Francesca Baker

Technology is blamed for many things. Amongst them is the rise in mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Social media has been linked to a rise in low self esteem and social anxiety for teenagers and adults, and according to psychologist Jean. M. Twenge, technology has resulted in millennials being on the ‘brink of a mental-health crisis.’ Back in 2010 psychologists at the University of Leeds found evidence of a link between excessive internet use and depression, ...

Last week thousands of people from across the UK got up early and snuggled with their tea and toast to watch the dawn break to live music.
The mass participation artwork was devised by interactive theatre makers, non zero one in collaboration with composer James Bulley. James is a composer and sound artist whose practice explores natural systems, locative sound, and site-specific sound installation. The original live music score, inspired by the break of day and created in collaboration with ...

I am inspired by curiosity and questions. I am fuelled by a desire to understand what shapes us as human beings. I am driven by a need for my own well being. I am excited by the challenge of articulating what I am learning with clarity and in a manner that is helpful to other people.

I explore emotional trauma, healing and well being by drawing on three strands of information: (1) the experience of working with my own trauma, (2) the insights of others who have worked with their personal trau...

Website rewrite for coach.

Newsletter promoting workshop

Margate Bookie returns

Around a quarter of Brits now work from home. There are huge benefits for employees and freelancers – no commute saving time and money, the opportunity to work around other commitments, and for some, a more focused work space.
The next few months will see working from home becoming the standard way of operating in countries around the world.
So how can you make sure it works for you?
Have a routine
If you would usually get up at 7, do the same at home. Without a commute, you might have to pop...

City Giving Day guide

With their fifth studio album freshly out in the world, Poliça filled the Village Underground with their atmospheric soundscapes.
Village Underground is a strange venue. A sort of warehouse-cum-church, its big gaping ceiling makes for an enviable setting for any band doing the London rounds. Tonight Poliça take this stage, hot off the back of their fifth album When We Stay Alive, released at the end of last month on Memphis Industries.
First up was Warm Digits on support, who beam in videos o...

City Giving Day light guide.

The job of a teacher is to deliver extraordinary education to their students. But this doesn’t have to be confined to the four walls of a classroom.
New technologies are making it possible to allow learning to take place at home, school, libraries and museums, providing a continuum of learning no matter where pupils are. By allowing individuals having control over their learning, students and schools are offering up new experiences and enhancing education.
Education doesn’t have to stop at th...

You might have heard tales of artificial intelligence taking over. Or robots stealing our jobs. Or technology being the end of things how we know it.
But you’d be wrong. Done well, technology is a great tool. Schools have long been reluctant to integrate technology into the classroom. Unsure of how it will be implemented, and struggling with the capacity to learn something new, there has been hesitancy amongst some teachers.
However, for those who have brought the right technology in, the tra...

Technology is a fundamental part of everyday life. It has transformed the way we approach activities, engage with services and consume content. 78% of people own a smartphone, and 46% of 5-15-year olds have their own smartphone, and 49% have their own tablet. We check them on average every 12 minutes, according to Ofcom. The internet is an essential part of life, and there is even talk of making it free for everyone to access. Yet the use of technology in education is highly variable and is r...

Great education is a right for all. Regardless of background, learning is something that all children and young people should have access to. Not every student comes to the classroom with the same ability. Levels of attainment are often variable across a class, for multiple reasons, including natural talent, family support, available resources and more.
Differences in school achievement affect future chances, and act as a block on social for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Sutton Tr...

Teaching might be thought of as a vocational career, but it certainly isn’t easy. Educating the next generation is a hard job, and increasing demands make it a high pressured job. And this pressure is taking its toll.
According to report by Education Support, a charity that gives mental health help to education professionals, nearly three-quarters of teachers and 84% of school leaders now describe themselves as ‘stressed.’ Over a third of education professionals have experienced a mental heal...