Roger Tomlinson

Former independent arts consultant, working internationally, especially new technology and audience development, now retired, lives in Wales

[Roger Tomlinson @BrandinyourHand]

I am not posting on X/Twitter any more. In all conscience, it is too toxic, unpleasant, inaccurate now. Many of my following/followers have disappeared - cut off by algorithm changes? - and instead unwanted nasty posts. I will check-in periodically. Bluesky now.

[Carl Bovis @CarlBovisNature]

This is what entitlement looks like! 🤬
There are nesting waterbirds on this pond on Hampstead Heath... there are also big 'No Swimming' signs, all being totally ignored! 🤬
Pure selfishness... 😒🤬🤬

(Shared from Instagr*m with permission from 'swansofhampsteadheath')

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

BREAKING:

Rachel Reeves announces a temporary cut in VAT for 'summer attractions' from 20% to 5% over the holidays

This applies to ticket prices for adults and children

It includes fairs, theme parks, zoos and museums

It also includes children's tickets for cinemas, concerts, soft play and the theatre

It will cut the cost of children's meals in restaurants and cafes from 20% to 5%

The savings will apply from 25th June through to the 1st September

Reeves brands it the Great British Summer Savings Scheme

[Arts Professional @ArtsPro]

Proposals to reform Gift Aid and other “funding mechanisms” suggested by Baroness Margaret Hodge require careful implementation to work for communities across the country, Creative UK and UK Theatre have suggested. https://t.co/TdDXHrgK3o

[Rory Stewart @RoryStewartUK]

It is so difficult to understand why Trump launched his Iran operation - an op so clearly damaging to US national interests, the global economy, Ukraine and the US’ closest allies in Europe and the Gulf.
Then there is this….

[Cary Cooper @ProfCaryCooper]

Listen Trump!

[Roger Tomlinson @BrandinyourHand]

Oh dear @tfwrail 10:53 from Cardiff Central 5 car Mk4 with buffet car & chef & 1st Class turns up without as 3 car 197. Have complained before about bad ride of these, but worst ever, violent jerking left right up & down. Gear changes cause huge jerks. Conductor says “normal”

[Roger Tomlinson @BrandinyourHand]

Good news for the arts in Bristol from the City Council: https://t.co/SMtLcrc3jt

[Mishal Husain @MishalHusain]

Here he was as our launch guest, prepared to accept challenge on his record and his goals ⬇️

https://t.co/IWoEdnyWq7

[Geoff Cripps @GeoffCripps]

UK grassroots music venues show lowest decline since 2018 as sector stabilises post-pandemic | Music | The Guardian https://t.co/CRg6wLbjQY

[Joe Powell MP @josephpowell]

Your regular reminder that London is much safer than almost all peer cities around the world.

As local businesses tell me all the time: those politicians with an agenda to talk down London are anti-business and ignoring the facts.

[Cathy Newman @cathynewman]

Thrilled to win both Journalist of the Year and Interviewer of the Year at the Press Gazette British Journalism Awards tonight and @Channel4News scooped News Provider of the Year for the second year running. I read out messages I received from Andy Morse and PJ Smyth, two victims of serial abuser John Smyth. Andy tried to take his own life, fearing Smyth’s threat of a particularly savage beating to mark his 21st birthday. After seeing Smyth held to account for what he did he told me that now “life is wonderful”. PJ, his father’s original victim, spoke of his enormous relief that he was able to “shed shame” by talking publicly about the dark secret his dad and the Church concealed for so long. I dedicate these awards to the victims of abuse who have bravely trusted me to tell their stories. And it was great to haul my brilliant but self-effacing producer Claire Sinka up on stage after all our work together over so many years. ❤️

[Dale Vince @DaleVince]

We live in an unequal world. And it’s getting worse. 1 in 1,000 people own three times more than 500 of those 1,000 people. It’s not a matter of being unfair - it’s an economic system unfit for the world. The economic rules of the world are man made - they are not like laws of Physics. We wrote them (well not many of us had a hand in that) - we can and must re write them.

https://t.co/s3mBBPcG7g

[Freelancers Make Theatre Work @FreelancersMake]

A BBC investigation has found theatres are relying on these festive productions for a big chunk of their earnings - with one reporting last year's panto brought in 45% of its annual income.

https://t.co/82WtAf6NKU

#FreelancersMakeTheatreWork

[The Green Party @TheGreenParty]

Israel, stop blocking aid to Gaza now.

12 have been killed or gone missing, 13 homes collapsed & over 27k tents for displaced families were swept away amid the ongoing storm.

The UN & other international organisations must be allowed to provide aid.

We need emergency shelter for all those affected now.

[Maude Frome @frome_maude]

Winter Wonderland by Lucy Grossmith. #FolkloreSunday #WinterSolstice is coming. #Yule #Christmas

[The RSC @TheRSC]

Congratulations to Frankie Bradshaw who has been nominated for Best Set Design at this year’s #WOSAwards

Frankie is Set and Costume Designer for our new musical, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, coming in 2026 🙌

[Plaid Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @Plaid_Cymru]

Labour is refusing to give Wales billions in rail funding - money that Wales deserves.

Instead, Wales' money is going on projects in England.

Plaid Cymru will always fight for Wales is owed.

[Christopher Head OBE @chrish9070]

#PostOfficeScandal Government launches Information and Support Service (ISS) for HSS, HSSA & HCRS applicants.

This service is for those who do not have legal representation. Although this service is welcomed (something is better than nothing) I still believe upfront legal advice should be provided to all victims. The only cohort who are not eligible for this are HSS applicants, legal advice is only available once a first offer is made to help with the decision on whether to proceed into the Dispute Process, take the Fixed Sum Award of £75,000 or transfer into the HSSA (HSS Appeals ran by DBT) if eligible.

I don’t believe in the most part time or money is saved by not giving accessing to that legal advice when completing the original application, although I do agree law firms are overwhelmed with the number of claimants, to process things as quick as they normally could. As this service will not be able to quantify or give advice which could be seen as legal advice we will still get people vastly under claiming what they are entitled to, which in turn will result in an unsatisactory offer between 6 - 12 months later. Then when the claimant can now access legal advice, they will advise them to the best of their ability how to proceed, it maybe the Fixed Sum Route otherwise it could the Dispute Process. This will then require expert forensic accountancy input and sometimes medical expert reports all of which there is a backlog, this can take upto 6 months. All of these costs are funded by Post Office / DBT as well as the new ongoing claimant legal costs.

They have therefore provided what they refused to do at the outset all with a 6-18 month delay to the victim, with no cost savings made, probably added costs of the panels / teams working on claim assessments having to sit twice per claimant, once at the outset and again followinh expert evidence and representation. Surely a false economy.

That being said if you are unrepresented in the HSS or the other 2 mentioned schemes (HSSA & HCRS - bearing in mind you CAN access paid legal advice in those latter two schemes) and you need someone to talk to and help fill in the application form please contact the ISS service.

This is a fully independent service, no one from Post Office nor DBT are involved in anyway other than to confirm to the team you are eligible for one of the three schemes.

I will be meeting with the team to help provide input on how they should work with claimants who contact them for support.

All details can be found on the site below👇

https://t.co/30KFuwaKgC

How to access the ISS 

Contact the ISS team directly by: 

⚫️telephone: [phone]
⚫️email: [email protected]

The service is available between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. 

What happens when you contact the ISS :-

When you contact the service, a call handler will ask you for some initial information about yourself and about what support you need.

If it is your first time contacting the ISS, they will then confirm with either DBT or the Post Office that you are eligible to access the service. It may take them up to 5 working days to confirm your eligibility.

Once this has been confirmed, you will be allocated a support worker. They will get in contact with you and arrange a convenient time to discuss your request for information or support further. 

What support the ISS can offer :-

The ISS can support you by: 

⚫️explaining the differences between the various schemes and the potential pros and cons of each route 

⚫️helping you complete registration or application forms 

⚫️helping you understand what documentation and evidence could best support your scheme application

⚫️explaining the types of losses you could claim for and the evidence you could submit for each loss 

⚫️clarifying the type of information required for any additional forms and correspondence you receive

[Theatres Trust @TheatresTrust]

We are delighted to announce that we’ve awarded c£170,000 from our Theatre Improvement Scheme with @wolfsonfdn to 11 theatres on their journey towards reducing their environmental impact 💚