Alison Stenning
@alisonstenning.bsky.social
Geographer - Professor - Mum - Playing - #playstreets - Cycling - #kidicalmass - #WarOnCars - Walking - Noticing - Green - North Tyneside - North Shields - UK
Pinned
Hello 👋 I’m here for the chat about (geographies of) (urban) play and everyday mobility, esp children’s, along with neighbourhoods and community; bits on austerity, class & social change; climate & environment; but also the north-east of England (esp Tyneside); and some higher education too.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Ahh best cycling weather this winter so far 🥰☃️🥰
November 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Ahh best cycling weather this winter so far 🥰☃️🥰
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Reeves to plough millions into playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
A Treasury source told The Mirror: 'This funding will breathe new life into play areas across England, creating safe, exciting spaces for thousands of children'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Welcome, but will be very curious to see the details (type of playground, geography, etc.)
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves to plough millions into children's playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
Reposted by Alison Stenning
The latest National Travel Survey clearly questions that old myth about "Active travel is just for the middle classes, what about working people who have to drive?"
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
The latest National Travel Survey clearly questions that old myth about "Active travel is just for the middle classes, what about working people who have to drive?"
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Upcoming Event: Social and Cultural Geography beyond the Academy – Opportunities in Policy and Practice
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Upcoming Event: Social and Cultural Geography beyond the Academy – Opportunities in Policy and Practice
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Friday 28 November, 11.00-12.30, ONLINE (UK)
This event joins academic and non-academic geographers to discuss their transition from the academy into the world beyond
Further info: scgrg.co.uk
Had the pleasure this afternoon of listening to an orchestra of 216 Tyneside 10-18 year olds performing two pieces from Bizet’s Carmen, having only rehearsed together for a day, with my daughter somewhere in there on trumpet.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
November 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Had the pleasure this afternoon of listening to an orchestra of 216 Tyneside 10-18 year olds performing two pieces from Bizet’s Carmen, having only rehearsed together for a day, with my daughter somewhere in there on trumpet.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Youth music is amazing and should be supported everywhere.
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 AM
An ITV video here about Mary Ann Macham, and her history in North Shields -
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
www.itv.com/watch/news/s...
More 67 on our workshop Padlet today. I could probably write a paper on why 67 is the answer to this question.
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
More 67 on our workshop Padlet today. I could probably write a paper on why 67 is the answer to this question.
The Covid Inquiry report underlines how lockdown “brought ordinary childhood to a halt”, diminishing - with real implications - children’s opportunities to play, see friends, and socialise.
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The Covid Inquiry report underlines how lockdown “brought ordinary childhood to a halt”, diminishing - with real implications - children’s opportunities to play, see friends, and socialise.
As I slipped and slid along slushy and icy pavements on my way to the metro, it feels like it’s worth resharing the story of how Swedish cities flipped the order of snow clearance as they reflected on how gendered normal practices were:
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
Why Sweden Clears Snow-Covered Walkways Before Roads — Streetsblog USA
It's part of "gender-balanced" policy that reflects the fact that women walk more than men.
usa.streetsblog.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
As I slipped and slid along slushy and icy pavements on my way to the metro, it feels like it’s worth resharing the story of how Swedish cities flipped the order of snow clearance as they reflected on how gendered normal practices were:
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
So much of this could be said more broadly for play for children and young people - the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of our neighbourhood outdoor spaces in the context of the climate crisis is a growing challenge.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
November 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM
So much of this could be said more broadly for play for children and young people - the safety, accessibility and inclusivity of our neighbourhood outdoor spaces in the context of the climate crisis is a growing challenge.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
This statue of escaped slave, Mary Ann Macham, who settled in North Shields and lived here through the 1800s is being unveiled today.
Facebook posts are full of people whingeing she did nothing for North Shields and is not an important part of the town’s history.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Facebook posts are full of people whingeing she did nothing for North Shields and is not an important part of the town’s history.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
North Shields statue to woman who escaped slavery in America
A statue is unveiled to Mary Ann Macham who fled from Virginia to North Shields in the 1830s.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This statue of escaped slave, Mary Ann Macham, who settled in North Shields and lived here through the 1800s is being unveiled today.
Facebook posts are full of people whingeing she did nothing for North Shields and is not an important part of the town’s history.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Facebook posts are full of people whingeing she did nothing for North Shields and is not an important part of the town’s history.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Come and work with us! We're advertising for another researcher at the @justcentre.bsky.social looking at Social and Solidarity Economies. You'll be based out of Liverpool but working across Northern England.
Closing date 13th Dec.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK547/r...
Closing date 13th Dec.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK547/r...
Research Associate/Postdoctoral Research Associate: Social and Solidarity Economics - Grade 7 at University of Liverpool
An academic position as a Research Associate/Postdoctoral Research Associate: Social and Solidarity Economics - Grade 7 is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore ad...
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Come and work with us! We're advertising for another researcher at the @justcentre.bsky.social looking at Social and Solidarity Economies. You'll be based out of Liverpool but working across Northern England.
Closing date 13th Dec.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK547/r...
Closing date 13th Dec.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK547/r...
Reposted by Alison Stenning
This school street woonerf (yes, it's open to cars) in Eindhoven is one of my favorites. The street is on the redeveloped Philips Electronics industrial estate and the city has retained some of the overhead conveyances, which now provide mounting points for play equipment.
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This school street woonerf (yes, it's open to cars) in Eindhoven is one of my favorites. The street is on the redeveloped Philips Electronics industrial estate and the city has retained some of the overhead conveyances, which now provide mounting points for play equipment.
6 o’clock this morning in North Shields -
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 AM
6 o’clock this morning in North Shields -
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Five RLF poets - Anna Woodford, Jo Clement, Christy Ducker, Harry Man & Degna Stone have created poems now on display at Longbenton Metro station.
Poems on the Metro is a collaboration between the RLF and Tyne and Wear Metro and this work will be on view to enjoy until the end of the year.
Poems on the Metro is a collaboration between the RLF and Tyne and Wear Metro and this work will be on view to enjoy until the end of the year.
November 19, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Five RLF poets - Anna Woodford, Jo Clement, Christy Ducker, Harry Man & Degna Stone have created poems now on display at Longbenton Metro station.
Poems on the Metro is a collaboration between the RLF and Tyne and Wear Metro and this work will be on view to enjoy until the end of the year.
Poems on the Metro is a collaboration between the RLF and Tyne and Wear Metro and this work will be on view to enjoy until the end of the year.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
🎁 This holiday season we’re opening the archives. Buy two or more original Side posters and get 25% off your poster order. Choose from over 50 designs from past exhibitions, films and campaigns, each a piece of documentary history.
🔗 shop.amber-online.com/colle...
🔗 shop.amber-online.com/colle...
November 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM
🎁 This holiday season we’re opening the archives. Buy two or more original Side posters and get 25% off your poster order. Choose from over 50 designs from past exhibitions, films and campaigns, each a piece of documentary history.
🔗 shop.amber-online.com/colle...
🔗 shop.amber-online.com/colle...
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Girls in Lenton, Nottingham, UK
1989
📷 Tony Davis
1989
📷 Tony Davis
November 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Girls in Lenton, Nottingham, UK
1989
📷 Tony Davis
1989
📷 Tony Davis
Reposted by Alison Stenning
🚨 STRIKE ACTION ON THE 27 & 28 NOVEMBER 🚨
We’ve now served formal notice of strike action on 27 & 28 November.
Management must withdraw the plan to make 400+ of us redundant or risk escalating and sustained industrial action.
@ucu.org.uk
We’ve now served formal notice of strike action on 27 & 28 November.
Management must withdraw the plan to make 400+ of us redundant or risk escalating and sustained industrial action.
@ucu.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
🚨 STRIKE ACTION ON THE 27 & 28 NOVEMBER 🚨
We’ve now served formal notice of strike action on 27 & 28 November.
Management must withdraw the plan to make 400+ of us redundant or risk escalating and sustained industrial action.
@ucu.org.uk
We’ve now served formal notice of strike action on 27 & 28 November.
Management must withdraw the plan to make 400+ of us redundant or risk escalating and sustained industrial action.
@ucu.org.uk
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Reminder: If it's snowing where you are, post with the hashtag #uksnow, the first-half of your postcode and a snow-rating out of 10 (x/10) and help draw a real-time map of where it's snowing right now on uksnowmap.com ❄️
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reminder: If it's snowing where you are, post with the hashtag #uksnow, the first-half of your postcode and a snow-rating out of 10 (x/10) and help draw a real-time map of where it's snowing right now on uksnowmap.com ❄️
Reposted by Alison Stenning
This story about a Reform councillor in Northumberland has about three different massive stories in it.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
Blyth Reform councillor Barry Elliott's property firms owe customers £140,000
Property companies owned or run by Barry Elliott owe tens of thousands of pounds to customers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This story about a Reform councillor in Northumberland has about three different massive stories in it.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.
He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.
His own council is suing him.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Danish Social democrats suffered a massive defeat in Copenhagen last night. They incurred similar defeats across the country and there will be a general election in the next year. In Copenhagen the far-left Enhedslisten (the unity list) won the most mandates followed by the socialist people's party.
November 19, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Danish Social democrats suffered a massive defeat in Copenhagen last night. They incurred similar defeats across the country and there will be a general election in the next year. In Copenhagen the far-left Enhedslisten (the unity list) won the most mandates followed by the socialist people's party.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
The Danish Social Democrats who have pursued far right policies on immigration and governs with the centre-right are set to lose in Copenhagen for the first time in a 100 years, while the left looks set to win a major victory today.
November 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The Danish Social Democrats who have pursued far right policies on immigration and governs with the centre-right are set to lose in Copenhagen for the first time in a 100 years, while the left looks set to win a major victory today.