Reposted by Carl Purcellelia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Friend shared this video of a man unveiling the library he hid when he fled Damascus in 2011. It’s incredible 25150263941
Reposted by Carl PurcellOmar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026The higher education participation rate for UK born Bangladeshi women went from around 2% (not a typo) in 1983 to nearly 67% in 2025 This must be one of the most dramatic, fast social changes in recent British history, and one that is barely noted or understood 14611149
Reposted by Carl PurcellAndrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 19/05/2026I’m amazed anyone needs reminding of this, but local government spending power per person fell by 18% from 2010 to 2024 (would have been 26% but for increases in council tax). At the same time, social care pressures on local govt have grown a lot. The decay of the public realm is NOT a mysteryifs.org.ukHow have English councils’ funding and spending changed? 2010 to 2024 | Institute for Fiscal StudiesIncreases in council funding over the last parliament have not reversed big cuts made during the 2010s, with spending on many services still down 40%. 10473249
Reposted by Carl PurcellHealth and Social Care Workforce Research Unit @hscwru.bsky.social · 17/03/2026NEW: Evaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care for 2024-25 Findings from phase 3 evaluation by Kalpa Kharicha and @carlpurcell.bsky.social www.kcl.ac.uk/news/evaluat...kcl.ac.ukEvaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care for 2024-25 | King's College LondonFindings from phase 3 evaluation by Kalpa Kharicha and Carl Purcell 013
Reposted by Carl PurcellSocial Work History Network @socwkhistory.bsky.social · 02/03/2026This day in social work history ⏳ 1st March 1971: First edition of the British Journal of Social Work (@BJofSW) published. It included a comment on the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, and a book review of “Marriage and Mental Handicap”. Available here: academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...academic.oup.comReviewsPHYLLIDA PARSLOE; Reviews, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 January 1971, Pages 125, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a0 011
Reposted by Carl PurcellJames Ball @jamesrball.com · 27/02/2026The current argument of the British right is that Muslims turned out in "blocs" with "family voting" to cast their ballots for a party led by a gay Jewish man, and this shows that multiculturalism has failed, voting is "sectarian" and we are in a crisis. Hmmmmmm. 762049512
Reposted by Carl PurcellJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 27/02/2026"Ministers need to wake up." Indeed. Some shift away from the exceptional levels of overseas recruitment 21-24 was natural/desirable. But current "strategy" - no new visas and making life as unpleasant as possible for migrants already here - is madness. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...theguardian.comDrop in overseas workers is ‘car crash’ for UK hospitals and care homes, say expertsCare roles hit particularly hard by UK’s lurch to the right on migration, according to analysis of Home Office data 518769
Reposted by Carl PurcellHealth and Social Care Workforce Research Unit @hscwru.bsky.social · 20/02/2026Next week! Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe 24 February 2026 14:00 to 15:15 Online. All welcome With Dr Mary Baginsky, Dr Carl Purcell and Dr Nicole Steils (King's College London) www.kcl.ac.uk/events/multi...kcl.ac.ukMulti-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe | King's College LondonDr Mary Baginsky, Dr Carl Purcell and Dr Nicole Steils (King's College London) 111
Reposted by Carl PurcellRichard Servian @serwianski.bsky.social · 12/01/2026Sir Bill Utting sort of ennobled in Social Worker terms, here with the equally indomitable David Jones www.socialworktoday.co.uk/News/sir-wil...socialworktoday.co.ukSir William Utting becomes first patron of Social Work History Network | Social Work TodayThe Social Work History Network (SWHN) has announced that Sir William Utting CB has agreed to become its first patron, recognising a lifetime of leadership and public service rooted in social work val... 011
Reposted by Carl PurcellLaura McInerney @missmc.bsky.social · 07/12/2025My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’ 244139974295
Reposted by Carl PurcellDorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 28/11/2025As Jesus said: “You’re on your own mate, not my problem” 3938669
Reposted by Carl PurcellSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 27/11/2025It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit. 651370297
Reposted by Carl PurcellSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty. 361286267
Reposted by Carl PurcellRob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Yes, playgrounds are good. But "up to 200 playgrounds" across a country of 60 million? That's a grain of salt in the Pacific Ocean. And presumably there will be some joyous 200 page application for every council who want to compete in the Playground Hunger Games to fill in... 8928
Reposted by Carl PurcellCarl Purcell @carlpurcell.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Our contribution to ongoing debates on the reform of children's social care @hscwru.bsky.social No quick fixes: Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe url: academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...academic.oup.comNo quick fixes: Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safeThe failure of public agencies such as children’s social care, health and the police to share information about children and families has been repeatedly i 023
Carl Purcell @carlpurcell.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Our contribution to ongoing debates on the reform of children's social care @hscwru.bsky.social No quick fixes: Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe url: academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...academic.oup.comNo quick fixes: Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safeThe failure of public agencies such as children’s social care, health and the police to share information about children and families has been repeatedly i 023
Reposted by Carl PurcellJohn Simpson @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social · 11/11/2025Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there. 24643621277
Reposted by Carl PurcellJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 07/11/2025"Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency." New analysis by @lgilbert.co ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat... 20660314
Reposted by Carl PurcellJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 06/11/2025"There is simply no sign of a fiscal catastrophe from the 'Boriswave'. Recent migrants are very likely to be employed, paying tax and seem to be contributing to British society..it will help, rather than hurt, Britain’s fiscal position." Analysis by @lgilbert.co ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...ukandeu.ac.ukLower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing EuropeLauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p... 219087
Reposted by Carl PurcellTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 26/10/2025Nothing on the BBC Radio news this morning. Nothing I could find on their website. This is an MP from the party whose lead in the opinion polls normally ensures them wall-to-wall coverage. She spouts racist nonsense for which even she feels obliged to apologise. What on earth are they playing at?lbc.co.ukReform’s Sarah Pochin forced to apologise after claiming adverts 'full of black people' drive her 'mad’ | LBCThe Runcorn and Helsby MP was responding to a viewer live on air who complained about the demographics of advertising. 1372024802
Reposted by Carl PurcellDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 22/10/2025Let's not humour those advocating deportation of UK residents with reasons why their plans would not work. Keep it simple, this is not the action of a civilised country. If needed, this will mean complete chaos and destruction of international reputation. 22543166
Reposted by Carl PurcellAnand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 20/10/2025I wrote something for Time Magazine (that sounds so cool) on why the Government needs to get out of its defensive crouch quickly time.com/7326397/uk-s...time.comBritain's Keir Starmer Is Running Out of TimeThe Labour government must start being bold and delivering quickly or it will keep haemorrhaging support, writes Anand Menon. 115913
Reposted by Carl PurcellTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 17/10/2025Am sending this to Mrs Tim, who (possibly because she's the most voracious reader of fiction I've ever met) would, I know, revert back to "chaotic evil" in a heartbeat were I ever to relax my eternal vigilance. 5273
Reposted by Carl PurcellTom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 15/10/2025In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67... 7303216
Reposted by Carl PurcellSunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 07/10/2025The Bishop of Birmingham has written to the Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick about his comments about Handsworth 461410529
Reposted by Carl PurcellOmar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 07/10/2025I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them 351888647
Reposted by Carl PurcellSocial Work History Network @socwkhistory.bsky.social · 30/09/2025This day in social work history ⏳ 30th September 2013: Olive Stevenson, social worker and academic, died. Stevenson was part of Maria Colwell inquiry, and was a founding editor of @BJofSW. See @CommunityCare recent tribute: www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/08/07/a...communitycare.co.uk'A true doyen of social work': the life and influence of Olive Stevenson - Community CareProfessors David Howe, June Thoburn and Ray Jones reflect on Olive Stevenson's influence on the social work sector and their careers. 021
Reposted by Carl PurcellStephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 15/09/2025My column in tomorrow's paper:ft.comStarmer and Badenoch are handling the far-right march all wrongA look back to the days of Enoch Powell suggests a better model 2230178
Reposted by Carl PurcellAlex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 12/09/2025I need you to understand what this country feels like right now for those of us who look different. I'm sitting here, trying to plan for Saturday, make sure I don't even need to go to the corner shop for milk, like it's Christmas Day or lockdown. Why? Because I live near where Yaxley-Lennon will 1/ 1672165858
Reposted by Carl PurcellAnand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 01/09/2025The Government is doing its best at the moment to imply it has no problem with the ethnonationalism now rearing its ugly head. And I don't understand why. 1/5 63910259
Reposted by Carl PurcellNational Children's Bureau @ncb.org.uk · 27/08/2025We've been made aware that some people taking part in racist protests targeting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants also claim to be working with us: this is false and we are appalled at the use of our name to promote something so completely at odds with our values. Our statement: buff.ly/coxyenv 063
Reposted by Carl PurcellCraig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 27/08/2025I’ve said it before but reading all the medieval history books I’ve been reading lately has been so comforting. Makes you realize that there have always been mad and incompetent kings and they almost always die in ignominy and everyone piles shit on them for centuries after they’re gone. 489101881629
Reposted by Carl PurcellJames Ball @jamesrball.com · 26/08/2025It’s incredibly notable today that Labour doesn’t want to say anything against the *aim* of Farage’s policies. But: where has the government been all summer? Was there even an *attempt* to push any other political stories? Farage and the online right had a totally clear stage for immigration. 615446
Reposted by Carl PurcellJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26/08/2025Very important work by @lgilbert.co comprehensively dissecting and demolishing the myth spread by politicians and "thinktanks" that recent migrants are likely to be a drain on public finances. www.laurenpolicy.com/p/are-recent...laurenpolicy.comAre recent immigrants a "ticking time bomb" for British public finances?At a few recent policy events, I keep hearing that dependents on visas are a Problem. 717292
Reposted by Carl PurcellAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 26/08/2025Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same? 48584403280
Reposted by Carl PurcellAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 19/06/2025There may come a day when the BBC puts on air one of the other 29,999 headteachers currently estimated to be working in UK schools, but that day is not today 2883196767
Reposted by Carl PurcellBeth Humphreys 🌺 @producrgrl.bsky.social · 18/06/2025#handsoff #nokings Share 0138
Carl Purcell @carlpurcell.bsky.social · 22/05/2025Our reflections on several decades of regulatory reform that have aimed to address failings in the provision of care for children and young people and develop the children's residential care workforce @hscwru.bsky.social www.celcis.org/application/...celcis.org 033
Reposted by Carl PurcellSocial Work History Network @socwkhistory.bsky.social · 15/04/2025This day in social work history ⏳ 15th April 1912 - Campaigner Barbara Robb born in Yorkshire. Robb campaigned for rights of older people, was a founder of AGEIS, and editor of Sans Everything: A Case to Answer (1967), that included chapters and input from social workers. 031
Reposted by Carl PurcellParody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 13/04/2025Nigel Farage thinks it's OK for him to earn £571,585 in six months from 'second jobs', but tells Laura Kuenssberg that public sector staff should not be allowed to work from home. #BBCLauraK 391325334
Reposted by Carl Purcelljamelle @jamellebouie.net · 08/04/2025if you want to bring back the prosperity* and security of mid-century american life then you need high rates of unionization, a generous social insurance state, and widespread, freely available education. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...msnbc.comOpinion | The manufactured nostalgia of Trump’s tariffsThose who credit manufacturing jobs for a glorious past America mistake correlation for causation. 19588622012
Reposted by Carl PurcellJo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 07/04/2025There are those proposing conspiracy. There are those proposing cock-up. Always looking for middle-ground I propose cocked-up conspiracy. 4485
Reposted by Carl PurcellSteven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 04/04/2025A period of silence on his part would be much appreciated. His nice guy from planet fuck act long ago became tiresome. 081
Reposted by Carl PurcellVery British Problems @soverybritish.bsky.social · 31/03/2025It’s that time of year where every jacket you choose is wrong. 10625101
Reposted by Carl PurcellVery British Problems @soverybritish.bsky.social · 29/03/2025Every now and then I remember that, at one point, growing cress was quite a big deal at school. 1542030
Reposted by Carl PurcellAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 26/03/2025Kemi Badenoch accepted a £14,000 week-long "residential" for her family and shadow cabinet, courtesy of the chair of climate change denying lobbying group Net Zero Watch. Weeks later she announced that she has ditched her party's commitment to reaching Net Zero bylinetimes.com/2025/03/18/k... 1051671898