My team are a cunning bunch and a few weeks back, with the 31st October coming up, they said to me, “How about you write a blog for Brexit day?” Well, I agreed as I was rushing out the office. But, of course, now there is no Brexit to speak of and we still don’t […]
Pushing parents to the front
On Sky News’ The Pledge on the 31st of May 2019, Rachel Johnson–journalist and sister of Boris Johnson–made the surprising admission that, as a parent, she hopes that the school deals with teaching her children about sex and relationships and the dangers of internet porn, rather than having to have those difficult conversations with her […]
The Treaty of Versailles is 100 years old – so what?
The Treaty formally ending the First World War was signed a hundred years ago, on the 28th June 1919. Most school children in the United Kingdom will learn about this event, yet it wasn’t really a long lasting treaty, as much of what it laid out was overturned within 20 years. So what’s the point? […]
It’s right in front of your nose! Faith-based activity in society
At FaithAction, we have an important role in getting behind what you – our members – are doing out in the streets and byways of our nation. This means we offer support by giving advice, channelling funding when we can, providing training and representing you to the public sector, government and politicians. As we are […]
New Britain – how about it?
One day, the current political impasse will be over and our politicians will start lifting their heads from their tightly-wedged positions gazing firmly into their navels. It is, of course, a little unfair to put all the blame on Westminster: it’s not like Parliament is disunited and the rest of the country is at peace […]
When your project burns you out
Are you tired of doing good things? Does it seem like your efforts are never quite enough? Are you worn out by what’s in front of you? I was talking to a friend of mine, trying to suggest to him some different ways of working, when he reacted with, “If I don’t help those kids, […]
The Brexit stab in the back – lessons from 1919 for 2019
Have you ever tried to explain to someone that they’ve got their facts wrong and have totally misunderstood what is going on? How about if that person felt a little threatened? How about if they were suspicious of your motives and suspected you were undermining them? How did that conversation go? Did you change their […]
We don’t need more police to tackle knife crime – we need more society
It’s great to hear a ‘common sense’ answer: they are easy to understand and they make great sound bites. Political campaigns are built on common sense slogans and administrations are hobbled by trying to make them a reality. As we look at the disturbing rise in knife crime and deaths of young people in our […]
There isn’t a problem between faiths – people who think faith is a problem are the problem!
Sometimes being on the outside of a situation gives us a better perspective; there can be real wisdom in hearing alternative voices and gaining insight. But when an outside philosophy or world-view is imposed by one group on another without any semblance of adaptation or integration, then that external perspective would be better termed ‘prejudice’. […]
Say it while you can! Kindness is a good response to poor mental health
This summer, I was faced with the tragic news that a friend had died, suddenly and unexpectedly. It would be fair to say the cause of death was a combination of depression, isolation, and a crushing of dreams.