Not everyone wants to lead. Here’s how to design activism that offers something for everyone.  Campaigning, like most sectors, is prone to a fad. “It’s all about empowering leaders” is followed by “The key is having a simple actions for supporters” followed by “Autonomy is everything”. It can be tiresome sitting in seminars hearing the … Continue reading 5 tips for bringing activists into your campaign

Re-posting a blog I wrote for Save the Children, published 8 August 2019:  If you think charity shops are just a place to drop off unwanted clothes or pick up a bargain, think again. Thousands of shoppers come through our doors every week with a fire in their bellies to change the world. Our conversations … Continue reading Campaigning with charity shops

Have you noticed that ‘offline’ is now all the rage? I’m not sure if its because of the chart-topping success of books like New Power, or because we’re butting up against the limitations of digital-only campaigning, but there seems to be a renewed interest in so-called offline activism among charity sector leaders in the past … Continue reading 6 steps to building a local campaigning plan that’s right for you

Picture this. You’ve got a stellar idea for a groundbreaking campaign that will open up the doors to thousands of people taking meaningful action on an issue you’ve been trying to crack for years. You’ve lovingly crafted a roadmap that has the perfect mixture of strategic and tactical ingenuity from the centre, but with significant … Continue reading Can activism be franchised?

One of the brilliant things about my new workplace is the visits we have from external campaigners who are winning change. This week we heard from Stop Funding Hate, a group that started as a discussion on Facebook and quickly grew into one of the most exciting campaigns in the UK. So far it has … Continue reading How are you going to win?

Ever had the feeling that someone dismissed your issue before you’d even opened your mouth? According to Dr Robert Cialdini, author of Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade, they probably have, but not in the way you might think. You might think the person you were trying to persuade didn't accept your message … Continue reading 5 lessons from a persuasion expert

‘Community is the cement that keeps us going’ A volunteer said this to me a couple of weeks ago and it’s stuck with me. I was out visiting a local branch of the charity I’ve just joined, as part of my induction. I was talking to one of its volunteers who had been recruited by … Continue reading Community in modern activism

Part of my journey as a campaigner has been learning when to take a step back, reflect and take care of myself. I’m still not brilliant at it, but I’m certainly better at recognising the signs, and acting on them, now. Embroidery has become a key part of my self-care toolbox. I was always into … Continue reading Slowing down, stepping back

I love podcasts. You can listen to campaigners, politicians and academics reflect on the biggest issues of the day, and what they're doing to tackle them, all while going about your daily business - what's not to love? Audio is (for many) more accessible than the written word, and podcasts give the busy campaigner bite-sized … Continue reading 10 podcasts to inspire campaigners

Being in a room full of campaigners who are sharing ideas, experiences and skills is always thrilling. Last weekend was the annual gathering of the people at the forefront of securing change for people living with motor neurone disease (MND) and their families. Each year the event grows as we recruit and develop more activists, … Continue reading Whose fight is it?