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
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
November 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
It'd be cool if the "increasing the cost of motoring hurts poor people" people cared anything like as much about cost to people who rely on public transport - who are disproportionately likely to be poor and disabled, and who consistently face far greater increases in cost.
Was talking this morning with #playstreets colleagues about how play facilitates "neighbouring"; many past and present play streets have WhatsApp or Facebook groups which developed alongside play street organisation and morphed into more general sources of street support.
Things my street WhatsApp has helped with this year: jumpstarts, missing coats, upcycled crafts, muddy paths, tree-planting, a village green application, toy clear-outs, scout fundraisers, co-ordinated objections to slum landlord plans...
November 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Was talking this morning with #playstreets colleagues about how play facilitates "neighbouring"; many past and present play streets have WhatsApp or Facebook groups which developed alongside play street organisation and morphed into more general sources of street support.
Fittingly, I spent this morning co-convening our @playingout.bsky.social Play Streets Forum open space, a lively session thinking about all the amazing work going on in councils & community organisations to support residents reclaiming doorstep space for play. I'm always so impressed by the energy.
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Fittingly, I spent this morning co-convening our @playingout.bsky.social Play Streets Forum open space, a lively session thinking about all the amazing work going on in councils & community organisations to support residents reclaiming doorstep space for play. I'm always so impressed by the energy.
Great to hear that Green Cllr Katie Collier’s pro-play motion was passed yesterday at Worcester City’s full council, focused on enabling more child-friendly neighbourhoods and public spaces, prioritising doorstep play in planning, and play streets.
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
'Let more children play safely in the street please' says councillor
Cllr Katie Collier says some roads in Worcester could be closed temporarily to through traffic to allow children to play outside
www.worcesternews.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Great to hear that Green Cllr Katie Collier’s pro-play motion was passed yesterday at Worcester City’s full council, focused on enabling more child-friendly neighbourhoods and public spaces, prioritising doorstep play in planning, and play streets.
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
🙌
www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/2564634...
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
10 years ago today we received the closure notice for our very first #playstreet on my street in North Shields; we haven’t played out for a couple of years but I’m still proud of all we did and achieved over the past 10 years, on our street and beyond.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
With the neverending threats of restructuring, new strategies, and transformations - with associated closures and redundancies - this really isn't surprising (and is undoubtedly true for many subjects).
Not the way to run a sector.
Not the way to run a sector.
Precarity is often presented as something that only effects early career researchers or people on fixed term contracts.
Our report found that 45% of geographers on permanent contracts feel precarious.
The implications for the discipline are wide ranging. Read more 👇
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
Our report found that 45% of geographers on permanent contracts feel precarious.
The implications for the discipline are wide ranging. Read more 👇
www.rgs.org/research/hig...
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 AM
With the neverending threats of restructuring, new strategies, and transformations - with associated closures and redundancies - this really isn't surprising (and is undoubtedly true for many subjects).
Not the way to run a sector.
Not the way to run a sector.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Cat crossing the street, Byker, Newcastle, 1974, photo by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.
November 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Cat crossing the street, Byker, Newcastle, 1974, photo by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Female welder working on the deck of a new ship in Tyneside, 1943, photo by Cecil Beaton (Imperial War Museum).
November 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Female welder working on the deck of a new ship in Tyneside, 1943, photo by Cecil Beaton (Imperial War Museum).
Reposted by Alison Stenning
Your dog is frightened of fireworks? I don't know why. The fireworks are only being friendly.
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Your dog is frightened of fireworks? I don't know why. The fireworks are only being friendly.
Reposted by Alison Stenning
I wrote about skateboarding, Graeber, and Weizenbaum for Mediapolis' special issue on "Playable Cities". Had lots of fun with this one :)
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
Seeing Like a Skater: Skateboarding as Poetic Technology
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban lan...
www.mediapolisjournal.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I wrote about skateboarding, Graeber, and Weizenbaum for Mediapolis' special issue on "Playable Cities". Had lots of fun with this one :)
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
www.mediapolisjournal.com/2025/11/seei...
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...
