A few weeks ago, I would never have pictured myself in the position I am today (working with MutualGain) and being part of meaningful work. As a young woman growing up in a small town all her life, the opportunity to discover what social capital is and how to build it was completely new and[…]
…… please indulge me briefly while I give a little background before I share my experience of working with the guys at Kempston, Bedfordshire. I retired from policing a few years ago, and I was in a lucky position to pick and choose what I did next. I made a decision that after 30[…]
‘If only society was friendly and non-judgmental then maybe we wouldn’t feel lonely’, commented one participant at a recent workshop discussing the meaning of loneliness for a large NHS foundation trust. As the number one concern for its service users, the organisation has committed to exploring how to respond effectively and creatively. But that comment captures[…]
A few weeks ago Susan and I were fortunate to be invited to the House of Lords for the launch of a new book, Whose Government Is It, edited by Dr Henry Tam. Dr Tam was a senior advisor to the Blair New Labour government and has written extensively on the value[…]
“There is evidence that suggests a strong correlation between low social capital and high levels of crime and disorder. High social capital can ensure the reinforcement of positive standards through the provision of role models, whereas in areas of low social capital young people will often create their own in the form of gangs”. Robert[…]
I am writing this blog for three reasons: The practice of PCSOs is changing and I don’t agree we are going in the right direction @GMHales recently tweeted about the role of PCSOs being about engagement and asked me to blog some initial thoughts I am regularly frustrated by the missed potential of the[…]
In October 2018 MutualGain had the opportunity to meet a range of health and social practitioners from across the country when exhibiting at the King’s Fund conference, Community is the best medicine: making a reality of community-based health. Although there were examples of some fantastic practice it was hard not to be left with the[…]
I’ve been talking all things policing over the last couple of weeks with a broad variety of interested parties – whether it’s at the launch of the new Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, the findings from the Home Affairs Committee, or the Police Foundation Conference exploring innovation in policing. The dialogue I have[…]
Over the past few months I have shared a number of platforms with the College of Policing and the Police Foundation on the subject of Neighbourhood Policing. We agree on so much about the principles that underpin good neighbourhood policing, yet I would argue that ‘good’ cannot be achieved through function and structure alone. Effective,[…]
