Ellie Ashman
@ellayanor.bsky.social
Exeter | Director - Public Sector Practice @ Torchbox
Often to be found looking for a snack and/or saying pspsps to the nearest available cat. Always have too many tabs open.
Often to be found looking for a snack and/or saying pspsps to the nearest available cat. Always have too many tabs open.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Good lord people… “Product-led” was never meant to mean “Product manager-led” 🤦🏼♀️
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Good lord people… “Product-led” was never meant to mean “Product manager-led” 🤦🏼♀️
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Our international #GovDesign community call is returning on Friday, 28 November.
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Our international #GovDesign community call is returning on Friday, 28 November.
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
We’ll discuss #ServicePatterns.
Join us—if you are awake at the time—from 9 am GMT, 10 am CET, 11 am EET, 5 pm SGT.
If you’re a public servant but not a part of the community yet, join us international.gov-design.com
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Teen Vogue produced some of the best political reporting in the nation and we’re not even a year into this cursed presidency
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Teen Vogue produced some of the best political reporting in the nation and we’re not even a year into this cursed presidency
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
The firing of black women & trans people from Teen Vogue is a devastating loss
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
November 4, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The firing of black women & trans people from Teen Vogue is a devastating loss
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Teen Vogue listened to young people
It spoke to young people
It tackled topics other media outlets were afraid to cover
Its political coverage represented diverse voices. It didn’t bend a knee
Which is why it’s gone
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
🧵 | Today we’ve released data showing a 55% increase in calls to our advice line from members experiencing racism at work since 2022. We now receive on average three calls a day on this topic.
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
October 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
🧵 | Today we’ve released data showing a 55% increase in calls to our advice line from members experiencing racism at work since 2022. We now receive on average three calls a day on this topic.
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
This is beyond unacceptable. (1/2)
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Public services are crumbling in the UK.
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
October 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Public services are crumbling in the UK.
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
Community organisations, like Andy's in Sheffield, hold both the knowledge & trust of local people, both of which are key to fixing our failing public services.
This country needs a new Community Right to Shape Public Services.
📽️ Watch the video
deeply underprepared for the physicality of grief. Like someone stole half my spoons. Please send your cosiest autumnal viewing choices my way, my reading pile is going to have to wait a bit longer
October 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
deeply underprepared for the physicality of grief. Like someone stole half my spoons. Please send your cosiest autumnal viewing choices my way, my reading pile is going to have to wait a bit longer
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
217 people have now registered for UK Gov Camp 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) in #Birmingham on Saturday 17 January 2026.
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
217 people have now registered for UK Gov Camp 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) in #Birmingham on Saturday 17 January 2026.
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Register to attend or sponsor via UKGovCamp.com, repost this message and share with your colleagues.
We welcome everyone, whether you work with the #PublicSector or not.
#unconference
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Today would have been Ursula K. Le Guin’s 96th birthday. I celebrated by visiting The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin at AA Gallery in London. What a treat! A selection of her maps & drawings. And a beautiful book! Happy birthday @ursulakleguin.com
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
October 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Today would have been Ursula K. Le Guin’s 96th birthday. I celebrated by visiting The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin at AA Gallery in London. What a treat! A selection of her maps & drawings. And a beautiful book! Happy birthday @ursulakleguin.com
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
www.aaschool.ac.uk/publicprogra...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Our new film argues that community power is the antidote to division and democratic decline.
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Our new film argues that community power is the antidote to division and democratic decline.
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.
🎥 Watch and share.
Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...
Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Starting a 2025 Q4 thread of not-evil* jobs in tech or using tech skills, which I'll reply to add to as I find new cool things over time
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
October 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Starting a 2025 Q4 thread of not-evil* jobs in tech or using tech skills, which I'll reply to add to as I find new cool things over time
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
*or minimally evil, as this is often the best we can hope for in these troubled times. Assessments based on nothing but my own vibes
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Foxglove are looking for a head of operations to support their legal, policy and outreach work pushing back against the power imbalance big tech wields against all of us.
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
Head of Operations
About usFoxglove is a non-profit that exists to make the use of technology fair for all. When Big Tech companies abuse their power, their workers or the planet – and when governments use technology to...
app.beapplied.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Foxglove are looking for a head of operations to support their legal, policy and outreach work pushing back against the power imbalance big tech wields against all of us.
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
- Remote UK
- 70k GBP listed salary
- Jess would be jealous of your job
app.beapplied.com/apply/okfyrs...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
After launching them at Queeriosities last weekend, the A3 Risograph posters are now up on our website with all profits going to the Sameer Project in Gaza: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
October 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
After launching them at Queeriosities last weekend, the A3 Risograph posters are now up on our website with all profits going to the Sameer Project in Gaza: polari.press/throw-sand-i...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
October 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
if you drink alcohol, you might like this - I always disregarded brandy as the drink of men quaffing and smoking after dinner in Poirot, but I've been missing out! Cognac is now my fave, and it's probs not fair for me to keep all of L's wisdom to myself so www.thethreedrinkers.com/magazine-con...
Brandy's Revival: The 7 Best Bottles for a New Generation — The Three Drinkers
Brandy is incredibly versatile. Younger examples are fruit-forward and great for cocktails, while older expressions offer depth and complexity to rival whisky...
www.thethreedrinkers.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
if you drink alcohol, you might like this - I always disregarded brandy as the drink of men quaffing and smoking after dinner in Poirot, but I've been missing out! Cognac is now my fave, and it's probs not fair for me to keep all of L's wisdom to myself so www.thethreedrinkers.com/magazine-con...
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
I'm going to be honest, while I know exactly why these people are doing it, I genuinely think their strategy of associating Jewish people *specifically* with the ongoing Palestinian genocide is a horrendous strategy that will imperil the safety of ordinary Jews in the long term.
NEW: Home secretary Shabana Mahmood urges pro-Palestine protesters to consider not taking part in marches this weekend.
"Imagine if you lost a loved one to a terror attack in this country ... sometimes a little unity, a little solidarity, some love to other people is required"
"Imagine if you lost a loved one to a terror attack in this country ... sometimes a little unity, a little solidarity, some love to other people is required"
October 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I'm going to be honest, while I know exactly why these people are doing it, I genuinely think their strategy of associating Jewish people *specifically* with the ongoing Palestinian genocide is a horrendous strategy that will imperil the safety of ordinary Jews in the long term.
"user research disproved our central hypothesis" >>>
New Grand Designs episode aka the closest thing to any game production process I’ve ever seen on tv including any attempt at fiction
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
"user research disproved our central hypothesis" >>>
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
I think that, in a time of rising fascism, unity and decency are mediocre political goals. I know they are "relatable" but they are tame. I think that "dignity and equality" are far better. Both have a basis in law, both can be quantified, and neither ask the abused to make peace with their abusers.
‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns
‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns
Prime minister lambasts Nigel Farage and the politics of Reform in combative Labour conference speech
Keir Starmer has warned that Britain faces an era-defining choice between Labour and the populist right, as he launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage, saying the Reform leader neither “liked or believed in Britain”.
In a speech that drew the battle lines for the next general election, the prime minister said the UK stood at a fork in the road where “we can choose decency, we can choose division, renewal or decline”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I think that, in a time of rising fascism, unity and decency are mediocre political goals. I know they are "relatable" but they are tame. I think that "dignity and equality" are far better. Both have a basis in law, both can be quantified, and neither ask the abused to make peace with their abusers.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Asking for a friend - amazing social CIC doing good things in nature.
Looking for a South West (ideal) based fractional CTO who can also get their hands a bit dirty, and help a volunteer model of developing their platform
They have a backend dev, and hiring a front end.
Any ideas/connections?
Looking for a South West (ideal) based fractional CTO who can also get their hands a bit dirty, and help a volunteer model of developing their platform
They have a backend dev, and hiring a front end.
Any ideas/connections?
September 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Asking for a friend - amazing social CIC doing good things in nature.
Looking for a South West (ideal) based fractional CTO who can also get their hands a bit dirty, and help a volunteer model of developing their platform
They have a backend dev, and hiring a front end.
Any ideas/connections?
Looking for a South West (ideal) based fractional CTO who can also get their hands a bit dirty, and help a volunteer model of developing their platform
They have a backend dev, and hiring a front end.
Any ideas/connections?
supporting racist policies which uphold racist ideas is actually the definition of racist. It's not complicated, it's just uncomfortable.
discomfort cannot justify discrimination.
discomfort cannot justify discrimination.
Supporting Reform’s ‘racist policy’ does not make voters racist, says Rachel Reeves – UK politics live
Supporting Reform’s ‘racist policy’ does not make voters racist, says Rachel Reeves – UK politics live
Chancellor backs Keir Starmer’s statement that policy to end indefinite leave to remain is racist, but says many Reform supporters would be ‘horrified’ by it
Q: You are saying you don’t call supporters of Reform racist. But it looks as if you don’t understand people’s concerns.
Reeves says the government should call out policies that are wrong. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
supporting racist policies which uphold racist ideas is actually the definition of racist. It's not complicated, it's just uncomfortable.
discomfort cannot justify discrimination.
discomfort cannot justify discrimination.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
A 7% decline in English birds in just 5 years is astonishing
The web of life is unravelling fast
The web of life is unravelling fast
Wild bird numbers continue to fall in UK with some species in ‘dramatic freefall’
Species index fell by 4% between 2019 and 2024 – although data shows woodland populations beginning to stabilise
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A 7% decline in English birds in just 5 years is astonishing
The web of life is unravelling fast
The web of life is unravelling fast
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) urgent appealing to children’s authors, writers and publishers to donate stories to its new bedtime stories app.
The charity relies on stories in the public domain but are running out of books.
Anyone willing to donate should contact [email protected].
The charity relies on stories in the public domain but are running out of books.
Anyone willing to donate should contact [email protected].
September 23, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) urgent appealing to children’s authors, writers and publishers to donate stories to its new bedtime stories app.
The charity relies on stories in the public domain but are running out of books.
Anyone willing to donate should contact [email protected].
The charity relies on stories in the public domain but are running out of books.
Anyone willing to donate should contact [email protected].
This suicide prevention month, whilst we're encouraging folks to talk:
If someone who is struggling reaches out to talk to you, please listen. Just listen. Being heard can be lifesaving.
We spend so much time telling folks to talk and forget we need to hold space for them to do so.
If someone who is struggling reaches out to talk to you, please listen. Just listen. Being heard can be lifesaving.
We spend so much time telling folks to talk and forget we need to hold space for them to do so.
September 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This suicide prevention month, whilst we're encouraging folks to talk:
If someone who is struggling reaches out to talk to you, please listen. Just listen. Being heard can be lifesaving.
We spend so much time telling folks to talk and forget we need to hold space for them to do so.
If someone who is struggling reaches out to talk to you, please listen. Just listen. Being heard can be lifesaving.
We spend so much time telling folks to talk and forget we need to hold space for them to do so.
Reposted by Ellie Ashman
Check out this session I'm hosting in September 🥰
It'll be an interactive & safe space for techy folks from all sectors to share the glimmers of hope, the blockers, and dream up concrete actions we can take individually and collectively to make the world a better place 🌍
I'd love to see you there!
It'll be an interactive & safe space for techy folks from all sectors to share the glimmers of hope, the blockers, and dream up concrete actions we can take individually and collectively to make the world a better place 🌍
I'd love to see you there!
📣 Hello climate-conscious, ethically minded folk in digital, data and tech!
I'm hosting a conversation on 18th September, 12-1.30pm that I think you'll love...
Sign up at this link forms.gle/inJnZnt8KsHJ... 🔗, or DM me directly if you have questions. See you there 🖖🏻
I'm hosting a conversation on 18th September, 12-1.30pm that I think you'll love...
Sign up at this link forms.gle/inJnZnt8KsHJ... 🔗, or DM me directly if you have questions. See you there 🖖🏻
August 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Check out this session I'm hosting in September 🥰
It'll be an interactive & safe space for techy folks from all sectors to share the glimmers of hope, the blockers, and dream up concrete actions we can take individually and collectively to make the world a better place 🌍
I'd love to see you there!
It'll be an interactive & safe space for techy folks from all sectors to share the glimmers of hope, the blockers, and dream up concrete actions we can take individually and collectively to make the world a better place 🌍
I'd love to see you there!
Well, it's happened. Eldest nibling, aged 10, now has larger feet than me. Just called me a "micro human". Must be how the kids are saying "coolest aunty" these days 🤷
August 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Well, it's happened. Eldest nibling, aged 10, now has larger feet than me. Just called me a "micro human". Must be how the kids are saying "coolest aunty" these days 🤷