iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Our social fabric is frayed, so who’s fixing it?

Some weekend reading for you: Meet the Menders: Our social fabric is frayed, so who’s fixing it? Summary by @jamestplunkett.bsky.social endstate.substack.com/p/meet-the-m... Full @kinship.works report supported by @jrf-uk.bsky.social menders.kinship.works

endstate.substack.com

Meet the menders

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I have never stayed at this Airbnb. I have never visited this Airbnb. I know exactly which Airbnb James is talking about

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Now includes me chairing an @noc.ac.uk event, 'From Research to Global Influence: Science as a Diplomatic Asset', with: - Prof Penny Holliday (NOC) - Emily Thornberry MP - Rod Downie (WWF-UK) - Hon. Cheryl Roberts (Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly) Mon 28 Sep, 1030-1130, Albert Suite 3, Hilton

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Party conferences 2026: data, digital, AI, tech and public sector reform events

A reminder ahead of Labour Conference that @sotf.org.uk has pulled together as many data, digital, AI, public sector reform etc events as we can find Please add any we've missed! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Gavin Freeguard

State of the Future @sotf.org.uk · 24/09/2026

We're delighted to announce that DATA BITES IS BACK! We're thrilled to be working with @thinkdigitalptns.bsky.social on three events to the end of the year (NEW START TIME OF 5.30PM): - Weds 21 October thinkdigitalpartner.zohobackstage.eu/DataBitesOct... - Weds 11 November - Weds 2 December

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Think Digital Partners @thinkdigitalptns.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Can't wait! Excited to be working with you too @gavinfreeguard.com

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 24/09/2026

Very excited that #DataBites is back after a short hiatus with @sotf.org.uk & the team @thinkdigitalptns.bsky.social! Some exciting speakers already lined up - but get in touch if you're public sector & would like to speak/know someone who should, or you're private sector & would like to sponsor

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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Exciting things afoot at @sotf.org.uk- check back soon...

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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This is absolutely spot-on. I’m increasingly convinced that our revealed sense of what we expect MPs to do (be good legislators, scrutineers, and deal with ever-increasing amounts of casework and correspondence) is, with current resources, unsustainable.

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Nia Campbell @niacampbell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

A great example of why content or information design matters. Labeling government spending clearly for the public could help reduce FOI requests. Nice to see this raised and discussed sensibly in the Senedd. 🌟 nation.cymru/news/welsh-g...

nation.cymru

Welsh Government to review spending data after minister handed 'impenetrable' spreadsheet

Emily Price The Welsh Government has committed to reviewing how it presents publicly accessible spending data after a minister was handed an “impenetrable” spreadsheet of codes during a committee mee...

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Reposted by Gavin Freeguard

transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Following on from last week's first TGT Cymru, last night we held the first TGT Scotland at the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood, Edinburgh!

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Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Great to hear the PM say “We are going to be much prouder in standing up for our values and the rule of law” re foreign information warfare. I wonder if he or the Home Secretary might consider doing the same when it comes to masked vigilantes shutting down infrastructure and harassing the RNLI

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 23/09/2026

Good to see London Borough of Culture 2027 has started early in Haringey, I guess

A photo of a pocket park in Hornsey. There is a brick pillar with a framed description (see next picture for detail), with a missing fence and grey plastic barrier

Detail of previous photo - the description of the 'artwork', which reads:

MUNICIPAL MINIMALISM

UNTITLED
(Neglected Garden with Broken Fence), 2026

Mixed media: weeds, collapsed fencing, unanswered emails

Artist:
Haringey Council

A bold exploration of the distance between responsibility and action.

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH.
THE COUNCIL HASN'T.

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William Perrin @willperrin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

excellent

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 22/09/2026

Heading to Labour Party conference? Interested in data, digital, tech, AI, public sector reform etc? I've tried pulling together the most relevant events (80 of them!) as a public service from @sotf.org.uk - please add any I've missed! Includes other parties too docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

Party conferences 2026: data, digital, AI, tech and public sector reform events

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Connected by Data @connectedbydata.org · 21/09/2026

Summer’s gone; parliament is back. In this blog for @futuregovforum.bsky.social, @jenitennison.com & @gavinfreeguard.com assert a digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic. 🔗 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/a-digital-...

A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate – and democratic

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 21/09/2026

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Coming up: - Tomorrow, Edinburgh/online: @foundationsofthedigitalstate.com & @annkempster.com @transform.wales luma.com/a9ubumzh - Wed 30 Sept, London/online: Riz Parveen (DWP) on 'People at the heart of [machinery of government] change' & Julia Finch on 'Strategic Risk in an Age of Volatility'

luma.com

TransformGov Talks: September 2026 · Luma

Hosted by Gavin Freeguard, Director, State of the Future. Riz Parveen, Department for Work and Pensions, on People at the heart of change (a machinery of govt…

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 18/09/2026

A huge thank you to our friends & co-organisers @transform.wales; Cath & Damien (Welsh Revenue Authority), Bec & Lee (Shared Resource Service), @daivaughan.uk & @jocarter.bsky.social for great presentations; & everyone who came to @transformgovtalks.bsky.social Cymru last night Diolch yn fawr iawn!

medium.com

TGT Cymru: TransformGov Talks x Transform Wales September 2026

Hi everyone,

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GovCamp Cymru @govcampcymru.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It was great to be able to support this in Cardiff last night! Reminded us of how much great stuff is happening, and the importance of coming together to share and openly share what is working and what is not. It’s made us excited for GovCamp Cymru - only another 51 days!

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Ann Kempster @annkempster.com · 18/09/2026

Great thread on our event last night in Cardiff. Even more gutted I had to watch online and not in person. Next time………

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.com · 18/09/2026

medium.com

TGT Cymru: TransformGov Talks x Transform Wales September 2026

Hi everyone,

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Using AI Responsibly in the Public Sector

Watch back www.youtube.com/live/4HG0LLR... A wide-ranging discussion with great insights from GDS, Defra and SAS (and some excellent audience questions)

youtube.com

YouTube video by Think Digital Partners

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Mark Foden @markfoden.com · 17/09/2026

"Our approach must prioritise experimentation and learning — failing fast and scaling what works through rapid iteration, bold decision making and working in the open" Exactly right @gavinfreeguard.com @jenitennison.com

A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate – and democratic

The Future Governance Forum (FGF) @futuregovforum.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

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Reposted by Gavin Freeguard

Often the thinking around devolution simply assumes that our current data, digital systems and AI will exist and work. But to properly meet the needs of a devolved and democratic state, we must deliberately design these systems. 👏@gavinfreeguard.com @jenitennison.com shorturl.at/iguyG

A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate – and democratic

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There are lots of big (& good!) ideas on 'rewiring the state' - but we can't assume the tech underpinning it will just work & we need to bring the public in A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate - and democratic Delighted to write for @futuregovforum.bsky.social with @jenitennison.com

A digital, devolved state needs to be deliberate – and democratic

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TGT Cymru: TransformGov Talks x Transform Wales · Luma

🚨 TONIGHT 🚨 Join us for Transform Gov Talks Cymru from @transformgovtalks.bsky.social & @transform.wales! We'll hear from: - Welsh Revenue Authority (a user-centred approach to the visitor accommodation register) - Shared Resource Service (giving council tax a C21 facelift) - Transform Wales

luma.com

We're delighted to be working with Transform Wales to bring TransformGov Talks to Wales for the first time. Join us for three talks: Catherine Elms and Neil…

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