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Mark Shucksmith

@markshucksmith.bsky.social
205 followers 119 following 16 posts

Emeritus Professor, Newcastle University. Rural sociologist. New books: Rural Poverty Today (2023); Rethinking Rural Studies (2024).

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Reposted by Mark Shucksmith
Jayne Glass @jayneglass.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
New post with @markshucksmith.bsky.social on the Geography Directions blog about our recent work on mission-led governance: doi.org/10.55203/AFL... #rural #missions #governance #policy #spatialjustice
doi.org
Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance
By Jayne Glass, Uppsala University, and Mark Shucksmith, Newcastle University Mission-led governance has gained prominence as a paradigm for addressing complex, cross-cutting societal challenges, f…
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Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) @rgs.org · 01/12/2025
Why might integrating mission-led governance with well-being frameworks be an effective way to meet the needs of rural communities? Jayne Glass and Mark Shucksmith discuss this a new Geography Directions blog post 📃 Check it out 👇 blog.geographydirections.com/?p=219…
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The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
New blog post from two of our recent authors @jayneglass.bsky.social & @markshucksmith.bsky.social - read their commentary 'Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance' here ⬇️ doi.org/10.1111/geoj...
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Michael Russell @feorlean.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
www.thenational.scot/news/2559996...
thenational.scot
MSPs back Land Reform Bill after debating more than 350 amendments
MSPs have backed a bill that is described as being the “most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution”
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Nancy Hey @worklifeyou.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
The opposite of the IMD - collective Wellbeing scores by region from the @carnegieuk.bsky.social Life in the UK report.
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Scottish Land Commission @scottishlandcom.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Last night’s ScotLand Futures event in Aberdeen marked the end of our series of public meetings. Across Scotland we’ve heard strong themes including last night where community empowerment, land for housing, and frustration with planning were key issues. 👀 ScotLand Futures findings coming soon.
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
This morning, Adam Milne gave evidence to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill. Read our full response to the committee: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
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Jayne Glass @jayneglass.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
If you are interested in rural policy or mission-led government, our new Commentary is out in The Geographical Journal 👇 with @markshucksmith.bsky.social
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Great to be at @ipprscotland.bsky.social's conference today, discussing the big choices & challenges shaping Scotland’s future. @sarahdavidson.bsky.social joined the opening panel to share insights from our latest #LifeInTheUK research & our recent work on Budgeting for Wellbeing.
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Mark Shucksmith @markshucksmith.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Our new paper, Reimagining rural policy through mission‐led governance, in The Geographical Journal, has been published today. @DrJayneGlass @markshucksmith.bsky.social Here is the link: doi.org/10.1111/geoj...
doi.org
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Reposted by Mark Shucksmith
The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
New in The GJ: 'Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance' by @jayneglass.bsky.social & @markshucksmith.bsky.social This commentary argues that mission-led policies risk perpetuating inequalities, using rural policy as a case in point. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky
Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Jayne Glass & Mark Shucksmith (2025) entitled: 'Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance' with a blue banner at the top.
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Mark Tewdwr-Jones @marktewdwr-jones.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
New guidance issued for researchers engaging with the UK government. The Government Office for Science has updated its guidance on how academics can engage with government, outlining practical routes for impact & influence at every career stage @thebartlettucl.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Routes for academic engagement with Government
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Paul 4Jags @paul4jags.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
"I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit" - John Knox. Now we know why.
A warning sign at a path in Fife, that leads to a feature called John Knox's Pulpit. The sign warns "Please be aware this path leads to a potential rock fall area." You have been warned.
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Read our full index here: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
carnegieuk.org
Life in the UK 2025 - Carnegie UK
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
independent.co.uk
Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year – charity
Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent hardship for millions of people since 2023.
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
📢 New report | Our 2025 #LifeInTheUK research shows that the wellbeing of people across the UK has not improved over the past year. Find out more: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
carnegieuk.org
Life in the UK 2025 - Carnegie UK
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Mark Shucksmith @markshucksmith.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
@carnegieuk.bsky.social has released their 2025 #LifeInTheUK Index. It shows collective wellbeing has not improved over the past year. The Index highlights uneven economic gains, falling trust in local councils and a deeply divided nation. Explore the full report: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
carnegieuk.org
Life in the UK 2025 - Carnegie UK
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Average person´s life saw `no meaningful improvement´ over past year www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/art...
dailymail.co.uk
Average person´s life saw `no meaningful improvement´ over past...
Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent hardship for millions of people since 2023.
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Mark Shucksmith @markshucksmith.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Lovely to hear Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening at Durham Gala last night
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EU Rural Pact @eururalpact.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
What does it take to make rural proofing work? - It’s a complex process that depends on strong infrastructural support systems. - Even without immediate policy changes, it can raise awareness. - Learning from both success & failure is key. More info 👇 #RuralPact #RuralVisionEU
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The Sociological Review Foundation @thesociologicalreview.org · 23/10/2025
🎥 WATCH: Lifestyle, Migration & Community In a recent Conversations event, @profkarenoreilly.bsky.social, @michaelacbenson.bsky.social, Graham Crow and Matthew Hayes take a closer look at the field that Professor O'Reilly’s book The British on the Costa Del Sol helped to launch. buff.ly/zBCtAkQ
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Mark Shucksmith @markshucksmith.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
My case study of England’s rural development infrastructure is published today by Scottish Government, along with case studies from Canada, Finland and Ireland. Read them here bit.ly/4hlnkVn This is part of the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review for Scottish Government.
bit.ly
There will be a range of publications and outcomes from this project.
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Mark Shucksmith @markshucksmith.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
My case study of England’s rural development infrastructure is published today by Scottish Government, along with case studies from Canada, Finland and Ireland. Read them here bit.ly/4hlnkVn This is part of the Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review for Scottish Government.
bit.ly
There will be a range of publications and outcomes from this project.
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SEGS James Hutton @huttonsegs.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
'Rural futures start at the European Rural Parliament, where local insights meet European policymaking'. Glad to contribute with the #GRANULAR Horizon Europe project, exploring how data, dialogue, and local knowledge can shape more inclusive and sustainable rural futures. #ERP2025 #RuralInnovation
A speaker in a yellow t-shirt and a kilt stands on stage, besides a banner of the European Rural Parliament, addressing an engaged audience at an event in Scotland. The audience, seated and facing the speaker, includes a mix of people of various ages and genders, attentively listening to the presentationTwo stacks publications on a table: one of booklets titled ‘RURACTIVE Insights on Women-Led Innovation in Rural Areas’ and another of brochures titled ‘Hutton Highlights, June 2025.A group of ten people standing together indoors for a group photo, smiling in front of two display banners titled ‘Spatial Mapping of Rural Scotland’ and ‘Rural Proofing'
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Discover Cullen @discovercullen.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
It was a priviledge this morning to welcome 35 European Rural Parliament delegates on a community led tourism study visit to Cullen organised by SCOTO. The delegates enjoyed a taster pot of Cullen Skink at The Seafield Arms Hotel and visits to the Discover Cullen Tourist Office Heritage Centre.
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Discover Cullen @discovercullen.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
The European Rural Parliament is a biennial participative democratic assembly bringing 400+ delegates together to strengthen cross border cooperation and to shape emerging practice and policy.
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
How is life in the UK in 2025? Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am, for our Life in the UK 2025 webinar. Hear our key findings from Susan Pinkney with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com. Find out more and book your place: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
Promotional graphic for Carnegie UK's webinar. How is life in the UK in 2025?

Join us on Tuesday 28th October, 10-11am, as we explore the latest findings from our Life in the UK index.

Hear from Susan Pinkney as she shares key findings from this year’s report, with reflections from Grace Blakeley.
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
📊 How are people across the UK really doing? Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am to hear Susan Pinkney present our latest Life in the UK findings with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com. carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
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EU Rural Pact @eururalpact.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Place-based strategies, rural proofing, participatory governance, and capacity building for local actors emerge as central recommendations to strengthen rural society, economy and way of living. Watch the full video from the #RuralPactConference – link in comments! #RuralPact #RuralVisionEU
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EU Rural Pact @eururalpact.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Join us for the Michael Dower Award ceremony on October 22, celebrating the outstanding contributions towards building resilience of rural communities in Europe. Links in the comments! #RuralPact #RuralVisionEU
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EU Rural Pact @eururalpact.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Find out more about the Michael Dower Award: bit.ly/4oue83o Find out more about the European Rural Parliament: bit.ly/4hknFr5
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Experts say the UK’s complex public finance systems need to be simpler and more joined up. Find out more in our new report: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
carnegieuk.org
Expert Roundtables: Insight Summary - Carnegie UK
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Colin Randall @salutsunderland.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Another look at Three Score and Ten, a great song we associate with the Watersons. salutfolk.com/2025/10/03/c...
salutfolk.com
Cover Story: Three Score and Ten by the Watersons or Gordon Bok
Songs of tragedy, death at sea or on land, in mines or wars, play a prominent part in folk music. in 1889 the east coast of England was battered by what has been called a freak storm but is now mor…
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Lewis Wade 🗃️ @wadehistory.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
"Hobbyist" is a truly breathtaking choice of phrase. It encapsulates a profound sense of contempt for the labour of academics in the UK, who already have to navigate an underfunded system dominated by precarity and overwork. "Knows the price of everything but the value of nothing" springs to mind
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
While a thriving economy is important, GDP figures are a poor measure of society's progress. That's why we make the case for new metrics to help decision-makers make better decisions: www.ft.com/content/2bf3...
ft.com
UK economy failed to grow in July
Stagnation underlines challenge facing government in November Budget
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Paul Craig @paulwcraig1.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
@elizacarthy.bsky.social
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Rural Spatial Justice @ruralspatialj.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Where is Reform UK winning? Read our analysis of Reform's local elections vote across rural & urban England - and what it means for the electoral geography of Britain: open.substack.com/pub/ruralspa...
open.substack.com
Where is Reform UK winning?
This is a written version of a presentation to the conference of the PSA Elections, Public Opinion and Parties Specialty Group (EPOP).
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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Gary Lineker on winning the National TV Award, "It's not lost on me why I might have won this award" "Aside from presenting Match of the Day.." "Also, I think it demonstrates that perhaps it's ok sometimes to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice"
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Eliza Carthy @elizacarthy.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Absolutely DELIGHTED to tell you that #thedaddy has been nominated for this year’s MERCURY PRIZE!!!!!! About time, Dad! You total BELTER! 🐟🐟🐟👑👑👑🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻🌟🌟🌟 Congratulations team: Ben Seal, Liz, Chris Salt, Kairen Kemp, Jon Wilks, Tim Youster and Dan Macdonald! #transformmethenintoafish
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Penny Mize @pennymize.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
High Germany–Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick #EarWorm youtu.be/L5qk-TzwHsI?...
youtu.be
Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick-High Gemany
YouTube video by Percivaldurham
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Sam Amidon @samamidon.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Congratulations to Martin Carthy (age 84, legend, influenced Dylan and Paul Simon) on his Mercury Prize nomination for his new album, which is incredible, and to Eliza Carthy who coproduced and plays blazing fiddle on the record transformmethenintoafish.com
transformmethenintoafish.com
Transform Me Then Into a Fish
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Graeme Thomson @graemethomson.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Nice for Martin Carthy to be nominated for the Mercury Prize. (He should win it, obvs). To celebrate, here's my epic @theartsdesk.bsky.social Q&A with the great man, back when he was a mere stripling of 70... theartsdesk.com/new-music/th...
theartsdesk.com
theartsdesk Q&A: Musician Martin Carthy
One of Britain’s most esteemed and influential folk artists, Martin Carthy (b 1941) celebrates his 70th birthday on 21 May. The occasion is being marked by the release of a two-disc career overview, M...
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Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
New blog by Carnegie UK's Adam Milne! Will empowering young people improve Democratic Wellbeing? carnegieuk.org/blog/will-em...
carnegieuk.org
Will empowering young people improve Democratic Wellbeing?  - Carnegie UK
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Stokieboy @stokieboy.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden on tour Nov/Dec 2025 isthispop9.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/t... #musicsky @jonboden.bsky.social @elizacarthy.bsky.social
isthispop9.wordpress.com
The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden on tour Nov/Dec 2025
Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale. In the countryside trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to ho…
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Graeme Beale @midfyffe.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
New Scottish Government Rural Publication, by the wonderful Prof Sharon Stevelink from UCL on understanding #poverty in #rural #scotland. Lots of interesting new data and analysis www.gov.scot/publications...
gov.scot
Understanding the changing nature and context of poverty in Scottish rural and island communities since 2010
Analysis of existing data to compare poverty trends and potential drivers across Scottish rural and island communities from 2010, with policy and research implications.
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Alastair McIntosh @alastairmci.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
What the Scottish Government minister says here about community land (and other asset) trusts using peer-to-peer learning to build confidence & competence is important, and effective now that +500 land trusts control nearly 3% of Scotland. May England achieve likewise. @communitylandsc.bsky.social
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