ACTionism in Action Newsletter 08/09/2025
ACTionism exists to inspire you by showcasing ordinary people who are challenging the system to create change.
Something to take part in: ACTionism x Pol.is: Can We Build Better Conversations About Change?
What happens when you bring a democracy tool powered by machine‑learning into a field, and make it live and non‑anonymous? We're putting that to the test at the ACTionism Weekender, and you can be part of it too.
Through a live Pol.is poll, we’re inviting everyone, whether you're gathering by the campfire or reading from your living room, to weigh in on this opening statement:
“Is actionism powerful enough to meet the scale of today’s crises, or just a comforting distraction?”
Your responses will help surface the most thought‑provoking perspectives to explore during our on‑site workshop, where we’ll embody disagreement, listen deeply, and challenge our assumptions, together.
This isn’t a debate. It’s an invitation to listen, reflect, and imagine change.
Join us. Let’s build better conversations.
Something to join: Winchester Green Week x ACTionism screening - 24th September
The Party Kit Network is hosting an ACTionism screening at the Winchester Green Week. If you're in the area, why not get along and meet some folk?
We're not the only party in town that week. The Winchester Green Week is a vibrant annual celebration of community-powered climate and sustainability action. It’s about learning, connecting, and taking real steps together toward a greener, fairer future. That sounds like our kind of event.
Something to Read: What I’m Proud Of (and Why That Matters)
A piece by Gav, inspired by Jon Alexander's post reflecting on the last 3 years. "I have a plan - or rather, some plans. But first, I wanted to reflect on a few of my proudest moments - for a reason. We have to celebrate and build on what’s good, not just stare at what’s wrong, because what we pay attention to grows."
So, what is Gav proud of? Spoiler alert... all of us.
"What I’m most proud of is this community, creative, joyful, stubbornly hopeful people who dare to believe things can change. Who understand that everything is connected, that this system isn’t for fixing, it’s for transforming."
Something to watch: Instagram @__we_love_you_
We love this Reel as a way to explain to a friend why ACTionism is the way to build the future we want to live in.
Something to listen to: How to Save Democracy
A brand new podcast series from Jon Alexander and Omezzine Khelifa.
"Welcome to Season Zero of How To Save Democracy, a new podcast that aims to heal society’s broken relationship with democracy. Join us – Omezzine Khelifa, Jon Alexander, and producer Jo Barratt – as we hold the space for the tough conversations we need to have.
We love democracy, genuinely, wholeheartedly. But it’s like a dysfunctional relationship. Democracy today is full of flaws. It’s not “by the people, for the people” anymore. There are resentments and frustrations and anger, and we can’t go on like this. We need to have the tough conversations, and that’s what we are doing on this podcast."
Check out episode 1, and get to know co-host, Omezzine Khelifa, who has some story: reformer, revolutionary, politician, and practitioner.
Something to check out: A beautiful ACTionism poster from our friends at 99p Films
Together with 99p Films we're taking ACTionism to Falmouth University Sustainable Fashion department as part of Fashion Reclaimed, a Sustainable Fashion Week between 27 Sept – 5 Oct 2025.
99p Films is a community cinema that turns film screenings into shared, transformative experiences , combining film, mindful breathing, discussion, and communal feasts.
Founder Alex Fish has been a close friend of ACTionism since we met at Goodfest in 2023, and his Social Cinema approach helped shape how we released the ACTionism film, not for passive viewing, but as a catalyst for community dialogue.
Thanks go to Jack from the 99p team for the awesome poster design. We love it.
Something to help us with: Find a sponsor for the ACTionism Spotlights
We're looking for a partner ready to invest £20,000 annually in amplifying grassroots community action through our Spotlight call series and associated content.
ACTionism Spotlight calls are monthly live conversations with inspiring community actionists and organisations. Know someone who can help fund us? Contact: Tamasine McCaig or Gavin Fernie-Jones. Drop us an email here or reach out on LinkedIn
Why partner with ACTionism?
- Communities face complex challenges but lack connections and practical guidance to drive change. ACTionism bridges this gap by showcasing real people making a difference, then providing tools for others to replicate success locally.
- All our work to date has been voluntary with minimal funding. Sponsorship will enable dedicated promotional resources for the first time, significantly expanding reach and impact.
- We measure success beyond numbers - through authentic connections formed during calls, ongoing collaborations between participants, and concrete actions taken post-call, from starting local initiatives to joining existing movements.
Something to share: ACTionism Contributor Guidelines
News cycles sharing doom and gloom are causing paralysis - a feeling that we cannot effect change on the scale required. So we have set up ACTionism.space to inspire others by sharing examples of ordinary people bucking the system to effect change.
We're building a joyful movement of everyday citizens stepping into their agency to create positive change in their communities, spaces, and challenges. And, as true agency is only collective, we're doing that together. If you'd like to contribute to the platform, please read the guidelines and get in touch.
Our ACTionism Contributor Guidelines
