5.22 — weeknotes — pride

So I ran out of time last week with the weeknotes hence the radio silence Part of the draft was about Brighton Pride that I went to the other weekend, mainly to see Steps to be honest (yes potentially sharing too much through the weeknotes now).

However, the importance of Pride really hit home over the last couple of weeks. Last Sunday you may have seen the news that two men were stabbed outside a gay bar in Clapham, an unprovoked homophobic attack leaving two men in hospital (they have thankfully been discharged). But this really bought home the importance of pride, and the important of standing tall in the community. It was all a bit close to home as well — I have been there a number of times, always been a very safe space to me.

Reminded me the importance of charities like MindOut — my Socitm President’s Charity for the year.

Whilst the community has come a long way, and I am a relatively recent member of it, sometimes it still feels a long way to go to ensure that we have equality and able to feel safe. We all have a role to play.

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Yes I am a massive fan of Steps and have never seen them live so it was an opportunity not to be missed. They were amazing but spent a lot of time in the 90’s tent as well — Baby D (Let me Be your Fantasy) — Rozalla Everybody’s Free!) — Just amazing.

Oh yeah also did a lot of work stuff as well over the last couple of weeks, nearly forgot what these weeknotes are meant to be for. I have heard a number of people over the last couple of weeks say that although that August has a number of colleagues are on leave it is still busy — certainly not a quiet time that perhaps historically it may have been.

Some highlights of the last couple of weeks — a number of formal boards moving programmes forwards including: Planning, Council Companies and Housing Boards. Had the Digital Strategy Board, which we are formalising Digital as a Portfolio in the Delivery Plan so a number of changes to evolve the board.

Booked some time to move my Level 7 forward over the last couple of weeks and failed in the main. Need to really have a look at the diary over the next couple of weeks to push this.

Unlikley to be weeknotes next week as I am away with Socitm. But there will be a great weeknotes the week after following our time in Kansas City for the GMIS Conference!

Tune of the week: Steps — Tragedy (Official Video)