Brian Robson
@brianrobson.bsky.social
I want more people to live in a decent, affordable home. Don't you?
Work: Director Housing & Homelessness, @oak-foundation.bsky.social
Dad, bookworm, sedate cyclist | Mackem in North Yorks | Views mine.
Work: Director Housing & Homelessness, @oak-foundation.bsky.social
Dad, bookworm, sedate cyclist | Mackem in North Yorks | Views mine.
Pinned
Brian Robson
@brianrobson.bsky.social
· Nov 18
👋 Hello to new followers. My feed is shaping up into a nice mix of people I knew at the other place and new friends I haven't met yet.
Expect housing, homelessness and the joys of living in Yorkshire. Also interested in politics, philanthropy, and regional development.
Expect housing, homelessness and the joys of living in Yorkshire. Also interested in politics, philanthropy, and regional development.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Don't miss your chance to join our team and work towards ending the housing crisis! Deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday. Find out more and apply: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
November 28, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Don't miss your chance to join our team and work towards ending the housing crisis! Deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday. Find out more and apply: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
This is terrific - by-election politics (the worst form of electoral politics), regional development, big political personalities ⤵️
‘Rather than an important component in a long-term regional plan, it was now clear that the Humber Bridge was the only component in that plan. For much of the 1980s, it was seen by critics as a white elephant.’
Tom White on how the Humber Bridge was built:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Tom White on how the Humber Bridge was built:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Tom White · Short Cuts: A Bridge across the Humber
In 1966, as election day approached, Labour dispatched MPs and ministers to Hull, including Tony Benn, Tony Crosland,...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
This is terrific - by-election politics (the worst form of electoral politics), regional development, big political personalities ⤵️
You just died.
The sixth picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
(who'd have thought a fruity feathered friend could turn homicidal?)
The sixth picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
(who'd have thought a fruity feathered friend could turn homicidal?)
November 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
You just died.
The sixth picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
(who'd have thought a fruity feathered friend could turn homicidal?)
The sixth picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
(who'd have thought a fruity feathered friend could turn homicidal?)
Really interesting day in Belfast at #PRS25 - huge thanks to the @housingrightsni.bsky.social team for putting on such a great programme. Great to see so many @oak-foundation.bsky.social partners there, too!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our #PRS25 Conference! 🎉
We’re grateful to our incredible speakers who travelled near and far to share their expertise, and to each of our workshop facilitators for delivering such engaging, thought-provoking sessions.
We’re grateful to our incredible speakers who travelled near and far to share their expertise, and to each of our workshop facilitators for delivering such engaging, thought-provoking sessions.
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Really interesting day in Belfast at #PRS25 - huge thanks to the @housingrightsni.bsky.social team for putting on such a great programme. Great to see so many @oak-foundation.bsky.social partners there, too!
Reposted by Brian Robson
Responding to today's announcement, Robin White, Head of Campaigns at Shelter Cymru, said:
November 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Responding to today's announcement, Robin White, Head of Campaigns at Shelter Cymru, said:
Reposted by Brian Robson
🚨 BREAKING: Chancellor continues freeze on housing benefit – missing a crucial opportunity to prevent homelessness.
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Chancellor continues freeze on housing benefit – missing a crucial opportunity to prevent homelessness.
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
As rents continue to rise, this will directly lead to homelessness for many of us. #Budget2025
Reposted by Brian Robson
🚨 Join us for a Fair Way Scotland webinar to:
✔ Hear about the new FWS evaluation by @i-sphere.bsky.social
✔ Explore how targeted investment prevents crisis
✔ Connect with funders & policymakers
✔ Learn about the policy roadmap to scale solutions
➡Sign up: us3.campaign-archive.com?u=01130236da...
✔ Hear about the new FWS evaluation by @i-sphere.bsky.social
✔ Explore how targeted investment prevents crisis
✔ Connect with funders & policymakers
✔ Learn about the policy roadmap to scale solutions
➡Sign up: us3.campaign-archive.com?u=01130236da...
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
🚨 Join us for a Fair Way Scotland webinar to:
✔ Hear about the new FWS evaluation by @i-sphere.bsky.social
✔ Explore how targeted investment prevents crisis
✔ Connect with funders & policymakers
✔ Learn about the policy roadmap to scale solutions
➡Sign up: us3.campaign-archive.com?u=01130236da...
✔ Hear about the new FWS evaluation by @i-sphere.bsky.social
✔ Explore how targeted investment prevents crisis
✔ Connect with funders & policymakers
✔ Learn about the policy roadmap to scale solutions
➡Sign up: us3.campaign-archive.com?u=01130236da...
Amazing opportunity for someone here ⤵️
HIRING: We have a great opportunity for someone passionate about solving the housing crisis to join our team and help develop the policies we need to secure affordable, safe homes for everyone!
Find out more and apply by midnight, 30 November: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
Find out more and apply by midnight, 30 November: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Amazing opportunity for someone here ⤵️
This will save me a fair amount of money next year, but not convinced this is best use of limited fiscal headroom.
Train fares frozen: not happened for decades.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
November 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This will save me a fair amount of money next year, but not convinced this is best use of limited fiscal headroom.
Reposted by Brian Robson
A crucial step in ensuring the Ask and Act duty to prevent homelessness (which All in for Change helped shape) works as intended. The pilots will test the duty in real-world settings & explore how services can work together to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier - then act to prevent it.
A series of pilot projects aimed at finding new ways of preventing people from becoming homeless in Scotland have been given the green light.
15 pilot ‘Ask & Act’ homelessness prevention projects revealed
A series of pilot projects aimed at finding new ways of preventing people from becoming homeless in Scotland have been given the green light.
www.scottishhousingnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
A crucial step in ensuring the Ask and Act duty to prevent homelessness (which All in for Change helped shape) works as intended. The pilots will test the duty in real-world settings & explore how services can work together to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier - then act to prevent it.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Proud that our colleague Billy Harding contributed to the latest BBC piece on the housing crisis.
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
BBC reports live from court as more people face losing their homes - special report
Court figures show the number of mortgage repossession orders in England and Wales reached a five-year high in 2024-25.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Proud that our colleague Billy Harding contributed to the latest BBC piece on the housing crisis.
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today, we brought this message to Westminster with other organisations, ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today, we brought this message to Westminster with other organisations, ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today we joined Crisis and a host of other organisations in Westminster.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Today we joined Crisis and a host of other organisations in Westminster.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Our statement on the government's policy announcements on asylum yesterday
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Our statement on the government's policy announcements on asylum yesterday
Interesting news about a potential 'hotel tax' / tourism levy in England. The Edinburgh one mentioned in the Guardian article includes earmarked revenue for investment in affordable housing 🏠🏘️🏡 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reeves could allow holiday tax on English hotel and Airbnb stays
Move to give mayors powers to raise funds through levies, but industry says it will ramp up prices and inflation
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Interesting news about a potential 'hotel tax' / tourism levy in England. The Edinburgh one mentioned in the Guardian article includes earmarked revenue for investment in affordable housing 🏠🏘️🏡 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
'No one gets where they are without the help of others'.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
November 17, 2025 at 11:24 AM
'No one gets where they are without the help of others'.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access healthcare, or lower the cost of groceries, Trump doubled down on backwards polices that will force 170,000 people-who are currently stably housed- back into homelessness.
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Trump's new ideological mandates will force 170,000 people back into homelessness - National Homelessness Law Center
Trump's new ideological mandates will force 170,000 people back into homelessness (WASHINGTON, D.C - November 14th, 2025) Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access…
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access healthcare, or lower the cost of groceries, Trump doubled down on backwards polices that will force 170,000 people-who are currently stably housed- back into homelessness.
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Reposted by Brian Robson
The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on the 1st of May 2026!
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on the 1st of May 2026!
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Reposted by Brian Robson
UPDATE: The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on May 1st 2026. This means Section 21 Evictions will no longer be ISSUED after this date!
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 AM
UPDATE: The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on May 1st 2026. This means Section 21 Evictions will no longer be ISSUED after this date!
Reposted by Brian Robson
And now for the dodgy governance bit. All combined authorities need an equivalent of the London Assembly. There is a huge democratic deficit in the way they are set up.
Presumably where PCC duties will fall to new and existing elected Mayors, as happens now a police and crime oversight committee will be established as part of the combined authority which that Mayor leads. There'll need to be a new legislative framework for this (4/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
And now for the dodgy governance bit. All combined authorities need an equivalent of the London Assembly. There is a huge democratic deficit in the way they are set up.
This is a *lovely* read on the work of the Church Housing Association and Church Development Agency to create housing opportunity in England's West Midlands.
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Inside Housing tours the sites where the new Church Housing Association wants to build
The Church of England’s decision to launch a housing association was a “bombshell” four years ago. Now, it’s preparing to welcome its first tenants. Jess McCabe joins a tour of the potential sites.
www.insidehousing.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This is a *lovely* read on the work of the Church Housing Association and Church Development Agency to create housing opportunity in England's West Midlands.
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Scenes from a housing crisis. Mostly empty surface car park, couple of hundred metres from a Zone 2 station. Two Foxtons minis parked up.
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Scenes from a housing crisis. Mostly empty surface car park, couple of hundred metres from a Zone 2 station. Two Foxtons minis parked up.
Strong case for the Nordic welfare model from former Finnish PM Sanna Marin at #LSEEvents tonight, drawing on her own lived experience. Clear eyed about defence, perhaps vaguer about where the trade offs might lie (but to be fair, not her job anymore!)
November 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Strong case for the Nordic welfare model from former Finnish PM Sanna Marin at #LSEEvents tonight, drawing on her own lived experience. Clear eyed about defence, perhaps vaguer about where the trade offs might lie (but to be fair, not her job anymore!)