Olly Benson
@ollybenson.uk
NHS Englander. Ex VCSE and BBC.
Mainly interested in volunteering, public participation and engagement, so stuff around people, building communities, health, power, digital, media etc.
Husband | 🚸 Dad x2 | 💔 #ACHD
🌍 Warwickshire, UK
Mainly interested in volunteering, public participation and engagement, so stuff around people, building communities, health, power, digital, media etc.
Husband | 🚸 Dad x2 | 💔 #ACHD
🌍 Warwickshire, UK
The opening few minutes of the latest @thesportsagents.com, with Gabby talking with Mark about her dad and the reaction to his death, is one of the most life-affirming things you'll hear all year.
The Sports Agents: Inside Macclesfield's FA Cup upset: Rooney, Love Island & buying a club on Rightmove
It was the greatest FA Cup upset of all time. Last year's champions Crystal Palace knocked out by Macclesfield - 5 divisions and 117 places below them.First to storm the pitch after the final whist...
pod.fo
January 13, 2026 at 10:14 PM
The opening few minutes of the latest @thesportsagents.com, with Gabby talking with Mark about her dad and the reaction to his death, is one of the most life-affirming things you'll hear all year.
"David Henwood patrols his neighbourhood at night banging two pieces of wood together. He says that some crimes have been reduced, but the police are not convinced."
Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
@apiln.bsky.social
Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
@apiln.bsky.social
Vigilante uses Japanese musical instrument to deter crooks
David Henwood patrols his neighbourhood at night banging two pieces of wood together and says that some crimes have been reduced
www.thetimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:55 PM
"David Henwood patrols his neighbourhood at night banging two pieces of wood together. He says that some crimes have been reduced, but the police are not convinced."
Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
@apiln.bsky.social
Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
@apiln.bsky.social
Polly always has interesting things to say, but her Substack this week particularly resonates.
Will the argument about state effectiveness solve our fiscal crisis? Of course not.
open.substack.com/pub/howtorun...
open.substack.com/pub/howtorun...
How to afford the state we want
State effectiveness and state capacity are not the same thing
open.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Polly always has interesting things to say, but her Substack this week particularly resonates.
Interesting article from @whippletom.bsky.social about why the Chicken Pox vaccine is only now being made available in the UK, and why, as he says, public health decisions aren't always simple.
We’ve had a chickenpox vaccine for 50 years: why only use it now?
Health chiefs considered adding it to the childhood schedule but worried it could cause a rise in adult shingles
www.thetimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Interesting article from @whippletom.bsky.social about why the Chicken Pox vaccine is only now being made available in the UK, and why, as he says, public health decisions aren't always simple.
"Has anyone got a plaster? I've just cut myself whilst editing that interview."
Without revealing your actual age,what's something you remember that if you told a younger person they wouldn't understand?
January 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM
"Has anyone got a plaster? I've just cut myself whilst editing that interview."
Beautiful piece by David Lloyd on the importance of local radio in the @liverpoolpost.bsky.social
Losing local radio — and my mum
Merseyside stations soundtracked David Lloyd’s relationship with his mother. Now he’s grieving a double loss
www.livpost.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Beautiful piece by David Lloyd on the importance of local radio in the @liverpoolpost.bsky.social
I have a, possibly irrational, long-standing dislike of Rory Sutherland.
I listened to his interview with Russell Howard. Not sure my opinion has changed.
I listened to his interview with Russell Howard. Not sure my opinion has changed.
Russell Howard’s Wonderbox: Rory Sutherland
Marketing expert and thinker-outside-the-box, Rory Sutherland is here with his Five Brilliant Things and they all begin with the letter C: Consumerism, Contradictions, Cars, Commuter Towns, Cornbre...
pod.fo
January 2, 2026 at 11:00 PM
I have a, possibly irrational, long-standing dislike of Rory Sutherland.
I listened to his interview with Russell Howard. Not sure my opinion has changed.
I listened to his interview with Russell Howard. Not sure my opinion has changed.
Friend of a friend was a primary school teacher. Gave it up as she found dealing with the kids too stressful. Became a National Trust volunteer manager. Gave that up and went back to teaching. Nuff said.
If you immediately thought “It MUST be something more than that”, you’d be 100% correct. Non-paywalled link in comments.
January 2, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Friend of a friend was a primary school teacher. Gave it up as she found dealing with the kids too stressful. Became a National Trust volunteer manager. Gave that up and went back to teaching. Nuff said.
Michael speaketh the truth!
January 2, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Michael speaketh the truth!
Reposted by Olly Benson
Volunteering in A&E 'there's nothing like it' #LocalToOssett #westyorkshire
Volunteering in A&E 'there's nothing like it'
Volunteers at St James's Hospital say a warm smile and a cup of tea go a long way.
www.bbc.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Volunteering in A&E 'there's nothing like it' #LocalToOssett #westyorkshire
Volunteering has declined and needs a revival, argues @jemima.bsky.social, but doesn't really suggest how that should happen.
‘Wellness’ culture is empty without service to others
Volunteering has declined along with religion — it needs a revival
giftarticle.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Volunteering has declined and needs a revival, argues @jemima.bsky.social, but doesn't really suggest how that should happen.
Classic Betteridge's Law example.
Will Britain lose something when hereditary peers exit the Lords?
I’ve spoken to hundreds of peers as the final ‘hereds’ await their fate. Their answers provided food for thought over Labour’s promise to abolish them
www.thetimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Classic Betteridge's Law example.
♥️
Soul Music - Soul Music at 25 - BBC Sounds
A special programme marking 25 years of the award-winning series.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM
♥️
Made a few calls and looks what's happened! The power! 💪🏼
December 28, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Made a few calls and looks what's happened! The power! 💪🏼
Who doesn't like A-ha's Take On Me?
Like most people I know a bit of the backstory, including the fact it flopped twice in the UK before the American label put some effort behind the promotion.
This is a great listen talking through all the previous demos/versions and then taking the track apart.
Like most people I know a bit of the backstory, including the fact it flopped twice in the UK before the American label put some effort behind the promotion.
This is a great listen talking through all the previous demos/versions and then taking the track apart.
Episode 301: A-ha
"Take On Me"LISTEN: APPLE · SPOTIFY · AMAZON · OTHER APPS"Take On Me" by A-ha is an iconic hit of the 1980s. It came out in October 1985 with an equally iconic music video that he
songexploder.net
December 27, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Who doesn't like A-ha's Take On Me?
Like most people I know a bit of the backstory, including the fact it flopped twice in the UK before the American label put some effort behind the promotion.
This is a great listen talking through all the previous demos/versions and then taking the track apart.
Like most people I know a bit of the backstory, including the fact it flopped twice in the UK before the American label put some effort behind the promotion.
This is a great listen talking through all the previous demos/versions and then taking the track apart.
I've got to that age where you read a court story and the judge is one of your friends...
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I've got to that age where you read a court story and the judge is one of your friends...
Weird that the BBC is still promoting this story on the homepage despite the fact the company that provided the data, MRI, have revised the figures to show a 4% uplift on last year.
Boxing Day sales fall flat once again
Although shoppers are still bargain-hunting, fewer people headed to the high streets and shopping centres compared with last year.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Weird that the BBC is still promoting this story on the homepage despite the fact the company that provided the data, MRI, have revised the figures to show a 4% uplift on last year.
This is lovely from @paulscheer.com. Take 20 mins out your day to watch it.
I Talked To 50 Dads At The Eras Tour
YouTube video by DARK WEB | Paul Scheer & Rob Huebel
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is lovely from @paulscheer.com. Take 20 mins out your day to watch it.
Surely this is none other than blatant trolling of @apiln.bsky.social by @thetimes.com?
Readers look back on 2025 in verse
It’s the best carol service of all: Times readers fit the news to festive favourites. Goodwill to all men and women, apart from…
www.thetimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Surely this is none other than blatant trolling of @apiln.bsky.social by @thetimes.com?
This appears to be an annual thing. Not happy.
In my bit of Warwickshire it appears they do the traditional... checks notes... letting off fireworks for Christmas Eve?!?
Have they not thought of the poor reindeers who will be scared witless?
Have they not thought of the poor reindeers who will be scared witless?
December 24, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This appears to be an annual thing. Not happy.
Happy big chocolate day!
December 24, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Happy big chocolate day!
Well done to local lad Chris Wakelin for winning the Scottish Open.
Not entirely clear what the relevance of your daughter's dental health in the story is though.
Not entirely clear what the relevance of your daughter's dental health in the story is though.
Scottish Open: Chris Wakelin defeats Chang Bingyu in final to win title
England's Chris Wakelin wins eight frames in a row on his way to securing the Scottish Open title with a 9-2 victory over Chang Bingyu in Edinburgh on Sunday.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Well done to local lad Chris Wakelin for winning the Scottish Open.
Not entirely clear what the relevance of your daughter's dental health in the story is though.
Not entirely clear what the relevance of your daughter's dental health in the story is though.
This is like Canoe man all over again. The police dog just wanted a new job...
@apiln.bsky.social
@apiln.bsky.social
December 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is like Canoe man all over again. The police dog just wanted a new job...
@apiln.bsky.social
@apiln.bsky.social
Such a weird decision. I know they need the money, but when your event is rapidly descending into obscurity and irrelevance, taking it from wall-to-wall coverage on the BBC and sticking it on a random pay-channel is a strange move.
BBC replaced by TNT Sports as Commonwealth Games live broadcaster
The subscription channel takes over from the BBC which had been the principal partner since 1954 and provided free-to-air coverage.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Such a weird decision. I know they need the money, but when your event is rapidly descending into obscurity and irrelevance, taking it from wall-to-wall coverage on the BBC and sticking it on a random pay-channel is a strange move.
The Christmas issue Radio Times this year is £6.50. Which is only 20p less than the cost of the TV licence fee for the fortnight it covers.
December 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The Christmas issue Radio Times this year is £6.50. Which is only 20p less than the cost of the TV licence fee for the fortnight it covers.