Bina Patel is the Partnerships Manager at Community Links, in Canning Town Newham, East London. Raised in the borough she has worked in the charity sector for over 9 years, joining Community Links in 2019 to work in the area that’s been her home since childhood.A fond reflection on a borough that is home to … Continue reading Newham: This is home – Organising in a ‘deprived area’.

By Daniel Mackintosh, August 2020 (with particular thanks to Tom Chigbo for his wise comments) 170 years ago, people like me were not allowed to become British Members of Parliament, nor vote in British elections.[1] Why? Because I am Jewish. That sounds strange today because we have witnessed a significant expansion in who can vote … Continue reading Reclaiming Citizenship: Not a legal status, but a local practice

This blog is compiled from Citizens UK national training, Industrial Areas Foundation national training, the Citizens UK Diaspora Team and the Faith in Action ‘Role of a Powerful Clergy Leader’ By Daniel Mackintosh I have had a number of conversations with institutional leaders, who, after joining organising training, understand that leaders have relational meetings with … Continue reading Powerful organising leaders: who are they and what do they actually do?

by Mei Lim, Director of Reach Children's Hub, Hounslow, as shared at the West London Citizens Strategy Day - a strategy day is where organisers and leaders work together to build the strategy of the local organisation. Some of you might recognise this as Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, but physics was not my strong … Continue reading “Every action has its equal opposite reaction”

Here are some really excellent resources to begin the work of rebuilding civil society institutions to move from non-racist to anti-racist organisations. These resources are from a US based synagogue (the Hebrew around the Black Lives Matter symbol below says 'Lo Tirtzach', 'Do Not Murder', one of the 10 Commandments). https://kolotchayeinu.org/RWG Continuum_AntiRacist Organisation

By Daniel Mackintosh Organising is a hard job. It often involves some unsocial hours (evening meetings), campaigns that don’t go to plan, struggles to recruit and retain member organisations, tough conversations, many hours of training and coaching and making mistakes. And yet, it is the most rewarding job I have ever done. This blog is … Continue reading Why do you love being an organiser?

By Saeed Haque (Senior Citizens Organiser in Birmingham) A year ago, today, we lost our rock: Sr Ita Keane (1945-2019) to a tragic road traffic accident. Sr Ita Keane was the Director of St Mary’s Convent, an inner-city Birmingham Catholic convent established 178 years ago on Hunters Road in Lozells (St Francis Handsworth parish). Home … Continue reading Remembering Sr Ita: tips for organising

By Heidi Shewell-Cooper Change comes in many forms, through big monumental moments in history not unlike the one we are currently experiencing, through charismatic leaders, through planned campaigns and Citizens actions…… and also through ordinary people taking small intentional decisions to make something better. One of the core aims of Citizens UK is to ‘reweave … Continue reading Good Neighbours always …

By Keith Hebden, former Leicester Citizens Organiser. There are two ways to stockpile and panic-hoard; the right way and the wrong way. The wrong way has been well-documented and has led to shortages of food, hand-sanitizer, and – most famously and mysteriously – toilet paper. The second way is what’s keeping my mental health above … Continue reading A survivor’s Guide to Stockpiling