Common Ground: A group of 'angry women of a certain age' is highlighting that we have more in common than divides.

Billionaires and the media use hate and fear to divide communities and win power. Social media has further segmented us - sorting us into neat boxes of "us and them." But a group of 'angry women' from Devon have decided to prove something else: we have far more in common than we think.

"We're a group of angry women of a certain age, says Anthea Lawson. " We're not affiliated with any political party; we just know there has to be a better way, so we're out inviting people to have these conversations with us to show that we have more in common than we are told."

At weekends, or whenever they can muster volunteers, the women take to the streets and set up a board of questions in a busy area. They stop people (who often seem relieved to be told they're not from a political party) and ask whether they want to come and talk about what's important to them. They then use a flip chart and stickers to shape and capture the conversations.

What's key is that these conversations aren't about winning arguments or changing minds - they're about revealing the shared concerns that unite us beneath the noise.

When it comes to politics, the Right/Farage, Trump, Musk, etc. divide-and-conquer strategy is simple: isolate single issues and exploit them. Meanwhile, the rest of us who care about so many different things, too often add nuance across so many issues that people struggle to know where they stand. The result? We're fractured at precisely the moment we need unity.

But when Common Ground talks to people on the streets, something remarkable happens.

Someone might say immigration is their top concern. Yet when the conversation deepens, they also care about taxes, climate breakdown, the cost of living, and protecting the NHS. They want these things addressed. And they discover something powerful: the person standing next to them - from a different postcode, perhaps a different faith, speaking a different language- cares about the same things. The sticker boards the team uses to capture the conversations show this.

"We also ask people which of these issues affects them personally, and this question really seems to make people think. We had one lady come back the following week and bring her husband because she was keen for him to take part in these types of conversations too," says Anthea Simmons, Editor at West Country Voices and Founder of Common Ground.

Anthea Simmons came to this work after becoming involved in the South Devon Primary, a grassroots initiative to end 100 years of Conservative rule in the Totnes / South Devon constituency. 

"We ran our ‘democracy meter’ sticker polls on the streets and held ‘Town Hall’ meetings across the constituency to choose one candidate from the progressive parties behind whom to unite. You could call it a step up from tactical voting," says Anthea Simmons.  "In July 2024, voters united behind Caroline Voaden, LibDem, and she defeated the Conservatives. And we decided to stay on the streets and keep listening and talking."

The divisions we're hearing about are manufactured. The real issues - jobs, healthcare, climate, the cost of living - unite us. But solutions don't come from Reform or Far-Right narratives. They come from something simpler: solidarity, conversations, and a willingness to listen.

The street conversations that Common Ground are starting aren't about convincing or coercing anyone to change their view. They're not about winning arguments. Sometimes people shift their perspective; sometimes, they don't. That's not the point. The point is simply to start talking - to show that beneath the noise, we're connected by the same concerns and the same need for real change.

How to Start Your Own Conversations
Common Ground wants to see boards and conversations like these happening on streets all across the UK.

Ready to ACT: Here's how to join in:

Get trained and supported – Common Ground are keen to speak to others who might want to do something similar where they live. They can teach you where to site your board, how to frame meaningful questions, and how to handle difficult conversations. Training happens via Zoom, or they'll come out with you locally if possible.

Gather the basics – You'll need a flipchart stand, paper, coloured stickers, markers, sellotape, and a ruler.

Set meaningful questions – Work together on questions that reinforce shared values rather than play into divisive narratives. Use local issues alongside broader ones.

Share and learn – Common Ground want to hear from people on how they can spread this idea further and spark more of these uniting conversations, so this is the sign you've been waiting for to reach out!

It's not complicated - it's ACTionism and collective action at work.

Ready to start? Get in touch with Common Ground and start talking!