iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

And surely the central point of public engagement is that it gives people a sense of being involved/valued. Using AI to guess what the public thinks further disenfranchises them from actual decision making.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 14h

(all that said, the programme is quite interesting on Paul's personal experience of drawing on social care following his climbing accident)

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 15h

Also, nowhere in this hour long programme did they consider how these "volunteers" would manage to live? Is there an expectation that parents would support them, or would they get a stipend?

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 15h

If you are offering a financial reward (in this case discounted uni fees) then it is work. You need all the safeguards of being a worker to prevent exploitation/be clear on what qualifies you to receive the reward.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 15h

I'm not saying that there is nothing of value with Paul Sagar's idea about using pre-uni students to plug the care workforce, but please don't call it volunteering.

bbc.co.uk

Radical - Care Crisis: Could Volunteer Teenagers Fix It? (Paul Sagar) - BBC Sounds

An idea to discount tuition fees if students spend a year working in adult social care.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 03/10/2026

Except that this could equally be seen as two hub-and-spoke services operating out of New St.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 03/10/2026

Have reported this to the regulator, OffGrid.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 01/10/2026

Often can't remember what day of the week it is, but when my wife sent me the Express live feed on the police incident at Canary Wharf, I could immediately recall that Apiln had published this story over 12 months ago

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 01/10/2026

This but I'd say Colin From Accounts. Both Australian and named after the central character who is a dog.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 01/10/2026

That can't be safe. It is the marine equivalent of the overloaded car... (Also, how do they them off the boat?)

Car with excessive luggage loaded on the back of it

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 01/10/2026

I'm all for transparency, but a five page letter and 52 page booklet posted to us to tell us the insurer who underwrites the breakdown cover we get as part of our premium bank account seems a little excessive. Nothing changes about the cover, which we don't actually have a need for.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 30/09/2026

Another early start for day two of #NAVSM conference. At least only one conference today, although downside is that people will have to listen to me speak.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 29/09/2026

Somewhat annoyed I had to leave the Neighbourhood session just as they started discussing co-production. Not exactly a great look for someone who works in this space.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 29/09/2026

Like the buses, you wait around for ages and then two turn up simultaneously. In this case, conferences. Both over the next two days at opposite ends of London. So, whistlestop visit to HETT at Excel, before going to the NAVSM event at Chelsea FC. See you there, possibly?

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 28/09/2026

If only there was an Elton John song you could have referenced here!

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 27/09/2026

Don't really know much about Olivia Rodriguez, although I really loved her duets with Robert Smith at Glasto. However, this Song Exploder podcast about her song The Cure is really interesting. The obvious connection between these two facts is unintentional.

play.prx.org

Song Exploder

Olivia Rodrigo is a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter. In June 2026, she released her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. The day it came out, it broke streaming records on Spot...

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 26/09/2026

Genuinely thought they'd just put a bow on an 80s Lego horse when I saw the billboard.

Picture of three Lego horses stood in a row on a white background. First horse is black, second is brown and third is white.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 26/09/2026

Only three people on a double decker rail replacement bus. Got to the station and they had held the connecting train for us. #nirailways

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 26/09/2026

This R4 programme on kinship carers has sat in my downloads for a few months. Finally listened to it last night. Powerful stories about kinship care and how hidden it is in society, despite over 140,000 kids being cared by other family members.

bbc.co.uk

Illuminated - My Sister’s Daughter - BBC Sounds

Love by other means. A kinship care story.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 24/09/2026

I'm sure you've looked at it already, but I've used Clockwise in Belfast previously; they've got locations across the country including Bristol. Don't remember there being any pets...

work-clockwise.com

Private Office Bristol & Meeting Rooms | Clockwise

Beautifully designed coworking spaces, office rentals, and meeting rooms in Bristol’s city centre. Enjoy flexible memberships and inspiring surroundings.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 21/09/2026

Is this the best published apology ever? Or as the kids would say, the GOAT?

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 21/09/2026

Such joy. Headed back to the office as have been evacuated off the trains and platforms. #ukrail #bhm #birmingham #newstreet

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 19/09/2026

* having lifts that actually function is an improvement, but they got rid of the first class lounge and the fish pond still needs to be revived.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 19/09/2026

I mean it's definitely better than it was*, but I think "award winning" probably says more about the low barriers needed to win than it being a destination that you really should visit.

bbc.co.uk

Award-winning Coventry railway station leaves users divided

Coventry station has won a top award, but passengers remain divided on whether it deserves it.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 19/09/2026

The colleague in question, who had had a family bereavement, was grateful for them. But I didn't inquire about their quality.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 19/09/2026

Interflora sending me a survey to rate the quality of their flowers somewhat misses their whole business model, which is that I pay for flowers that are delivered elsewhere!

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 17/09/2026

I know "worth the licence fee alone" is a bit of a cliché, but I think this definitely qualifies. It's utterly nuts. And brilliant. Because why wouldn't you get the band of the Royal Marines to perform Insomnia and other Ibiza classics? Plus some audience members clearly booked the wrong tickets.

youtube.com

Ibiza Prom Classics | Royal Albert Hall | The Bands of HM Royal Marines

YouTube video by The Bands of HM Royal Marines

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 15/09/2026

Enjoyed this great series on the Hitler Diaries Scandal presented by @andrewhunterm.bsky.social and produced by my old colleague Ruth

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 15/09/2026

Good afternoon spent with @clentonf.bsky.social encouraging us all to create good trouble.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 14/09/2026

Except most crossings people think are Pelican crossings these days are PUFFIN ("pedestrian user-friendly intelligent") crossings:

en.wikipedia.org

Puffin crossing - Wikipedia

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 13/09/2026

A pelican crossing is a dedicated pedestrian crossing so the buttons do have a use. If the crossing is part of a traffic junction they often won't affect the sequencing, but people are used to having a button to press. Also they house the tactical cone that helps people with a visual impairment.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 13/09/2026

Can not believe you sheeple actually use pedestrian crossings. They are deliberately designed to kill us.

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Reposted by Olly Benson

Hassinator @hassinator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

a great letter in the times today. perhaps worth sharing in these troubled times. #RNLI #heroes

4059812394

Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/09/2026

Not really into Last Night of the Proms but tune in at the end to check whether they are still using our friend Paul's arrangement of Auld Lang Syne. Glad to report that they are.

Photo of TV showing wide scene of inside Royal Albert Hall with crowd and orchestra. Overlaid text says Auld Lang Syne TRAD arr. PAUL CAMPBELL.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/09/2026

Surely it is Paige Sioux?

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/09/2026

Possibly, although if you dropped your address book in the street the ICO is not going to come after you, so would be difficult how digital would be different.

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/09/2026

(dash cam footage is another example. GDPR does not apply if you are simply capturing it for your own benefit, but if you share it with your insurance company then they would have to consider it under GDPR regulations).

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Olly Benson @ollybenson.uk · 12/09/2026

If they are sharing it wider than the household then yep, GDPR would apply. The exemption has to be genuine.

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