Mudie
🎙️Listen to this episode of the Local Authority podcast, where we discuss why neighbourhood working is back on the political agenda.
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
🎙️Listen to this episode of the Local Authority podcast, where we discuss why neighbourhood working is back on the political agenda.
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Good piece on why mission government failed.
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
February 4, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Good piece on why mission government failed.
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Several of last nights Grammy award winners attended the (free, state) Brit School, while nearly half of all other state schools no longer offer Music GCSE.
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
‘They are not manufactured’: how Brit school stars took over the Grammys
Croydon school’s principal says success of Olivia Dean and Lola Young is a ‘brilliant celebration’ of free arts education
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Several of last nights Grammy award winners attended the (free, state) Brit School, while nearly half of all other state schools no longer offer Music GCSE.
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
This is a good piece bringing together what has been a lot of coverage about poverty and deprivation in Britain this week.
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Britain’s deprived areas need attention for their own sak...
Numerous studies warn about pockets of deep poverty, but little is done by sitting governments until they feel under threat
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 AM
This is a good piece bringing together what has been a lot of coverage about poverty and deprivation in Britain this week.
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Still seeing more of this. Mental.
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
All the hate on this here is ridiculous and I hope Bridget and her team see it and choose to ignore it all.
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
We want to make sure tutoring isn't the preserve of a lucky few, but accessible to every child who needs it.
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
January 30, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Still seeing more of this. Mental.
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Big Local began in 2010 as one of the UK’s boldest funding experiments, giving 150 communities time, trust and resources to lead local change on their own terms.
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
January 30, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Big Local began in 2010 as one of the UK’s boldest funding experiments, giving 150 communities time, trust and resources to lead local change on their own terms.
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM