James Somerville
@jamessomervlle.bsky.social
900 followers 2.4K following 120 posts
Head of Policy at NPC. Interested in evidence-based policy, climate, local growth, and green jobs. Views are my own. He/Him. @jamessomervlle on X, https://www.linkedin.com/in/james--somerville/
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Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
We're delighted these 4 partners: Caudwell youth, Holding Space, Investing in Children and Chilypep - helping us to hear directly from children, young people & carers in understanding how we can rebuild the #mentalhealthsystem so it truly works for those who need it: www.thinknpc.org/blog/barrier...
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
I’m very excited to share that I’ve been awarded a Churchill Fellowship for 2025!

I'll be travelling to Germany, France, and the USA to learn about how best to work with communities to generate buy-in for community energy projects. If you know someone I should speak to, please do let me know!
churchillfship.bsky.social
🎉 Exciting news! We’re proud to announce our 118 new Churchill Fellows for 2025! From community energy to healthcare innovation, they’ll explore solutions to urgent issues in the UK 🌍✨

Meet them on our website: churchillfellowship.org/news-views/n...

#ChurchillFellowship #ChurchillFellow25
Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
🆕 NEW BLOG: Following the launch of the Governments Industrial Strategy, aiming to drive growth nationally by focusing on eight industries over 10 years. Our Head of Policy, James Somerville looks at where there is huge potential for green jobs.

Read full blog: www.thinknpc.org/blog/industr...
What does the Industrial Strategy mean for green jobs? - NPC
Across the eight industries in the Industrial Strategy, there’s huge potential for green jobs.
www.thinknpc.org
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Positive to see the Spending Review reference the impact economy - the impact sector should be a key partner in mission delivery. Housing is a great example, impact investors already put c.£5bn into social & affordable housing. Good to see govt thinking seriously about the role of the impact sector.
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Great to be at the launch of this last night. Community involvement is at the heart of #EveryonesEnvironment, so it's positive to see govt talking seriously about different models of community ownership.

As always, communities will need clear, accessible info about what these projects mean for them
coopparty.party.coop
We’re proud to have Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband contribute to our new report, Power in Our Communities.

Available tomorrow.
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Congrats Becky, very exciting!
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Pleased to have fed into this APPG on Race & Community report alongside our #EveryonesEnvironment partners.

It highlights how climate change is making existing inequalities worse, here and abroad, and sets out some really sensible recommendations - great work from @runnymedetrust.bsky.social!
Reposted by James Somerville
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
It's been great working with Scottish charities on this paper. Like our #EveryonesEnvironment work in England, involving diverse voices in policymaking and accessible information are key priorities.

Environmental policy needs to reflect people's needs, and people need to know what they should do
thinknpc.bsky.social
🆕 New Publication: Making environmental policy inclusive in Scotland.

Our review of #Scottish #environmental #policies and recommendations for how Scottish policy can better reflect the needs of marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub...
Reposted by James Somerville
ercscot.bsky.social
📢 Scottish charities call on Holyrood to make environmental policies more inclusive

With #EveryonesEnvironment, we wrote to Scottish Parties with recommendations to improve how environmental policies affect marginalised and disadvantaged groups in Scotland.

www.ercs.scot/news/scottis...
Charities that endorsed the Everyone's Environment recommendations for making environmental policy inclusive in Scotland are: the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Greenspace Scotland, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), Human Rights Consortium Scotland, Inclusion Scotland, NPC, The Poverty Alliance, SCVO, Verture, Woodcraft Folk, YMCA Scotland, Young Sea Changers Scotland, and Youth Link Scotland.
Reposted by James Somerville
alexhayes1.bsky.social
Do have a look at these two great roles available with us @thinknpc.bsky.social
thinknpc.bsky.social
💥 We're hiring!

We are looking to fill two exciting new roles here at NPC. Including:
👉 Principal Consultant: Systems Change
👉 Principal Consultant – Effective Philanthropy

Would like to help individuals and organisations maximise their impact? Learn more:
www.thinknpc.org/about-npc/wo...
Reposted by James Somerville
drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
The crisis for UK steel is exposing another – perhaps even bigger – crisis for the UK

Our news media seems incapable of even the most basic factchecking

YES energy for UK steelmakers is costly
NO it's not due to net-zero
YES it is due to GAS

Here's what UK media isn't telling you🧵
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Great report from @green-alliance.org.uk and @cast-centre.bsky.social, and this table is interesting. Shows that there is political space for targeted tax rises - interesting to see if this + the "the world has changed" narrative paves the way for some kind of wealth/windfall tax in the SR
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
"Half of people would likely switch to heat pumps if it meant savings on bills" - couldn't be clearer that climate politics needs to focus on lower bills, cleaner air, warmer homes etc rather than net zero.

With cost as a key barrier, targeted support is key.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Many unaware of negative heat pump ‘myths’ but cost is big issue, polling finds
A survey showed half of people would likely switch to heat pumps if it meant savings on bills.
www.independent.co.uk
Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
📖 Lunch time read! Now is the time for a government match-funding scheme to unlock growth.

With the #Government looking to make their #budgets go further, and charities struggling to access funding, #match-funding could be the answer. Latest blog by @jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Now is the time for a government match-funding scheme to unlock growth
Match-funding should be used to tackle barriers to employment
www.thinknpc.org
Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
💥 NEW! Now is the time for a government match-funding scheme to unlock growth.

With the #Government looking to make their #budgets go further, and charities struggling to access funding, #match-funding could be the answer. Latest blog by @jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Now is the time for a government match-funding scheme to unlock growth
Match-funding should be used to tackle barriers to employment
www.thinknpc.org
Reposted by James Somerville
thomaswpenny.bsky.social
But did they ask how much people think is spent on overseas aid?
Jennifer van Heerde-Hudson writes in Sex, Lies and Politics (2019) that the average voter in her research thought 18% of UK government spending went on aid, and wanted it cut to 9%.
The actual spend was 1.7%.
yougov.co.uk
YouGov @yougov.co.uk · Feb 26
With the government cutting overseas aid to pay for an increase in defence spending, 64% of Britons already wanted to see overseas aid spending reduced - twice as many as for any other area

Overseas aid: 64% should be reduced
Welfare benefits: 31%
Environment: 25%

yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
💥New! Understanding the role of community-led early years support

Read our new report published today in partnership with
@localtrust.org.uk exploring the types of locally-led early years support on offer, and the difference it can make.

Read the report: www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub...
Understanding the role of community-led early years support - NPC
In this report we explore the types and distribution of community-led early years provision in England.
www.thinknpc.org
Reposted by James Somerville
thinknpc.bsky.social
Government cannot expect charities to fill the gap in cuts to international development funding. In this blog, @jamessomervlle.bsky.social writes that Governments need to partner with the impact sector, not just ‘get out of the way’ https://buff.ly/41pNrEh #aidcuts #government
Governments need to partner with the impact sector, not just ‘get out of the way’
We know that ‘stepping back’ doesn’t work. The key is a true partnership to tackle shared challenges.
buff.ly
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Massively agree - climate policy shouldn't be seen as about cutting things out (meat, driving, flying, etc.). There are loads of benefits that govt don't talk about as much (lower bills, cleaner air, etc.) and govt need to lean into the point that this is about making places and homes nicer/better
Reposted by James Somerville
anthonypainter.bsky.social
The seventh carbon budget is out. Net Zero will become net positive £ in 2040 and low (0.2% GDP) net cost until then. But behaviour change becomes tougher- cars, heat pumps, fewer flights v trend (NB Heathrow), less meat and dairy. All doable but needs a mindset shift.
Chart showing net zero becoming net positive savings in 2040
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
Great to be at the launch of this yesterday. Communities are central to tackling many of the challenges facing the country, and it's positive to see @coopparty.party.coop setting out a clear vision for the role of communities in politics.
coopparty.party.coop
Today, we're launching our vision to put communities at the heart of politics.

Community Britain is about making the extraordinary stories in every community, ordinary.

Read more from @fortunejf.bsky.social https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/we-must-do-more-to-empower-communities
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
The net zero transition can save people money, create good jobs, and improve homes and neighbourhoods.

But if we want it to do that equally across the country, we need to work with communities to make sure that environmental policies work for everyone.

7/7
jamessomervlle.bsky.social
We need to understand the specific needs of different communities, and design policy that meets those needs. The best way to do that is to ask people, community groups, and charities what challenges they are facing, and involve them in the design of policies to address those challenges.

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