iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Lovely evening soundtrack tonight: crying children, barking dogs, and fireworks that sound like incoming artillery. Nothing says “celebration” quite like mild panic and earplugs all round.

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

I’ve stopped getting the bus from Waterloo to the City and started walking instead. 40 mins each way. For health reasons. Specifically: a deeply committed relationship with ice cream.

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Free school meals? Served. Nurseries? More. School libraries getting a big refill. 📚 But the therapy lifeline that helps adopted kids un-learn the chaos wired into their brains, still dangles off the funding cliff. Secure the fund so every child can heal and play. #SpendingReview #ASGSF

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

#SpendingReview in two acts: Act 1 🎉: NHS power-up, shiny new buses, social homes unlocked & free school meals Act 2 😬: Disability support quietly thrown in the bin That’s like treating everyone to pizza, then yanking the chairs away. Let’s scrap the cuts so everyone gets a seat at the table.

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

We urgently need a cross-departmental impact assessment on the ASGSF cuts. Once policymakers see how costs shift directly to DWP and NHS CAMHS budgets, the false economy becomes clear. #ASGSF #AdoptionPoverty #JoinedUpThinking

145

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Briezh 🇫🇷🇬🇧🇮🇪🇵🇸🇺🇦🕊️ 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @littlebreizh.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

@lisamainwaring.bsky.social Might you share (again) :) Good trouble for children formally looked after or in kinship families. Sign the petition. Join the March. May 3rd, 2025. asgsfprotest.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

media.tenor.com

a poster that says " get in good trouble " on it

ALT: a poster that says " get in good trouble " on it

033

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

The Belay Foundation @thebelayfoundation.org.uk · 18/03/2025

Please share this onwards, raising awareness of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (#ASGSF) is, and how crucial it is for our children and our whole families it continues - thanks so much to @lisamainwaring.bsky.social for getting this out there! metro.co.uk/2025/03/17/s...

metro.co.uk

I adopted my son at 3 - he couldn't bear to be touched

Adopted children won’t magically stop needing therapy if their support disappears.

044

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

The Belay Foundation @thebelayfoundation.org.uk · 08/01/2025

New 2025 dates for our free #PersonalIndependencePayment #PIP and #DisabilityLivingAllowance #DLA sessions now out! Please see the flyer for details - I'll post links below too :) Please share far and wide so we can reach as many families as possible. (Message us for a PDF of the flyer with links)

One page graphic that shares details of support families can access via The Belay Foundation to support them in applying for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits.

1104

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Mini stampede of deer in #BushyPark this morning, courtesy of one very enthusiastic, yappy dog, legs going like the clappers, owner nowhere to be seen. I can only assume his name was FENTON?! (Because, let’s be honest, history does have a way of repeating itself) #DogonTheLoose

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Anyone else been ghosted by the Three mobile network today? My phone has basically turned into a very expensive clock. I haven’t been able to make or receive calls or texts all day. #threenetworkdown downdetector.co.uk/status/3/

downdetector.co.uk

Three down? Current problems and issues |

Real-time Three problems and issues. Network down or no internet? We'll tell you what is going on.

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Out two nights in a row-still life in the old girl yet! Tonight: a surprise birthday screening of ‘Stop Making Sense’. David Byrne? What a showman. Also, weirdly Cillian Murphy vibes in a few shots. Same hair, same intensity!

020

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

This is a thread about unpaid #carers and (I’ll be honest with you - I’m doing this with tears in my eyes) it’s in response to the broader questions that potential entrants to my #curae literary prize for writer-carers have dmd me with. I couldn’t walk by. Apologies for repetition and please share ❤️

Description of curae project from renard press

12013

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Just took the Christmas tree down & now the room looks massive. Like we’ve gained an extension! Came back late last night from our trip t'up north & today I went full tornado mode: decorations down, tree undressed, house nearly decluttered. Satisfying but sad - goodbye Christmas, hello space!

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Shoutout to McDonald’s for their magical #ReindeerReady app! 🎄🦌 The kids were in awe watching the reindeer eat the carrots they left out. It brought so much Christmas magic into our home. Brilliant use of tech to spark joy and imagination! #ChristmasMagic #FamilyMoments

020

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Christmas isn’t complete without Some Like It Hot. Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, & just enough mischief to keep things merry and bright!

120

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Word of the day (of course) is ‘scurryfunging’, from US dialect: the frantic attempt to tidy the house just before guests arrive.

1073261563

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Holistic Health Visitor @holistichv.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

This is a great infographic and will be helpful for all professionals and families too. It’s useful for all adults to reflect on also. www.theottoolbox.com/emotional-re...

112

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust) @z2ktrust.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Water bills are set to rise by over a third in the next five years, hitting the poorest families relying on inadequate Universal Credit hardest. The government must set out plans for the review of Universal Credit it committed to in its manifesto urgently. www.theguardian.com/money/2024/d...

theguardian.com

Average water bill in England and Wales to rise by 36% over five years

Firms accused of forcing households to pay for years of underinvestment after Ofwat agrees to increases to help fix sector

012

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

The Dominique Pelicot case shows us a hard truth: these weren’t “monsters” - they were ordinary men. Male violence isn’t rare or isolated; it grows from a culture that quietly devalues women. Change starts with how we raise our sons, how we model respect, and what we refuse to tolerate.

000

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Here is a piece I wrote recently www.thebookseller.com/comment/quer... & @the-bookseller.bsky.social kindly made it open access. I’m currently writing some short guides for mentors working on creative writing courses on #SEN & I’d like your help and would like to explain why that is. Read on!

thebookseller.com

Querying must be inclusive too

How can agents and publishers make the querying process easier for writers with a disability?

164

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Daniel Rolph Author @danielrolphauthor.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

True luxury is found in the simplest moments.

424195724270

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

School email: Send baby photos to show how your child has grown! Ah, yes - the classic ‘baby photos’ request. Unfortunately, our adopted son’s origin story starts a wee later. Might just send a photo of him holding a sign that says: “I arrived fully assembled.” #NotAllBeginningsComeInBabyPics

030

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Why is it always mums who get the school calls when things go sideways? Tried to enjoy a rare office social today - two calls! Meanwhile, my husband’s at home, and I’m acting as his secretary. Does he have an invisibility cloak, or just a really impressive "Do Not Disturb" sign?

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

After a 25-week wait (who’s counting?), we finally got my eldest's DLA! No letter, no email – just a hefty deposit into my bank. For a moment, I thought I'd hit the jackpot. A quick call to the DWP revealed it was a back payment. A small win, but oh-so-satisfying!

250

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Disney+ just told me my subscription’s going up to £129.90 in 2025. It was £79.90 in 2023 - a 62.5% increase. I wish my salary would rise that fast, but it’s more like Sleeping Beauty… no prince in sight. At this rate, I’ll be wishing on a star - or for a fairy godmother to pay my bills. #Disney+

000

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

The Belay Foundation @thebelayfoundation.org.uk · 11/12/2024

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed so thoughtfully to the research behind this piece - and to @lisamainwaring.bsky.social for her excellent write up.

051

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Helen @helenmew.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Recommended to anyone for anyone (except those who don’t want to see the world through the eyes of others who may share complex and difficult stories).

Photo of a book - title “Free Loaves on Fridays” - subtitle “The Care System as told by people who actually get it”
Cover pic has a silhouette person sitting on a bench watching birds fly; and one bird watching from the side.

043

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

In Adoption Today, I talk about adoption poverty & the ripple effects of early trauma. It’s a deep dive into why we’re exhausted, broke & fighting endless paperwork. Teamed up with @newcastleuni.bsky.social @thebelayfoundation.bsky.social @sarahfry.bsky.social. Please share to help others #Adoption

293

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Supposed to be at a Xmas gathering but illness is throwing an exclusive party at chez Mainwaring. The youngest’s tonsils are inflamed with festive rage & I’m cultivating a chest infection in full decor mode. Raising tissues & paracetamol instead of fizz. There in spirit!

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

What a cracking idea- cosy crime for kids is perfect for Xmas!

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

My son’s school nativity is about to kick off! He’s not only mastered his lines but everyone else’s too. I’m half expecting him to moonlight as the director, whispering prompts from the wings!

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Scotland scraps two-child benefit cap. NEF research shows abolishing this UK-wide could lift 1 in 7 children out of poverty by parliament's end. It's not just moral - it's economic sense. Long-term savings of up to £39bn outweigh £2.5bn initial cost. Time for Labour to act. #EndTwoChildLimit

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I had my 5 year old’s parents' evening. The teacher? Couldn’t stop saying how *lovely* he is. Lovely this, delightful that, lovely, lovely, LOVELY. Like, we get it, Miss Smith, you’ve got a crush on my 5-year-old. Are we talking about the same child who *licked* the remote last night to “clean it”?

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I agree - it’s made me a warrior too, but one that cries most days under the huge burden of trying to hold down a job while caring for my adopted SEND kids with developmental trauma. Will the government’s ‘Back to Work Plan’ finally support mums like us? Real change is overdue #SEND #Adoption

032

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

BookwormVaught - Dr Anna Vaught @bookwormvaught.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

If I may? This is gold dust. Have a look #writingcommunity

3166

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Matthew Todd @matthewtodd.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

This is not Valencia, this is the town Tenbury Wells UK. There are very real consequences for all of us of ignoring 40 years of warnings from NASA & the world’s leading scientists. Reminder: as the planet heats, the atmosphere holds more moisture meaning rainfall intensity increases. #climatechange

381212567

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

Matthew Todd @matthewtodd.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

This is the Met office graph for rainfall in the UK over the last 185 ish years. You can clearly see it is going up. Climate change is real & caused by humans as every university on Earth says. Ignore Russian bots & brainwashed morons who try to convince you otherwise #StormBert

413739

Reposted by Lisa Mainwaring

minor literature[s] @minorliteratures.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

we also soon be opening for fiction and non-fiction submissions ... details and guidelines can be found here: oleada.io/publication/...

oleada.io

Oleada - A Submission Platform

A submission platform for small presses and magazines.

1148

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

FREE Trampoline COLLECTION ONLY PLEASE!

051

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Mixed feelings about #COP29Azerbaijan. $300bn/yr promised for developing countries to fight #climatechange – sounds big, but it's nowhere near enough. They asked for $1.3tn. Low-income nations are hit hardest by a crisis they didn’t cause. This must be a start, not the end. #ClimateFinance

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A local Facebook group, posted a vintage gem asking, "Who’s the lass in the photo?" Spoiler alert: It’s me. But here’s the kicker: I don’t remember anybody in the photo (apparently they were classmates). I can’t be the only person who doesn’t remember a soul from their school days? Help me out here!

010

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Isn’t it hilarious how a song can launch you back in time? Watching BBC Four’s ToTPs & feeling like it’s 1992! I left my cosy village for uni - zillions of miles away. Can’t remember yesterday but I can clearly recall jamming to The Smiths while bashing out an essay! 🎶😂 m.youtube.com/watch?v=_2s9...

m.youtube.com

The Smiths - This Charming Man (Live on Top of The Pops '83)

YouTube video by The Smiths

000

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

At bedtime tonight. 5-year-old: Mummy, school gived me snaffle tickets! Me: Oh, you mean the Christmas raffle tickets! I’m don’t have any cash, but I’ll sort tomorrow. 5-year-old: It’s okay, Mummy my piggy has of shiny coins! #HeartMelts

030

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

John Prescott was a colorful & unforgettable politician, a larger-than-life figure who brought charm to the political stage. Many politicians fade away but Prescott’s presence was refreshing. His legacy will bring warm chuckles for years to come. www.ft.com/content/0dc2...

ft.com

Former UK deputy prime minister John Prescott dies at 86

Politician was central to Tony Blair’s New Labour project

040

Lisa Mainwaring @lisamainwaring.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Big day at the DWP yesterday! Met with Ministers Stephen Timms & Andrew Western to chat all things PIP/ UC reform. Vibe: Positive & productive. The tea? Biscuits were missing, but conversation more than made up for it. Change is brewing! ☕ #PIPReform #CoProduction #DisabilityRights #antipoverty

130