Greens Rising Ep 9: Hard Work, Real Power - How Greens Are Winning in Darlington | Matthew & Bryony

Greens Rising | This Is Our Time (Series Finale)

A final look back at Greens Rising — a series of conversations with Green voices across the North East. From community action to local leadership, this wrap-up brings together the moments that matter. 🎧 Explore the full series: https://pod.link/1857771190 [https://pod.link/1857771190] Produced by Spotty Dog Media. This podcast is published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Greens Rising Ep 9: Hard Work, Real Power - How Greens Are Winning in Darlington | Matthew & Bryony

What does real change look like at a local level? In this episode, Jonathan Elmer is joined by Darlington councillors Matthew Snedker and Bryony Holroyd to explore how Green politics has evolved in the town over the last ten years. They discuss the move from campaigning to governing, the realities of casework and community engagement, and the strategic wins that come from persistence. Topics include: • Responding to flooding and infrastructure pressures • Securing climate and nature emergency commitments • Reforming housing policy and challenging national trends • Supporting communities through the Local Plan process • Tackling stark inequalities within the same town • The shifting political landscape and the rise of Green support The conversation moves from hyperlocal issues like parking and drainage to broader questions about inequality, representation and hope in British politics. This is a detailed look at how local government works — and how it can work differently. Key Takeaway: Local politics shapes daily life more than most people realise. When communities are informed and engaged, change becomes possible. About the Podcast: Greens Rising explores how Green politics is evolving across the Northeast — from local councils to national debates — through conversations with people working to build practical, hopeful alternatives. GET INVOLVED! Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk [https://join.greenparty.org.uk] Darlington Borough Greens: https://darlington.greenparty.org.uk [https://darlington.greenparty.org.uk/] Cllr Matthew Snedker & Cllr Bryony Holroyd: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeWardGreens [https://www.facebook.com/CollegeWardGreens/] Produced by Spotty Dog Media Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Greens Rising, Ep 8: Nobody Is Fixing This, So I Stepped Up. | Chris Davies

Chris Davis, Green councillor for Biddick and All Saints in South Tyneside, talks about why local politics matters and what real change looks like on the ground. From fixing pavements to protecting community spaces, Chris shares how solidarity, honesty and hard work can rebuild trust in politics. A grounded, hopeful conversation about doing politics differently. In this episode: – Why Chris entered politics – Brexit and everyday consequences – Community spaces and belonging – Standing up to intimidation – What practical hope really means Chapters 00:00 Why Chris got involved 02:50 Brexit and real-world impact 03:10 The moment that changed everything 07:00 Losing community spaces 10:00 Fixing the basics 11:50 Standing up to intimidation 14:20 Austerity and inequality 15:15 What hope looks like LINKS 1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk [https://join.greenparty.org.uk] 2. South Tyneside Green Party: https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/ [https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/] 3. Cllr Chris Davies: https://www.facebook.com/XrisDaviesGreen [https://www.facebook.com/XrisDaviesGreen] Produced by Spotty Dog Media Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Greens Rising, Ep 7: Politics Done With People, Not To Them | Joe Gartner & Hollie Mildenhall

Young Greens Hollie Mildenhall and Joe Gartland, who is a Green candidate standing in the May local elections in Heaton, Newcastle, come from a background of grassroots activism and community organising. They believe politics should be rooted in care, connection and collective action. In this episode, they discuss: ● What collective leadership means in practice ● Why third spaces matter to community life ● What residents are saying on the doorstep● A striking conversation with a Reform voter ● Why international justice and local politics are deeply connected ● Hope as a political strategy At its heart, this episode asks a simple question: what would local politics look like if it were genuinely grounded in community, rather than power? GET INVOLVED: 1. Join the Green Party https://join.greenparty.org.uk [https://join.greenparty.org.uk] 2. Newcastle Green Party https://newcastleupontyne.greenparty.org.uk/ [https://newcastleupontyne.greenparty.org.uk/] Produced by Spotty Dog Media published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Greens Rising, Ep 6: She Delivered Their Babies. Now She’s Fighting for Their Future | Annette Chapman

In this episode of Greens Rising, Jonathan Elmer speaks with Annette Chapman, a former nurse, midwife and primary school teacher who is now stepping into Green politics in South Tyneside. Annette's story begins not with party loyalty, but frustration. Years of working on the frontline of public services showed her systems under strain and communities under pressure. They discuss: From NHS Wards to the Classroom Annette reflects on decades in nursing, midwifery and teaching, and how those roles shaped her understanding of inequality and resilience. Losing Trust in Politics Why she stopped voting and what changed after hearing a Green councillor speak at a local hustings. Food Banks and Public Service Strain Rising demand. Burnout. Agency staffing. Communities filling gaps that should not exist. Reform, Fear and Political Misinformation A candid conversation about division, presence on the ground and why representation matters. Hope as Action Annette talks about hope not as a slogan but as something built through small, consistent steps. Encouraging Others to Step Up Why lived experience matters more than polish and why doing something small is better than doing nothing. If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who still believes community care matters. GET INVOLVED: 1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk [https://join.greenparty.org.uk] 2. South Tyneside Green Party: https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/ [https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/] Produced by Spotty Dog Media Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ