ACTionism Sounds

We’ve just wrapped up the ACTionism Weekender, a joyful and deeply connective experience. Coming together to share meals, participate in workshops, spend time on the land, and engage in open discussions sparked a real shift in our emotions. It deepened our connections and broadened our understanding of what others are feeling.

This powerful experience has inspired us to build on the momentum created by the ACTionism film, which now has 109 screenings scheduled across the UK and internationally, including upcoming shows in Vermont, Perth, Winchester, Cornwall, Bristol, and the Isle of Wight.

From these screenings, we’ve learned that sitting in rows isn’t the best setting for meaningful conversation. Many participants also find it hard to tap into their creativity or feel they need permission to act. That’s why we’re developing the next chapter of the ACTionism movement, one that actively fosters collective action through storytelling and shared experience.

And, one that gets us out of our seats and acting.

Introducing ACTionism Sounds, a new project designed to move people beyond inspiration toward real, community-led change.

Overview

ACTionism Sounds is a UK-wide audio documentary series and community engagement project that transforms social and environmental frustration into hope and collective empowerment. Featuring six immersive episodes and supported by live listening workshops, the series tells real stories of ordinary people coming together to create extraordinary change, showing that the gap between caring and acting is smaller than we think.

By blending rich soundscapes with shared listening experiences, ACTionism Sounds inspires people to connect, reflect, and take local collective action. This project builds on the momentum of the ACTionism film (2025), addressing the key challenge audiences face after inspiration: knowing how to act.

A Call for Support

ACTionism Sounds is a fully designed project ready to go, from episode themes, narrative structure, workshop formats, to community partnerships, yet we currently have no secured funding. We’re looking for individuals, companies, foundations, or collaborators who believe in the power of collective action and storytelling. With funding or in-kind support, we can bring this audio documentary + workshop series to life, spread it widely, and empower more communities to move beyond inspiration into real change.

Keep reading for further details about the project.

Six Steps of ACTionism: The Path to Collective Change

ACTionism Sounds unfolds across six episodes, each exploring a vital step on the journey from awareness to collective action. Together, these stories guide listeners through facing difficult truths, discovering shared purpose, finding their unique role, building trust, taking collective action, and imagining a hopeful future, showing how ordinary people can create extraordinary change.

1. Face the Truth, Together
Recognise and name your feelings, - grief, fear, anger, overwhelm - and share them to build connection and solidarity, breaking through paralysis with shared purpose.

2. Decide What Matters, Together
Gather with your community to identify shared values and the future you want to build, reclaiming your power to act locally.

3. Find Your Role in the Work
Discover how your unique skills and passions can contribute to collective efforts, joining existing initiatives or starting new ones.

4. Build Local Relationships & Trust
Build trust through consistent presence and care, the foundation of strong, resilient movements.

5. Take Collective Action
Participate in or start projects that create new ways of living, demonstrating alternatives to broken systems.

6. Reimagine the Future, Together
Dream boldly through storytelling and dialogue, inspiring collective hope and building new systems rooted in care and justice.

The Result

By coming together to explore our shared values and build connections, we lay the foundation for meaningful, community-led change. These early conversations and gatherings spark trust, inspire creativity, and fuel collective action. Over time, this growing network of relationships and shared purpose becomes a powerful force, capable of transforming our neighbourhoods and systems, shaping resilient futures, and proving that real change begins with us.

Eventually the collective power and ACTing forms a collective vision and our human story shifts.

The Result

These steps spark trust, inspire creativity, and fuel collective action, growing into a powerful network that transforms communities and systems. By sharing feelings and stepping into the power of us, we activate collective transformation.

About the Audio Documentary Series

ACTionism Sounds is a six-part audio documentary series designed to immerse listeners in the journey of collective transformation. Each episode delves into one of the six steps of ACTionism, guiding audiences through a process of reimagining and rebuilding community. Through rich storytelling, ambient soundscapes, and firsthand accounts, the series invites listeners to not only hear but also sense and feel the power of collective action. By weaving together personal narratives and communal experiences, ACTionism Sounds aims to inspire and mobilise individuals to take meaningful steps toward a more connected and just future.

• 6 episodes featuring UK grassroots projects focused on food, nature, mental health, repair/reuse, community, and education.
• A young narrator guides listeners on a journey from climate anxiety to active citizenship.

Workshops & Community Toolkit

The ACTionism Sounds workshops are designed to bring the audio documentary to life by creating spaces where people can listen, reflect, and connect deeply with the stories and themes. We know that real change happens when individuals come together to share experiences, explore ideas, and support one another in taking collective action.

The ACTionism Sounds workshops will transform citizens from passive listeners into active, collective engagement. By creating spaces where participants can openly share their fears, discuss shared values, identify individual roles, and build trust, these workshops foster a sense of community and empowerment.

The workshops will involve art, music, creative writing, movement and much more. The goal is to unlock action through action.

Through collaborative creative activities, participants will experience firsthand the power of collective action and be inspired to imagine and work towards a different, more just future.

We will begin with three pilot live listening workshops that will inform the development and direction of the ACTionism Sounds tour.

The ACTionism Sounds tour will be community-driven and locally hosted, taking place in workspaces and everyday settings, just as the ACTionism film has done.

• Three live listening workshops across the UK blend audio storytelling with group discussion, hands-on workshops, sparking emotional connection and practical action.
• A free downloadable toolkit will enable communities to host their own workshops, expanding impact beyond initial events.

Why This Project, Why Now?

With overwhelming doom in media narratives causing paralysis, ACTionism Sounds offers a hopeful alternative, showing that active citizens can create real change. Building on the ACTionism film’s success, it bridges the gap between inspiration and action through accessible storytelling, diverse voices, and joyful collective experiences.

Inclusion & Reach

• Geographically spread UK stories and venues
• Free entry and accessible workshops to remove barriers.
• Recruiting of a diverse young narrator from underrepresented communities, offering training and pay.
• Community engagement shapes all aspects to ensure relevance and inclusivity.

Partnering with Soundquake: Elevating ACTionism Sounds

We are collaborating with Soundquake, an audio production agency renowned for its innovative approach to storytelling. With over a decade of experience working with major brands, Soundquake has redirected its expertise towards mission-driven organisations, focusing on creating impactful audio documentaries. Their methodology centres on producing high-quality, finite audio series, typically 6 to 8 episodes, that delve deep into the narratives of organisations, showcasing their missions and the change they are driving. This approach ensures that each project is not just heard but felt, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.

By leveraging Soundquake's expertise, ACTionism Sounds aims to craft an audio documentary that resonates deeply with listeners, fostering a sense of connection and inspiring collective action. Their commitment to quality and purpose aligns seamlessly with our vision, ensuring that the project not only reaches its audience but also moves them to engage and act.

Seeking Partnerships and Support

ACTionism Sounds is an ambitious community-led initiative that aims to amplify collective action through immersive audio storytelling and participatory workshops. While we currently operate without dedicated funding, we are actively seeking partnerships with organisations, companies, and individuals who share our commitment to fostering community engagement and social change.

Support could come in various forms, including financial contributions, in-kind resources, or collaborative efforts to host workshops and screenings. By joining forces, we can expand the reach and impact of this project, bringing people together to listen, reflect, and take meaningful action.

If you're interested in supporting or partnering with us, please reach out, we'd love to explore how we can work together to create lasting change.