Tom Spencer
@tombspencer.bsky.social
Freelance ⚔️ generalist that helps public sector and community organisations deliver great outcomes for the people they serve.
Also chair of governors at Ferry Lane Primary, litter picker, Gooner, Green Party member, parent. #FGSD
Also chair of governors at Ferry Lane Primary, litter picker, Gooner, Green Party member, parent. #FGSD
Reposted by Tom Spencer
"The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams at us the loudest."
-Mon Mothma (Andor)
-Mon Mothma (Andor)
May 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams at us the loudest."
-Mon Mothma (Andor)
-Mon Mothma (Andor)
Reposted by Tom Spencer
Kathryn Schulz is one of my favorite human beings on this planet -- the kind of human being I wish we had many more of -- and her discussion with @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social is predictably lovely. I promise this is worth your time:
Opinion | Our Lives Are an Endless Series of ‘And’
www.nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Kathryn Schulz is one of my favorite human beings on this planet -- the kind of human being I wish we had many more of -- and her discussion with @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social is predictably lovely. I promise this is worth your time:
With the Labour Party seemingly thinking about bringing back Sure Start here's something I wrote a number of years ago about care and maintenance. It includes a section on the benefit of Leeds City Council keeping children's centres open and the impact of this
tombspencer.medium.com/care-and-mai...
tombspencer.medium.com/care-and-mai...
Care and maintenance is your most productive work
When I was starting out in local government, I used to get frustrated with the people that said, “we did that 10 years ago.” Now I think I…
tombspencer.medium.com
May 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
With the Labour Party seemingly thinking about bringing back Sure Start here's something I wrote a number of years ago about care and maintenance. It includes a section on the benefit of Leeds City Council keeping children's centres open and the impact of this
tombspencer.medium.com/care-and-mai...
tombspencer.medium.com/care-and-mai...
Did a two hour stroll from our house and saw 40 bird species. It's a solid but not spectacular list. These blue tits were at Walthamstow Wetlands (north side)
May 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Did a two hour stroll from our house and saw 40 bird species. It's a solid but not spectacular list. These blue tits were at Walthamstow Wetlands (north side)
The view from our garden. You can look up. From this angle you'd never guess we were 5 minutes from Tottenham Hale
May 11, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The view from our garden. You can look up. From this angle you'd never guess we were 5 minutes from Tottenham Hale
Reposted by Tom Spencer
Elbows up, Canada.
March 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Elbows up, Canada.
I went to an online training today for an hour. Someone was on camera and definitely asleep for at least 10 minutes. Not ideal.
March 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I went to an online training today for an hour. Someone was on camera and definitely asleep for at least 10 minutes. Not ideal.
So if the magical "we'll just grow our way to better public services" plan doesn't work, then what happens?
www.theguardian.comso/business/202...
www.theguardian.comso/business/202...
UK economy shrinks unexpectedly in blow to Rachel Reeves
ONS data showing 0.1% fall in GDP in January comes less than two weeks before chancellor’s spring statement
www.theguardian.com
March 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM
So if the magical "we'll just grow our way to better public services" plan doesn't work, then what happens?
www.theguardian.comso/business/202...
www.theguardian.comso/business/202...
It's a short thing I wrote about hope tombspencer.medium.com/its-the-hope...
It’s the hope that keeps us here.
On my journey to our shared workspace Creative Works Space there is a BUILDHOLLYWOOD collaboration with the artist Mark Titchner. It went…
tombspencer.medium.com
February 26, 2025 at 10:52 AM
It's a short thing I wrote about hope tombspencer.medium.com/its-the-hope...
Reposted by Tom Spencer
NEW: I just asked Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett if she had a message to Elon Musk.
What would she say to him? Here was her answer:
“Fuck off.”
What would she say to him? Here was her answer:
“Fuck off.”
February 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
NEW: I just asked Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett if she had a message to Elon Musk.
What would she say to him? Here was her answer:
“Fuck off.”
What would she say to him? Here was her answer:
“Fuck off.”
Reposted by Tom Spencer
It is unbelievably counterproductive to fund increased defence spending by cutting aid to the most fragile countries, or by squeezing stretched departmental budgets. Why does the PM not fund this by increasing taxes on the most wealthy rather than further burdening the poorest?
February 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
It is unbelievably counterproductive to fund increased defence spending by cutting aid to the most fragile countries, or by squeezing stretched departmental budgets. Why does the PM not fund this by increasing taxes on the most wealthy rather than further burdening the poorest?
Cutting the aid budget to buy more weapons. This government is horrible.
Due to a lack of money and limited policy ideas, it always felt like the biggest difference with a Labour government would be a changing the mood music.
That lasted about two weeks and now we're back in austerity misery, just with nicer people in charge.
Am I missing reasons to be optimistic?
That lasted about two weeks and now we're back in austerity misery, just with nicer people in charge.
Am I missing reasons to be optimistic?
February 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Cutting the aid budget to buy more weapons. This government is horrible.
The sun was out so thought I should make the most of it... Oops.
February 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The sun was out so thought I should make the most of it... Oops.
Reposted by Tom Spencer
February 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Tom Spencer
The irony that James Watt (Bredog guy) launched 'Shadow DOGE' today to identify Government savings through excessive FOIing/whistleblowing via 'opinions' on spend and 'save the country' (sigh) made a website that is inaccessible/doesn't fit in a browser isn't lost on me
www.shadowdoge.org
www.shadowdoge.org
Shadow Dodge
We are the unofficial, underground cousin of America’s Department Of Government Efficiency.
www.shadowdoge.org
February 14, 2025 at 5:18 AM
The irony that James Watt (Bredog guy) launched 'Shadow DOGE' today to identify Government savings through excessive FOIing/whistleblowing via 'opinions' on spend and 'save the country' (sigh) made a website that is inaccessible/doesn't fit in a browser isn't lost on me
www.shadowdoge.org
www.shadowdoge.org
That was a fun trip to the @arsenalfc.bsky.social
February 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
That was a fun trip to the @arsenalfc.bsky.social
Grey Saturday morning vibes
February 1, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Grey Saturday morning vibes
Reposted by Tom Spencer
all I know is that had President Biden forced out the FAA chief under pressure from his top adviser and his corrupt motives, and then the next week there was a plane crash that killed more than 60 people, Republicans would be howling that it was an impeachable offense.
January 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
all I know is that had President Biden forced out the FAA chief under pressure from his top adviser and his corrupt motives, and then the next week there was a plane crash that killed more than 60 people, Republicans would be howling that it was an impeachable offense.
@rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdwatch done. 6 year old helped with the count. We did ok for a garden in Tottenham!
2 great spotted woodpecker, 7 goldfinch, 4 magpie, 3 parakeets, 3 great tits, 2 blue tits, 2 wood pigeon, 2 feral pigeon, 1 dunnock, 1 robin
2 great spotted woodpecker, 7 goldfinch, 4 magpie, 3 parakeets, 3 great tits, 2 blue tits, 2 wood pigeon, 2 feral pigeon, 1 dunnock, 1 robin
January 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
@rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdwatch done. 6 year old helped with the count. We did ok for a garden in Tottenham!
2 great spotted woodpecker, 7 goldfinch, 4 magpie, 3 parakeets, 3 great tits, 2 blue tits, 2 wood pigeon, 2 feral pigeon, 1 dunnock, 1 robin
2 great spotted woodpecker, 7 goldfinch, 4 magpie, 3 parakeets, 3 great tits, 2 blue tits, 2 wood pigeon, 2 feral pigeon, 1 dunnock, 1 robin
Just saw this fella strolling around Camden in a MAGA hat. Had a 🤮 reaction and kinda wanted to say something but I also felt like he'd want me to say something...
January 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Just saw this fella strolling around Camden in a MAGA hat. Had a 🤮 reaction and kinda wanted to say something but I also felt like he'd want me to say something...
Today was a good day. Saw 34 bird species with @kimspencer123.bsky.social and went for a pint with my Dad
January 17, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Today was a good day. Saw 34 bird species with @kimspencer123.bsky.social and went for a pint with my Dad
Reposted by Tom Spencer
@eyalliance.bsky.social Hi! We’re doing a project for Ofsted, helping them redefine ’vulnerability’. We want to hear from professionals across England and the early years focus group is 23 Jan. More info & sign/up is here: www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/new... Please share widely, thanks!
How can Ofsted conceptualise ‘vulnerability’ in its work within the education and social care sectors? New dates added | Research in PracticeFacebook_SimpleTwitter_SimpleLinkedInMailLinkedInShare_Outl...
We want to hear from professionals at all levels to learn how providers are meeting the needs of vulnerable children, learners and young people.
www.researchinpractice.org.uk
January 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
@eyalliance.bsky.social Hi! We’re doing a project for Ofsted, helping them redefine ’vulnerability’. We want to hear from professionals across England and the early years focus group is 23 Jan. More info & sign/up is here: www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/new... Please share widely, thanks!