Louise Houghton

Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio) YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Aviation expansion: the myths and the hot air! Labour’s green promises crumble as UK airport expansions soar, risking Net Zero goals and leaving communities under growing flight paths

Labour’s green promises crumble as UK airport expansions soar, risking Net Zero goals and leaving communities under growing flight paths | Jonathan Fox

During the #Bradford Council meeting on Dec 9, the local Conservatives proposed to cut Council Tax Support for the most vulnerable in the district. Green Councillor Matt Edwards (@greenmattbfd.bsky.social) had this brilliant reply:

Changing lives through The Scholars Programme – Big Give The Scholars Programme supports less advantaged students to access and succeed at the most competitive universities by bringing university style …

Just over an hour left of our campaign to raise £20k for The Scholars Programme at The @brilliantclub.bsky.social!

If you can donate even a little bit, please help 🙏

donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

Covid fraud under the Tories cost the taxpayer £10.9 billion The counter-fraud and error measures during the pandemic under the Conservative Government were accused of being 'so lax they may as well have left the door wide open'

Covid fraud under the Tories cost the UK taxpayer £10.9bn.

VIP lanes and crony contracts.

Lack of anti-fraud controls in Covid scheme.
Money handed out for non-existent employees
Newly formed companies got public money
No competitive tenders
Poor checks on quality.

How much would be recovered?

‘Cultivate resistance’: policy paper lays bare Trump support for Europe’s far right Text signed by president seems to echo ‘great replacement’ theory, saying Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’

Confirmation that Trump is actively supporting far-right parties across Europe, peddling false narratives, and hoping to destroy the European Union
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

"I remember clearly that some of the feedback I got from my PhD tutor said ‘You’re a star, believe in yourself!’. It was so encouraging to have someone so high up in their field say that to me.” - Deepali, Brilliant Club ambassador

The Scholars Programme doesn’t just teach academic skills - it also builds confidence, ambition, and a belief in what’s possible.

Just £15 will give 7 more students like Deepali one hour with an inspiring PhD researcher.

Give today: https://bit.ly/3JAHmih

Thank God for Bluesky Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.

Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...

Shocking statistics highlight how vital this invaluable initiative is to boost social mobility - family power: politicians pay attention.

What a powerful and inspirational story 👏👏👏

on my way to visit two of the Hunger Strike prisoners who are being held at HMP Bronzefield

These political prisoners are demanding the closure of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, it supplies at least 85% of the land army equipment and drones used by the Israeli military

“One of the things that really stood out to me about my PhD tutor was that she was a Black woman like me. It was great to have somebody that I could look up to and I realised that there are people like me at university and they are doing really amazing things.” - Josephine, Graduate from The Scholars Programme

It's live: change more lives this #GivingTuesday through our @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge!

From 2-9th December, we're raising vital funds for our Scholars Programme, which places inspiring PhD tutors into state school classrooms across the UK.

Donate today: https://bit.ly/3JAHmih

Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’ The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit

Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’

The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit

By Anthony Robinson
@anthonybylines.bsky.social

Street in Hull with sign saying "filming in progress"

🎥 Hull showcases its growing artistic potential as the filming location for brand new Punjabi-language film, Dastaar

By Angus Young

@angusyoung61.bsky.social

yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/cult...

Parent Power takes to Barnsley Barnsley Parent Power launches to help families tackle barriers to higher education and boost social mobility

✍️ Parent Power takes to Barnsley

Barnsley Parent Power launches to help families tackle barriers to higher education and boost social mobility

By Louise Houghton

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
@brilliantclub.bsky.social
@louisehoughton.bsky.social

Parent Power takes to Barnsley Barnsley Parent Power launches to help families tackle barriers to higher education and boost social mobility

Last month I left the Bylines Network and started work as a Community Organiser with an amazing education charity called The Brilliant Club.

Here's an article from me in @yorkshirebylines.co.uk that explains a little bit about what I do now.

You can ollow TBC here ⏩
@brilliantclub.bsky.social

Parent Power takes to Barnsley Barnsley Parent Power launches to help families tackle barriers to higher education and boost social mobility

Parent Power takes to Barnsley

Barnsley Parent Power launches to help families tackle barriers to higher education and boost social mobility

By Louise Houghton

👏👏👏 Kudos on several levels! If this turns out to be a hoax we'll be very disappointed. What a stark contrast to the response from Wakefield Council to the "unauthorised erection" of flags there!

Works in progress: inside Hebden Bridge Open Studios In and around Hebden Bridge, artists will open their workshops this December: from printing to silverwork and more – meet some of the makers

✍️ In and around Hebden Bridge, artists will open their workshops this December: from printing to silverwork and more – meet some of the makers

By Philip O'Brien

Surviving sexual abuse: long term risks and how to find help The impact of sexual abuse can last for decades, but survivors can still take control of their lives, and support is available.

Surviving sexual abuse: long term risks and how to find help

The impact of sexual abuse can last for decades, but survivors can still take control of their lives, and support is available.

By Jennie Kermode
@jenniekermode.bsky.social

Plastic pollution: a crisis requiring systemic change Plastic pollution is worsened by warming climate and must be stemmed, researchers warn

✍️ Plastic pollution: a crisis requiring systemic change

Plastic pollution is worsened by warming climate and must be stemmed, researchers warn

By Brian McHugh

@brianmchugh.bsky.social

Patriotism and prejudice in the UK’s ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign The red-cross flag of St George has become a common sight in recent times – is it for a shared love of country or a ‘Keep Out’ sign?

✍️ Patriotism and prejudice in the UK’s ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign

The red-cross flag of St George has become a common sight in recent times – is it for a shared love of country or a ‘Keep Out’ sign?

By Emily Georgiadis

Rearranging the furniture while the house is on fire: Starmer’s Britain 2025 Is Starmer’s Education Curriculum set to follow his government’s record of controversy and failure?

✍️ Rearranging the furniture while the house is on fire: Starmer’s Britain 2025

Is Starmer’s education curriculum set to follow his government’s record of controversy and failure

By Dr Pam Jarvis

@drpam.bsky.social

When redress feels like re-trauma: a survivor’s view of the Harrods compensation scheme The representatives of the perpetrators of abuse must not be allowed to control the process for survivor redress

✍️ When redress feels like re-trauma: a survivor’s view of the Harrods compensation scheme

The representatives of the perpetrators of abuse must not be allowed to control the process for survivor redress

By Shanta Sundarason

Discovering Yorkshire waterfalls Yorkshire has some of England’s most beautiful waterfalls, ranging from spectacular and renowned to secluded and magical

Yorkshire has some of England’s most beautiful waterfalls, ranging from spectacular and renowned to secluded and magical

By Ian Richardson

The Titanic hit an obstacle (iceberg) and sank, with the loss of a lot of lives....

Reinventing opera – The Last Machine Breaker, a Yorkshire epic Technology has always been used to enrich some and impoverish others, just as arts funding is lavished on London and not the rest of England

✍️ Reinventing opera – The Last Machine Breaker, a Yorkshire epic

Technology has always been used to enrich some and impoverish others, just as arts funding is lavished on London and not the rest of England

By Colin Speakman

Foxholes’ ‘line in the chalk’: locals come together to resist gas drilling proposal What happens when a village community stands its ground against the potential environmental threat from a powerful developer

✍️ Foxholes’ ‘line in the chalk’: locals come together to resist gas drilling proposal

What happens when a village community stands its ground against the potential environmental threat from a powerful developer

By David Eddy

Drowning in denial: one in five homes in Reform UK heartlands faces flooding in 25 years Even as the party rolls back climate action, Reform-controlled councils sit on some of England’s worst rising flood risks

Drowning in denial: one in five homes in Reform UK heartlands faces flooding in 25 years

Even as the party rolls back climate action, Reform-controlled councils sit on some of England’s worst rising flood risks

By Nafeez Ahmed

Spring Break, 2026 A Modest Proposal for the 21st century

Spring Break, 2026

A Modest Proposal for the 21st century

By Steve Pottinger
@bigstevepoet.bsky.social