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Ben Swithen

Ben Swithen

Sheffield

Ben Swithen (they/them, or what you will) is a person.

A small crowd of fluffy yellow easter-chicken-shaped cake decorations, representing community.

Announcing GFSC Community Drop-ins!

GFSC is starting four regular monthly drop-ins for: tech developers; artists and freelancers; community organisers; and writers and researchers. They're focussed on developing and supporting people to use open source and community technology, including our own PlaceCal platform.

Text reads: 2026 Ins and Outs, and an easy typo for 'fire horse'. The image shows a fire hose.

New Years' Prepositions: What's IN and what's OUT?

Six Ins and Six Outs for 2026. Time to get away from despair, and from renting software from billionaires. Time to get into community-ownership, DIY culture and taking action with a certain gusto and resolve.

Kim, wearing a natty pink and orange cardigan and speaking into a microphone while giving a presentation. Behind her, a large set of presentation slides are visible.

Geeks for Social What? Our year of explorations and beginnings

All years in recent memory have been grievous and alarming, but here's what we did to make 2025 better and build for 2026. A run-down of GFSC's projects, articles, and methods for making technology which can strengthen communities.

Autumn leaves! Staying aloft during the fall

Autumn leaves! Staying aloft during the fall

Ever wanted to start a zine, a website, a computer game, or a food redistribution project? Catch up with others who have (and the ways to do so) in this round up of our autumn and the people, activities and opportunities which emerged during this year's conker season.

A pixel art image of a sheep whose head is part of their body.

Hope, then Excommunication, and then Hope Again

Meet Ben, a person with a tale of transphobia, excommunication, lost hope, and the secret joy of failure. How does all this lead to gender gladness, to hyacinths, and to a game called Trans Theft Horso?