Resolution or revolution?

So here we are well into the second half of January and welcome to the 3rd newsletter of 2022. How are your resolutions coming along? Maybe it’s because of Wordle but I was thinking about how resolution is only one letter away from revolution.

I don't really do resolutions but I have been doing my own version of Dry January, Damp January, cutting down, not cutting out. Although I've been doing it since November. Always the revolutionary!

I wrote a couple of newsletters ago about how Josh "Wordle" Wardle wasn't making any money from Wordle and didn't plan to. Of course someone else tried to. Of course they did.

It's been a heavy week of council meetings this week, including Full Council. I was really proud to take a motion to Full Council calling for more investment in healthcare for and designed by trans and non-binary people.

Last year, I visited CliniQ, the trans-led and trans-specific sexual health, counselling and wellbeing service at King’s College Hospital. It is funded in part by Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham Councils. CliniQ is playing a fundamental role in establishing trans and non-binary people’s mental health and wellbeing services. I was struck by how necessary these services are, yet the demand is massive.

I wanted to bring this motion calling for increased investment, and also to reaffirm Lambeth council's commitment to support our trans and non-binary residents. All councillors present voted to support this motion. There was one abstention.

The WHO constitution (1946) envisages

…the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being

If you're on Facebook and want to follow more of my politics stuff, my political page is here. It would be wonderful to have your support.

Interesting and useful links 🖇️

I've been following the work that the South London and Maudsley is doing to eliminate the unacceptable disparity in outcomes racially minoritised people experience in mental healthcare. They are implementing a Patient and Carer Racial Equality Framework which will be rolled out in mental health trusts across England.

And here's a piece shedding light on why this work is so important. I'd be interested in seeing this type of approach adopted by health charities. Anyone know of anything?

I thought this was an interesting piece about "performative spelling".

Learning points 🎓

Here's how to make that Wordle gif accessible to people with visual impairment.

Day of the Week 📆

It was Martin Luther King Jr day earlier in the week.

My favourite quote of his is:

First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate... Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.

It comes from Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

What am I reading? 📚

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin. It's about a young wizard learning his trade. It was written in 1968 nearly 30 years before that other wizard book

I like this prescient quote from 2014 when Ursula was honoured for her contribution to literature at the National Book Awards. Full speech is here:

I think hard times are coming, when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, and can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies, to other ways of being. And even imagine some real grounds for hope.

What am I watching? 👀

I've found myself watching far too much Parliament TV this week. Gripping stuff!

What am I listening to?👂

I've just started Scene on Radio's most recent series, The Repair. I love their podcasts.

Joy-giving things 😍

It was "Blue" Monday this week when we're all supposed to feel gloomy. I went out for a walk instead.

The sky was celebrating Blue Monday too!

Have a lovely weekend

Lucy

PS. Your semi-regular reminder to never give up believing that the world can be better tomorrow than it is today

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I write this newsletter because I believe in sharing ideas that help us work towards a truly equal world, particularly in the workplace.

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ChangeOut is created by Lucy Caldicott. You can find more about my work at ChangeOut.org. If you’re looking to have a chat about culture, leadership, purpose, equity, or a facilitated team discussion about any of those things, get in touch. You can also find me on Bluesky, Instagram, and, LinkedIn.

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