Freya Barnes
I do PR & storytelling for social change. Comms counsel to charities, think tanks & public figures. Previously Engage Britain, Shelter.
Nature & politics. Weird about The Beatles. Aspiring goat owner🐐
freyabarnespr.co.uk
- Please send wishes to my friend who has gone home for Christmas this evening to a peach, cheese and pork pie salad.
- Good morning. Have you, like me, just realised your 'quiet week' now contains 11 meetings, endless redrafts and a migraine? Please take ten minutes with your favourite mug to sit in the sunshine. It will make everything so much easier to face
- Genuinely devastating that such a courageous woman couldn't bear the toll of her experiences in the end. So many abuse survivors are still tragically failed. We need to do so much better at understanding it, and holding abusers accountable. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
- So excited to dive into this new @ianleslie.bsky.social book. I've always found the Lennon McCartney relationship endlessly fascinating, touching, extraordinary in its impact on the world. Glad that finally their story is being properly told.
- Seeing a great PR lobbying response from the charity sector to the latest welfare cut proposals - advocacy doesn't have to be months in the making 🧵 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- When a big policy announcement is coming, journos will be actively looking for stories. A well-placed piece can force the gov to respond and make headway in shifting the debate.
- This one works because it has: - A strong topline backed by new data - Case studies that show real-life impact - Shocking anecdotes from the benefits system - Punchy, headline-worthy quotes
- If a policy change blindsides you, having these elements in place can help you react fast. Let's hope Labour listens up!
- At a time when we all need a little more positivity, it was lovely to help get this story into the Guardian. So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them! gwitness.org/41uBGev
- Why do some campaigns fail to shift public opinion, while others break through? Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵
- If you only engage with people who already agree with you, how do you expect to change minds? Too many campaigns focus on what should convince people rather than what actually does. The psychology of persuasion tells us people shift their views when:
- 🪞They see themselves in the story – people connect through personal experiences. If they can’t see how an issue affects their lives, they won’t engage. 🤯 They don’t feel backed into a corner – when people feel judged, they dig in. Change happens when there’s space for reflection, not defensiveness.
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View full threadIf progressive movements want to influence public opinion, they need to step outside their bubbles and use these principles I wrote a bit more on this here: wix.to/AZ89NA9 And I'd love to hear where people have seen campaigns get this right
- Have I found the loveliest coffee place to work from in London?
- Winter in this country is absolutely unacceptable and I don't know why we all continue to put up with it.
- This is not only horrendous for the journalists but will make it so much harder for the paper to report on important social issues - and for us charity PR people to get our stories over the line.
- Charities will need to think harder than ever about delivering the right content for online and social journalism to get our vital issues covered, and thinking most of all about video.
- Sometimes you just can't beat a good hut.
- A blow out celebration for the end of January instead of the beginning of it.
- Twitter is a mess. We all know it. That’s why most of us aren’t there anymore. I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree. Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵
- Staying risks feeding a platform that’s actively boosting right-wing populism and misinformation. Why give free content to a site that’s working against the causes we fight for? Because narratives take hold there before spilling out elsewhere. If we’re not watching, we’re not ready to respond.
- So even if we’re not posting, it's still worth paying attention. My approach: ➡ Use it for risk management rather than engagement. Keep an eye on misinformation, narratives, mentions of your org ➡ Keep a minimal presence. If you still have an account use it strategically not for community-building
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View full threadWe’re building something better here. But while Twitter still has influence, sadly ignoring it completely doesn't feel like an option. How’s everyone else handling this? Happy to compare notes.
- I see there are still far too many people online desperately trying to have edgy opinions about The Beatles. Can't we all just be allowed to enjoy the things we enjoy?
- The way Prince Harry has taken on the tabloids is nothing short of heroic. I hope there's some reflection from broadcast media here about how often their talking points are still set by unreliable press stories. Our media ecosystem has to change in so many ways. www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prin...
- Reposted by Freya BarnesSo that’s the Mirror & Murdoch down, only the Mail to go. And people still wonder why UK newspapers are so vile to Prince Harry & Meghan…
- Reposted by Freya BarnesEveryone excusing Elon Musk’s behavior due to his alleged autism should be chased into the sea with pitchforks it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true
- Daft Saturday post but it's It's Winnie the Pooh day today and bear with me (pun intended), but here's why I love him as a role model for aspiring thought leaders 🧵🍯
- 🍯 Pooh mastered the art of simplicity. He doesn't overthink; he just has original thought. He leads by being kind, relatable, unique.. and occasionally stuck in a honey jar or a front door.
- 🍯 Pooh never tries to be anything he isn't. No curated persona or polished perfection.. his influence comes from being real, flaws and all.
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View full threadSo, if you’re wondering how to be a better thought leader there are worse questions to ask yourself than 'what would Pooh do?' And if you get stuck on (or in) something, you can also ask me!
- Reposted by Freya BarnesZoe Amar: What does Meta’s fact-checking announcement mean for your charity? www.thirdsector.co.uk/zoe-amar-doe...
- The simple pleasure of a cup of coffee, a blank page and an unexpectedly sunny day. Even January can have its moments..
