Desert Island Discs Classic Desert Island Discs - Dame Louise Casey
May 11, 2025
Dame Louise Casey, a distinguished crossbench peer, has played pivotal roles in tackling social issues like homelessness and poverty under five prime ministers. She discusses the power of community kindness during the pandemic and reflects on personal experiences in public service. Louise shares her emotional connection to 'What a Wonderful World' and 'La Boheme,' revealing how music shapes her advocacy. She also highlights her transformative journey through adversity and ends with whimsical desert island choices that reveal her passion for joy and connection.
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Surge Of Pandemic Kindness
- The pandemic revealed an extraordinary surge of kindness and volunteerism towards vulnerable groups.
- Sustaining this goodwill beyond the crisis is crucial to address ongoing societal issues.
Proactive Leadership During Pandemic
- Louise Casey proactively offered her help for the COVID-19 rough sleeping task force by directly contacting officials.
- She felt frustrated by the difficulty in moving rough sleepers from hotels into employment.
Stay Steady Amid Politics
- To succeed in politically charged roles, you must remain like a stone weathering waves of political change.
- It takes time and persistence to adapt to new leadership agendas and political transitions.