iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Am I the last person in the world to discover the pink Pilates playlists? Getting me through making tea for eight (and three generations) after a 5am start, lots of work w/ @changingrealities.bsky.social @cpaguk.bsky.social @safety-nets.bsky.social & my seventh night solo parenting my four!!!

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Starmer is not the only one moving on today. My youngest has his last day in a mainstream school, before moving onto more specialist provision in the autumn. A big, big day for us all as he says so long but not good bye to friends made at Saltaire Primary

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

New seat reservation sign on my commute from @glasgow.ac.uk to Bradford. Don’t we all want (& even need) a bit of care and support, and day in, day out?

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

As a proud Bradfordian (by migration from Scotland) it is just incredibly sad to see the support Reform has been able to secure in this multicultural city. Big questions for the city and even bigger questions for @labouruk.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Early start to give evidence to select committee on child poverty. Prep reminded me anew just how vital it is to scrap the Benefit Cap 300,000 children would be in less deep poverty if the cap were to go (@cpaguk) & DWP figures suggest 60,000 will not fully benefit from 2CL abolition while it stays

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Gorgeous spring morning for my hard to beat commute to @glasgow.ac.uk @uofgussp.bsky.social along the Carlisle Settle line.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

On this blue Monday, it was cheering to meet @samaritans.bsky.social volunteers at various points in the day! So thankful to each of them for the vital work they do, day in & day out. Needed more than ever as our mental health support services continue to crumble.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

But most of all, the biggest and most heartfelt thanks to the day-in-day-out-incredible parents and carers who make up @changingrealities.bsky.social & the facilitation team who support them, which includes @cpaguk.bsky.social and researchers from @glasgow.ac.uk @lshtm.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Thanks to our wider consortium of funders inc @nuffieldfoundation.org @therobertsontrust.bsky.social which enables us to work collaboratively, centring the expertise that comes w/ lived experiences of social security to work for changes to both the substance of policy and to how decisions are made.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Enormous thanks to @trustforlondon.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social @impurbanhealth.bsky.social @jrf-uk.bsky.social @cpaguk.bsky.social for making everyone's attendance at this reception possible, which was a special moment to reflect on a remarkable - if challenging - year

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Yesterday, over 60 of us fr @changingrealities.bsky.social came together in @10dowingstreet.bsky.social for a reception at which the PM & @darrenpjones.bsky.social thanked us for our efforts to push for action on child poverty. Together, we can make change happen. But this is just the beginning.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

And the last but perhaps most significant of cakes. A coffee & walnut in Kelvingrove Park to mark my father’s 80th 🎉

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Second of this week’s cake treats is a cheesecake for my eldest daughter’s 14th birthday! How did that even happen?!

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

And today it’s the turn of my father, Bruce who marks his 80th birthday. No cake yet but here’s a picture of him at around the time of my own birth, 45 years ago.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

This week is one of fiscal announcements, but for my family it’s also one of birthdays and of cakes! First up is my youngest son turning seven today. He has lots of additional needs but he is an amazing boy who makes me proud every day.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Four days to go. Today I’m sharing an @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social which sets out why both the benefit cap and two child limit should be scrapped in full. Nicholas Barr @lsesocialpolicy.bsky.social sets out tje ethcial and economic case for change: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Shamefully, the stress of my everyday has led me back to smoking, a habit I quit almost 20 years ago [stopping tips, welcomed!] I will quit & meantimes, I'll get outside whenever I can & be thankful for all the good that is in my life on this full-super moon-birthday [End of this all-about-me-🧵]

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

And while three of my four children navigate life with less support than they need, I am (of course) so thankful to have their energy, ideas and passions in my life. And would be lost without them [and my long suffering partner]

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

And - while life has its challenges - the fact that I can swim, and swim often, is a constant comfort, & I've had some really special swims in my 40s so far, including this one at Labour Party Conference with the @cpaguk.bsky.social crew & @kittyjstewart.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

I feel incredibly lucky to get to work with inspiring people on both @changingrealities.bsky.social and @safety-nets.bsky.social & to be part of pushing for real and lasting change to make social security in the UK fit for purpose.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Today, I turn 45 & enter the second half of my 40s. It feels scary, but has made me reflect on how fortunate I am in lots of ways. Despite the rain (& there's lots of it), I am chuffed to be working back in Scotland w/ ace colleagues & students @uofgussp.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social 🧵 of 🌈

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

I can’t envisage a child poverty strategy which garners any credibility without fully scrapping the two-child limit. Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social largerfamilies.study/publications...

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Lovely to get a river side coffee in with former York colleagues Kate Pickett and Anthonia James

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

An invigorating start today wirh the @cpaguk.bsky.social swimmers crew at Albert Docks Let’s get the Child Poverty Strategy this country needs, & get rid of sewage from our nation’s waters Both achievable. Both urgently needed. @sascampaigns.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Sun out in Bradford as I commute from one city centre train station to the other on way to Labour Party conference in Liverpool. Get in touch if you’re there & fancy chatting social security, participatory policy making and what ever became of the Northern Powerhouse

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Moody morning for my dawn commute to @uofglasgow.bsky.social through the dales

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Nowhere (and nothing) compares to the inner Hebrides in the sunshine. Not sure I’m ready to face back to school / work / online life. Send survival tips my way.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

LOVE my adopted home city of #Bradford and loved catching a @bradford2025.co.uk train today. Next stop, valley parade for my first time watching Bradford City in League One Up the Bantams @bradfordcity.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Probably getting boring now (not for me) but I’m now on those horrible bendy pendolina trains (bad) but am winding my way through the Lake District (good)

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Only problem is that it’s a little hard to stay focused on work when the views are this good

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Got a carriage to myself for my early morning commute on the Bentham line through the Dales (still looking fine in the rain) to my new work home of Glasgow <love the North / love Scotland>

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Totally empty carriage for my early morning commute up the Bentham line and through the Dales en route to my new work home of Glasgow. <love the north / love Scotland>

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Last paper of the day from Jason Leman @citizennetwork.bsky.social which starts from the principle of the fact we are all equal. Described an ideal of human-scale government @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Jane Prophet and her colleague set out to find out if the presence of public art in areas of Detroit was reducing the incidence of fire arms violence @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Jane Prophet now sharing work from Detroit looking at whether public art has the same impact as mowing vacant lots in helping support a ‘busy streets’ theory @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Now got @sanarahim86.bsky.social talking about minoritised mothers experiences of having children taking into care & issues here linked to care proceeding connected to cultural differences @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Fascinating findings from @sionedps.bsky.social research, cross jurisdictional interactions are more fluid in Wales and more formalised and distanced in Scotland @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

@sionedps.bsky.social asks a key and important question: how / do these values feed into differences in how policy is delivered across different jurisdictions & across a complex devolved landscape #ppp2025 @ppp-journal.bsky.social

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

@sionedps.bsky.social points out how the different devolved governments have very different normative values evident in their narratives about welfare and work @ppp-journal.bsky.social #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Fab to get the chance to hear now from my @safety-nets.bsky.social colleague @sionedps.bsky.social who’s talking about cross-jurisdictional youth employment policy and welfare across Scotland, Wales and England #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

@thomasrochow.bsky.social points to the fact that we don’t have a single social security system in the Uk anymore, which is a key rationale for our @nuffieldfoundation.org @safety-nets.bsky.social project www.safety nets.study

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

@thomasrochow.bsky.social zones in in Scotland where tackling child poverty is a major priority for the Scottish Government. He asks if ambition is not the problem, then why is more progress not being made? #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Afternoon is go and we have my colleague @thomasrochow.bsky.social presenting on a new @therobertsontrust.bsky.social funded project on the state of poverty with @profnicolamcewen.bsky.social and colleagues not on here

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Fab paper from Valeria Guarnervos-Meza that seeks to better situate care work within place. Such important work happening at @yorkstjohn.bsky.social - granular and multi-layered #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Great to hear from Susannah Williams who is looking at why there hasn’t been more progress in addressing exploitation of migrant workers following the Leicester Boohoo scandal in 2020 #ppp2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Now into a session with Evelyn Oginni @salforduni.bsky.social looking at digital skills, gender equality and intersectionality

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

David admits to being controversial in his response where he says there is no value in simply ameliorating poverty for a moment or two, it’s about the government inspiring community groups to try and bring about change for themselves. Reflects here on his own experience growing up in poverty.

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Of interest to colleagues on @safety-nets.bsky.social including @sionedps.bsky.social who’s here today, David points to the tensions and contradictions inherent in this government’s devolution and decentralisation agenda #PPP2025

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

He talks of sure start as one of the things he is proudest of from his time in Government, and reflects on earlier work he did in a book called ‘building from the bottom’, a pamphlet for the @thefabians.bsky.social back in 1983

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Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

David Blunkett feels that communitarianism (drawing specifically on the work of Putnam & Etzioni) can help us find a way forward in what he describes as the crazy current times

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