Gary Austin (circleindigo)
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circleindigo.bsky.social
Gary Austin (circleindigo)
@circleindigo.bsky.social
Professional Facilitator.
Engagement Lead - Training at Involve.org.uk
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
The upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon has rekindled a glimmer of hope for many in the small, crisis-battered country. https://to.pbs.org/4rm62Mi
Pope Leo's visit rekindles hope in war-battered Lebanon
The upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon has rekindled a glimmer of hope for many in the small, crisis-battered country.
www.pbs.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
🚨BOOM!! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 50,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Muslims in the UK continue to face hate crimes, fuelled by Islamophobic and anti-migrant rhetoric from far-right politicians and the media.

This Islamophobia Awareness Month, we stand in solidarity with our Muslim friends and neighbours. We must always challenge the normalisation of such hatred.
November 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
And now in Maidstone, a new project launching this week will create a space where residents can come together, share experiences, hear from experts, & develop recommendations that will shape Maidstone's strategy on violence against women and girls.

Keep an eye on our socials for recruitment calls.
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
📝 Our Head of Northern Ireland, @rebekahmccabe.bsky.social also wrote about what it took to design and hold space for these difficult, essential conversations 👇

rebekahmccabe.substack.com/p/owning-the...

🧵👇
Owning the space: on designing public dialogue on Violence Against Women and Girls in Belfast's public spaces
Exploring violence against women and girls through participatory democracy, shared responsibility, and everyday action
rebekahmccabe.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
In Belfast, we've worked with the Centre for Public Health at Queens' University Belfast on preventing VAWG in public spaces.

Find out more about this work here 👇 groundswelluk.org/Newsandevent...

🧵👇
News and events
Insights from public workshops on preventing VAWG in outdoor public spaces in Belfast
groundswelluk.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
For many women and girls, that feeling remains out of reach.

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is everyone's problem. The solutions should be everyone's work. That's why we're pleased to have been working with others to create safer public spaces through community-led dialogue and design.

🧵👇
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
🗓️ Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we're reminded that safety isn't just the absence of harm. It's the quiet confidence of walking home at night, of feeling seen and respected in public spaces, online, and knowing that home is a place of peace.

🧵👇
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
This petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy already has over 30,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 this week.

Please sign and share 🙏

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
To many Lebanese, it feels like divine intervention is the only solution for their country.

@chehayebk.bsky.social and I spoke to port blast survivors and Christians from the war-battered south about their hopes for Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Lebanon

apnews.com/article/leba...
Pope Leo XIV's visit rekindles hope in war- and crisis-battered Lebanon
The upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon has rekindled a glimmer of hope for many in the small, crisis-battered country.
apnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
This petition for a public inquiry into Russian interference is now at 11.2k, and growing fast. We have to break through the establishment's wall of silence about Russian interference in British politics. Please share the petition as widely as possible.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
A compilation of fine facilitation wisdom from the mysterious ShitFacilitatorsSay

www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/hu...

#facilitation #wisdom #ShitFacilitatorsSay #humor
November 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Last chance to register for my ICA:UK ToP #facilitation training next week in Brussels - Group Facilitation Methods, Tue/Wed 2-3 & Participatory Strategic Planning, Thu/Fri 4-5 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/top-group-... #ToPfacilitation
ToP Group Facilitation Methods training - Brussels
ToP Group Facilitation Methods training - Brussels
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Interesting -- exploring the links between deliberation and democratic resilience. Great topic.

www.idea.int/news/interna...
International IDEA champions dialogue and resilience at IPU-UNDP Conference
www.idea.int
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Excited to welcome Olivia Bellas, Sam Moon & Umah Ganeshalingam as the new hosts of the IAF England & Wales Facilitation Stories Podcast!

Huge thanks to Pilar Orti, Helene Jewell & Nikki Wilson for building this amazing series.

Explore past episodes here: facilitationstories.libsyn.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
📅 Last weekend saw the beginning of the NG Citizens: a citizens’ assembly on the future of The National Gallery, followed by a 4-year citizens’ panel to help make that future a reality.

🗣️ Marianna Mooney shares thoughtful reflections in her latest blog, written just before the first session.
“Culture doesn’t belong to institutions. It belongs to all of us.”

For Involve’s Marianna Mooney, this belief started long before she worked in democracy. It began in a small-town gallery — where she saw how art could bring a community together.

🧵 👇
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)

➡️ Read Marianna’s blog to explore why giving citizens a voice in culture matters more than ever: www.involve.org.uk/news-opinion...
www.involve.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Now, through NG Citizens, members of the public are being invited to shape the National Gallery’s future. (🔗 www.involve.org.uk/our-work/our... )

Marianna shares why this project matters to her — and why democratising culture matters to all of us.
What if a national gallery was shaped by the nation?
Art belongs to everyone, everywhere. But too often, the decisions how it’s shared, and who it’s for… don’t.That’s beginning to change.We’re working with the National Gallery on something big and…
www.involve.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
“Culture doesn’t belong to institutions. It belongs to all of us.”

For Involve’s Marianna Mooney, this belief started long before she worked in democracy. It began in a small-town gallery — where she saw how art could bring a community together.

🧵 👇
November 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
We should stop the boats because it's dangerous, and we should stop the scapegoating of immigrants because it's wrong and cruel.

Controlled migration is good for the country, helps build our economy and diversity strengthens our communities. (1/6) 🧵
November 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
💥 In just 5 days, more than 12,000 people have signed our petition to the Democracy Minister.

Can you help make it even bigger?

The government's Elections Bill could be published any day. We need a fairer voting system to be part of it.

Sign & share ✍️
Petition to Democracy Minister
First Past The Post undermines our politics. It leaves most of us with MPs we didn't vote for, and keeps delivering results that don't represent public opinion. The upcoming Elections Bill is a chan...
actionnetwork.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Something special happened in Derry and Strabane.

Everyday people came together to discuss their environmental future. Their key recommendation?

An independent EPA.

Last week, Minister Muir announced he's seeking agreement for exactly that.
www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/ministe...

👇🧵
Minister Muir sets out proposals for future of Environmental Governance in NI
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir is seeking agreement for the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency in Northern Ireland following publication of an expert independent panel report.
www.daera-ni.gov.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Gary Austin (circleindigo)
To be or not to be – a democracy

The importance of voting cannot be understated - it is fundamental to our democracy
To be or not to be – a democracy
The importance of voting cannot be understated - it is fundamental to our democracy
sussexbylines.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM