Time for an eXit?

I’ve had some time off – literally off for the first time in a while. Hence no blog last week – which judging I’m sure everyone was missing.

Have used the time wisely – seen some great gigs and booked plenty more. The football season started full of optimism and by the end of the first game those familiar feelings of frustration re-appeared. Welcome to my life as a Spurs fan. Although I did at least note that the club was judged the ‘best run’ in some analysis or other – particularly around issues of equality. Given all of our minds and screens have been dominated by racist violence recently this offers some glimmer of hope.

I did post last week some imagery from the anti-racist demonstration in Brighton – which both hugely outnumbered the right-wing, was uplifting, well policed and largely celebratory. I know similar events were held around the country. These shows of unity and strength are much more reflective of where ‘most’ people are. Not that you’d know that from Twitter (currently known as X). Time away from work and screens has at least made me think it’s time to deactivate that account. I used to think that it operated a bit like a shit pub – and that you could change it by using it. But now I can’t see that it adds anything positive to civic life and let’s face it the owner is an absolute arse.

I was interested in the coverage of both the riots and the anti-racist opposition – particularly how the news constantly referred to ‘counter-protests’ and that the mass arrests and swift justice lead to a rapid de-escalation. Now I am sure that these things were true but it was also noteworthy that it was invariably police representatives who talked about positive community responses and mass anti-racist opposition helping to calm things down. Words matter.

As ever the instigators of much of the un-rest will escape unpunished. Farridge tends to light fires then go silent when things don’t quite pan out for them in terms of popularity. Yaxley-Lennon is still sunning themselves somewhere abroad avoiding contempt of court charges. Meanwhile many hundreds have been arrested and jailed – at a pace that is quite jaw dropping. Let’s hope the same urgency is shown in processing violence against women and girls in the coming months.

So back to work – we’ve commenced a ‘systems level’ evaluation of the Changing Futures – Sussex programme which has targeted resources at those with multiple compound needs. A programme that 3 years ago we wrote the bid for and at the time described ‘multiple-complex needs’. Time moves quickly and language evolves. Words matter.

Security of funding for drug and alcohol treatment still feels precarious with no announcements yet made for the post-2025 settlement. I just hope that the latest tragic drug death figures in Scotland offer our politicians some insight into why dis-investing in treatment now will literally kill people. All treatment needs investment – not just the headline grabbing stuff.

Should have another couple of exciting developments to announce in the coming weeks.

And I’m sponsoring the newly established Coastal Routes to Recovery LERO’s t-shirts as they prepare to head to Londin a couple of weeks for the annual Recovery Walk.

A couple of organisations have taken me up on my discounted offer of support post-election. And for one at least I’m going to gift my time anyway.

Gigs – usually August is festival season and thingsgo quiet. But seemingly not this year – or not in my calendar anyway. Had a pretty special evening with Dawn Penn the Queen of Reggae in Lewes, saw what was probably double bill of the year with Big Thief supporting PJ Harvey, went all 80’s synth with Martin McAloon and Thomas Dolby last night.

But nothing will compare to later today – as I prepare to drive to Norwich for a The The pre-tour warm up gig. First went deaf in my left ear sometime in the early 90’s at a The The gig (Naked Self tour). Indescribably excited.