Stephanie Cole
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stephiec.bsky.social
Stephanie Cole
@stephiec.bsky.social
690 followers 600 following 630 posts
Twitter escapee (@eseesea). Social change leadership, connect, collaborate @ywccommunity @socialleadersne @theRSAorg fellow. Feminist. Gone not forgotten Sharing Learning Doing, Good Space/Broadacre House [UK]
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stephiec.bsky.social
Oh hello, sorry it's been a while!

If you're free in Newcastle on 3 December, care about investing in our people in the north east VCSE, and fancy talking about it with me...well, I have just the thing for you...

NET x @ywccommunity.bsky.social pop up event!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/investing-...
Image for NET x YWC (NET Pop Up 08) event. The text reads: Investing in our people: Creating cultures of learning, development and growth within our north east VCSE. Robert Laycock and Stephanie Cole, Yes We Can Community CIC, 3 December 2025, 14:30 for 15:00-17:00 at One Strawberry Lane. Book at https://NETxYWCDecember2025.eventbrite.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
More on time, effort, credibility and attention
Screenshot text reads: Beyond Money: The Broader Resource Paradox Whilst this article focuses on monetary procurement, the “other people’s money” principle extends to all organisational resources. The same psychological detachment occurs when we spend: Other people’s time: Scheduling unnecessary meetings, requesting elaborate proposals when simple ones suffice, or demanding extensive reports that few will read. A manager who wouldn’t waste an hour of their own weekend might casually book a two-hour meeting with eight colleagues. Other people’s effort: Asking suppliers to prepare comprehensive tender responses for decisions already made, or requiring detailed business cases for routine purchases. The procurement professional who guards their own energy jealously may think nothing of asking vendors to invest dozens of hours in speculative proposals. Other people’s credibility: Making commitments or setting expectations on behalf of colleagues without considering the reputational risk to them. The same person who carefully protects their own professional standing might casually promise delivery dates that put others’ credibility on the line. Other people’s attention: Copying unnecessary recipients on emails, demanding immediate responses to non-urgent requests, or interrupting focused work for minor clarifications. We’re remarkably protective of our own concentration whilst being cavalier with others’. This broader understanding helps explain why procurement inefficiencies often compound—they’re not just about pounds and pence, but about the systematic waste of human capital, organisational energy, and professional relationships.
August 17, 2025 at 12:05 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
No cheating: post your lock screen
Screenshot of screen lock picture: photo of Argentinian artist Tomas Saraceno’s 14 Billions (working title) exhibited in BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead in 2010. The piece is a scanned black widow spider web recreated in black elastic and hooks. The photo was taken by me and used for my screen lock image ever since. Extract from exhibition information https://archive.baltic.art/exhibition/tomas-saraceno-14-billions-working-title-ex66 Tomas Saraceno 17 July 2010 - 24 October 2010 In collaboration with spider researchers andastrophysicists, Tomas Saraceno has spent several years developing the 350 cubic metre installation that will fill BALTIC’s Level 2 Gallery from July. Scientists create large scale models of spiders’ webs and examine their construction to explain the origin and structure of the universe. The starting point for Saraceno’s new work was a model of the poisonous Black Widow’s web. The gigantic installation, made in collaboration with the Bonniers Konsthall, Sweden, will span floor to ceiling.
July 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Mum and dad combatting potential water shortage one 50 year old nappy bucket at a time (maybe this is where I get my love of orange from)
Photo of 50 year old orange nappy bucket and pale blue stackable storage box used for rain water capture
July 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
I haven’t got that far. My experience is male writers can overlook what’s going on for women.

Oh look…

When searching for ‘women’, there are terrible stories of women being slaughtered ie ‘outcomes’ plus women supporting the Nazi movement but nothing specifically on misogyny/sexism in the lead up
July 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
Plus multiple studies (peer reviewed published in reputable journals) on impact of Covid and long COVID show changed brain function and cognitive impairment.

Also reading this Laurence Rees book The Nazi Mind: 12 warnings from history, which incs spreading conspiracy theories as a warning
Cover of The Nazi mind: 12 warnings from history by Laurence Rees Cover of The Nazi mind: 12 warnings from history by Laurence Rees contents page 1. Spreading Conspiracy Theories 2. Using Them and Us 3. Leading as a Hero 4. Corrupting Youth 5. Conniving with the Elite 6. Attacking Human Rights 7. Exploiting Faith 8. Valuing Enemies 9. Eliminating Resistance 10. Escalating Racism
July 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
Great to be at South Tyneside Festival in the glorious Bents Park. We’re waiting for @biglocaljarrow.bsky.social second set on the chefs stage. Set up in progress. Oh mics going on now for a session in smell and creating your own Jarrow tea
Carol, Paula and Roweena from Jarrow Big Local setting up
July 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Spotted Duralex glasses stacked up neatly, all ready to go, in Hay-On-Wye car park @dasbarrett.bsky.social plus a pleasing yellow house (I’m on holiday far from the, much missed today, frozen north)
June 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
I can send them some postcards (a most excellent birthday present from @r2ph.bsky.social). There’s a poster, two tshirts and a tote bag too.
A5 postcards of Nolan Principles - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership
May 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
It sounds like you’re talking about gliders - see photo 1 - or could be like photo 2. You’ll need something like the hooks in photo 3. The curtains will be ones with header pocket tape rather than eyelets - it’ll be like photo 4 at the top of the reverse side of the curtain.
Glider - more modern and fancy Glider - old style Curtain hook Curtain header or pocket tape
May 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Call for artists

The Angelou Centre is looking for artists to be part of Stories of Colour, a powerful exhibition exploring themes of racial justice, healing, and identity. Please note that the original deadline has been extended – submissions are now open until 5 May.

angelou-centre.org.uk
Screenshot text reads: Call for artists. Be part of ‘Stories of colour’ Why get involved? • Your work will be featured in an exhibition alongside the launch of Stories of Colour, amplifying the voices of those most affected. • You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists, activists, and community members to create lasting social impact. • Your art will play a critical role in shaping policy conversations on race, justice, and anti-racism. What we're looking for We welcome expressions of interest from artists who: • Explore themes of racial justice, gender equity, healing, and identity in their work • Use art as a medium for storytelling and activism • Can produce original artwork, performances, photography etc. to be showcased in our touring exhibition. How to apply If you are interested, please send us an email titled "Stories Of Colour" admin@angelou-centre.org.uk with: 1. A short bio (including your connection to the themes of the project). 2. Samples of your work or a portfolio link. 3. A brief idea of what you'd like to contribute
April 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
I appreciate @chrischirp.bsky.social writing about ‘the normalisation of deviance’, a term from sociologist Diane Vaughan about accepting the unacceptable.
‘…when rule-breaking … is tolerated and repeated, people can become desensitised to the point that deviant practice no longer feels wrong.’
Screenshot text reads: The process of accepting the unacceptable is sometimes called the normalisation of deviance. Sociologist Diane Vaughan coined the term after studying the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, where warning signs were repeatedly ignored. Vaughan observed that when rule-breaking or “deviant” behavior is tolerated and repeated, people can become desensitized to the point that deviant practice no longer feels wrong. This can be exacerbated if people feel unsafe, where people trade away some rights or overlook “deviant” behaviours in return for order, stability and perceived safety. People can retreat into their private spheres of family, friends and work and disengage from the public sphere, hoping that the danger will pass them by. If they see their peers and communities also seeming to accept the status quo, it can in turn accelerate the normalisation of deviance.
April 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Inclusive communication: Turning knowledge into action by Jane Salazar

medium.com/wethecatalys...
Extract from article by Jane Salazar Read stories from Jane Salazar on Medium: https://medium.com/@janepsalazar: By only focusing on our uniqueness, masked as talents and strengths through the lens of the superhero, we’d erased the daily struggles and barriers we encounter as people living with disabilities. Instead, through the accepted ‘Share your Superpower’ team activity, we’d been encouraged to romanticise our real experiences of living with our disabilities.
April 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
Here’s more on why we came together
Photo of slide. The text reads: Why We Came Together • Systemic inequities persist in our society (eg. health, education, criminal justice) and lead to lack of safety, poor mental and physical well-being for people of colour. • These Inequities sometimes difficult to see/believe if we do not experience them ourselves. • Challenging the status quo with regard to racism not new. However, the stop/start approach means that the battle for inclusion has never been won. • The racist and Islamophobic riots of the summer powerful reminder of how much more work there is to do. • We are united in not wanting to witness further riots or other manifestations of hate across our region. • Taking action NOW to create lasting impact will lead to a fairer and more Inclusive world for us and future generations. • We recognise that this work should fall to us all and not just left to other people. • Our work speaks to several UN sustainable development goals including Goal 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal 10 - Reducing Inequalities and Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
April 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Not just the men either…with one woman saying science is about finding truth so the point is for it not to feel safe. And it’s women’s fault for staying in the system. Oh and money isn’t an issue. Obviously paraphrasing. Here’s my reply to her [name cropped to protect the guilty]
Screenshot of LinkedIn comment 1 of 2. The text reads: Yes it’s totally true money is not the problem to set up an entirely new academia and associated systems with sufficient power and respect to counter the established system. Just yesterday I found a large hadron collider down the back of the sofa. How it had got there amongst the sticky sweet, 78p in loose change, 0.364 micrograms of dark matter, and a frightening quantity of crumbs...what a mystery but its always the way isn't it with the down the back of sofa black hole. I was quite surprised as only the week before I'd imagined into being a fully equipped, state of the art forensics research lab. Screenshot of LinkedIn comment 2 of 2. The text reads: I did have a bit of a headache afterwards but nothing compared to [the] harm, pain and frustration felt by countless strong women trying to furrow their own path from everyday, professional and institutional oppression by fragile men. Not to mention the harm we do to society and global knowledge by allowing these men to push brilliant women out of academia. Anyway, I'll let you know if I find anything else useful. PS Anyone know how best to store the dark matter? I don't want it to go off.
March 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
OK, Twitter does retain a use re learning about Starmer’s diplomatic efforts re Zelenskyy and White House. Useful.
Screenshot of Alex Wickham tweet 1 of 2, 1 March 2025, 16:17. The text reads: NEW: What Keir Starmer is trying to do, according to senior government sources *The UK and PM will not give up on the diplomatic effort to get the best outcome for Ukraine. *The UK is in a unique position, a different position to the rest of Europe, because Starmer is able to call Trump and have a working relationship. For better or for worse, Trump likes the UK more than the EU and will speak to Starmer. UK has to try to use that to Europe's and Ukraine's advantage. *UK tried to get Zelenskiy back into the White House last night first by persuading Ze and then talking to the WH. But it was no good. WH insisted on the need for tempers to cool. Screenshot of Alex Wickham tweet, 1 March 2025, 16:17 2 of 2, test reads: *Rather than going straight to Twitter yesterday, Starmer picked up the phone to both presidents. That's the role he wants to play and is uniquely able to do so. *PM will keep trying everything to get Trump and Zelensky into a better place, as he did in Washington, as he did last night, and will continue to do this weekend. *Of course UK officials all privately think the same thing everyone else is thinking about the Oval Office debacle, but insist they have to try. *The right thing to do is to keep trying to get a united western position, a strong position from Europe and put Ukraine in the best position, source says, adding: We will never give up trying to do that until it's over. Story with @PronouncedAlva >>> bloomberg.com/news/articles/..
March 1, 2025 at 4:51 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
#NEARC anti-racism commitment and accountability working group
* a regional pledge
#NEARC anti-racism commitment and accountability working group Anti-Racism Commitment and Accountability Working Group We want to provide support for leaders in organisations, at all levels, to help their organisations to become more anti-racist and inclusive. To do this we propose to develop a pledge towards an anti-racist, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-hatred North East. And to back this up with support to help organisations turn their ambition into action. 56 The support we need 1) Clarify what we want the pledge to achieve, and how it might do that We believe, for example, that a 'Pledge and Support offer will: • Create important visibility for the movement and cause • Encourage a regional pride about it • Be a stimulus for individual organisations to act • Be a gateway to a menu of support How realistic are these goals, are there others? Which are easiest to achieve, what are the trade-offs between them? #NEARC anti-racism commitment and accountability working group 2) We need to design the pledge • Its content • The process and criteria for adoption • The menu of support it gives access to • Who should make the 'ask', for different organisations and circumstances Content that sustains activity within the participating 3) We need to research our target audience • Who are they? The range of organisations across all sectors, their size, point of progress towards becoming anti-racist? Can we define different types of leaders in order to refine our approach? • What would they value about a pledge and support scheme? • What would they find off-putting/a barrier? • What behavioral insights might inform adoption and sustained action? • What would a useful and achievable menu of support look like? • Are there lead/early adopters we can target? #NEARC anti-racism commitment and accountability working group 4) Evidence from similar schemes • What other schemes are there that are helpful for us to know about and learn from. These might include cultural change that isn't about racism. • What works well and what doesn't, and in what context? This might include schemes that aren't to do with racism, and maybe outside the region or UK? • What characteristics of the North East is it helpful to consider when applying lessons from elsewhere? And what are unlikely to make a
February 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
#NEARC learning and awareness working group
* our purpose
* 3 x priorities
#NEARC learning and awareness working group Our purpose Empower our movement with the knowledge and tools to challenge racism. We believe learning combined with practical action is essential for dismantling racist attitudes and practices, both in our communities and in our own workplaces. #NEARC learning and awareness working group - our priorities Priority 1 Our first priority is to equip individuals and organisations with resources to develop and deliver anti-racism learning. This includes: • Clarifying what "anti-racism" means for us in the North East. • Developing a strong narrative around why anti-racism benefits the entire region Highlighting practical steps organisations and individuals can take to become more actively anti-racist, including how to handle micro-aggressions. #NEARC learning and awareness working group Priority 2 Our priorities Our second priority is to explain the tangible, real-world impact that racism has on EVERYONE. We believe that if people see how it affects: • Economic opportunities (for individuals and businesses), • Social cohesion (how safe and welcoming our communities are), and • Mental health and well-being (especially for thosedirectly affected) ...they will be more motivated to address it. We'll use data, research, and, most importantly, lived experience to illustrate these impacts, ensuring our message is both evidence-based and deeply human. #NEARC learning and awareness working group Priority 3 Our third and last priority is to host supportive hubs for people who are actively working on anti-racism. These hubs will be: • Safe spaces where people can share challenges, successes, and strategies. • Incubators for new ideas and collaborative projects. • Learning & Networking opportunities for exchanging resources, contacts, and mutual support. Through these hubs, we want to build communities of practice where people don't feel isolated in their efforts, and where we can all learn from each other.
February 20, 2025 at 10:57 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
#NEARC community engagement with all voices heard working group
* early thinking
* three initial priorities
#NEARC community engagement with all voices heard working group early thinking Be fully inclusive - from perpetrators and those experiencing racism • Understand drivers for the communities we engage with, representives beyond 'traditional leaders' • We must not 'do to people' but instead support and empower them to take action #NEARC community engagement with all voices heard working group three initial priorities Map what's already happening in the region • Design a series of community conversations to pick up any gaps • Consider how best to mark the 12 month anniversary of the 2024 riots
February 20, 2025 at 10:52 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
Next up - we're hearing from our four working groups
1. Community engagement with all voices heard
2. Learning and awareness
3. Anti-racism commitment and accountability
4. Communication
NE Anti-Racism Coalition - our four working groups 1. Community engagement with all voices heard 2. Learning and awareness 3. Anti-racism commitment and accountability 4. Communication
February 20, 2025 at 10:42 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
Here's an update from #NEARC
* how we came together
* what we plan to do
* our journey to date
NE Anti-Racism Coaltion - Why we came together Systemic inequities persist in our society e.g. health, education, criminal justice and lead to lack of safety, poor mental and physical well-being for people of colour. • These inequities sometimes difficult to see/believe if we do not experience them ourselves. • Challenging the status quo with regard to racism not new. However, the stop/start approach means that the battle for inclusion has never been won. • The racist and Islamophobic riots of the summer powerful reminder of how much more work there is to do. • We are united in not wanting to witness further riots or other manifestations of hate across our region. • Taking action NOW to create lasting impact will lead to a fairer and more inclusive world for us and future generations. • We recognise that this work should fall to us all and not just left to other people. • Our work speaks to several UN sustainable development goals including Goal 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal 10 - Reducing Inequalities and Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. NE Anti-Racism Coaltion - What we plan to do For the next 12 months we will 1) Explain what anti-racism means for us in the North East, why is it helps our region to thrive, and the steps we can take to become more anti-racist. As part of this we will explain the practical effects that racism has on everyone. We are committed to using data, research and drawing on lived experience. 2) Support organisations (starting with leaders) across all sectors to become more anti-racist. We want them to progress from a pledge to effective steps. 3) Advocate for local community cohesion work that addresses racism. We won't seek resources to deliver work ourselves at a local level. There are plenty of organisations well placed to do this and resources should flow to them. 4) Communicate to create a movement and a hub of learning, discussion, and expertise. Resources We are run by volunteers who are committed to continued involvement. But there is substantial work required on our four priorities, and we need to be able to draft people in to carry out pieces of work. NE Anti-Racism Coalition - Our journey to date > On 5 September in Newcastle, around 35 individuals and organisations came together for an initial conversation about what we can do to help avoid future racist and Islamophobic riots, or indeed other manifestations of hate. • 40 of us attended our second conversation on 22 October in Darlington. We agreed to meet every other month as a 'coalition of the willing' to further develop our initial thinking. • Our number doubled for our third conversation in Middlesbrough on 4 December where we discussed the psychology of difference and the history and manifestations of racism. • Thanks to Lloyds Bank Foundation, Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and Point North for supporting our work to date. So far, we have: • Attracted over 350 members to our movement. • Agreed our collective ambition to work towards an anti-racist North East. • Started to scope out our priorities via 4 (initially 7) working groups. More on this in a few minutes. • Met with a significant number of stakeholders - much more to do! • Put in place a planning group of 12 volunteers. > Started conversations with funders and successfully attracted £20k from Millfield House Foundation!!.
February 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
stephiec.bsky.social
There were some smaller charities - see screenshot

18<£1m
26 £1-5m
34 >£5m

The 2023 data - see screen shot for my sizes of charities slide - tells only 7.5% of charities have income over £500k.

Note, calling @tomcw.xyz: had to give name, job title, organisation name, email address to get it
January 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
It would have better to share a screenshot rather than a link that doesn’t display a preview
Screenshot of a dachshund stuck in the leg of a pair of jeans on a tiled bathroom floor. The caption on the screenshot reads: Heard crying from the bathroom and found Bill like this. I thought it’d make Ian smile.
January 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
When we read it in my book group the first time - maybe 12 years ago - we were all very sad. I went through a phase of sending it to Labour politicians, like a knob. We’ve decided to read it again - the all new edition! - because we’re masochists. (Picture of current and last book group books)
Image of two non fiction books side by side - on the left Don’t think of an elephant: know your values and frame the debate by George Lakoff and on the right Act now: a vision for a better future and a new social contract by Common Sense Policy Group inc Kate Pickett, Richard Wilkinson and Danny Dorling
January 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
stephiec.bsky.social
Civic Square 2024: Thank you 2024 Let’s build 2025

@civicsquare.bsky.social always inspiring

youtu.be/cgB3pkiDFC4?...
Green handwriting-style text on off-white background reads: “The revolution will not be perfect, what is to be done has not been done before; and we will not be judged by our imperfection.” Earth Liberation Studio Off-white handwriting text in dark green background reads: “Thank you 2024 Let’s build 2025” plus Civic Square logo and “10 years of Impact Hub Birmingham • Civic Square” “Here’s to the next decade of building together”
December 30, 2024 at 12:07 PM