5 simple play-based actions to try as way to unlock possibilities for community engagement and ACTionism

What if the key to transforming our communities was as simple as blowing bubbles or taking chalk for a walk?

Summer ACTionism ideas for Children and Families

As a parent to three small people, I am well aware that the summer holidays can feel overwhelming - weeks stretching ahead with expensive day trips, costly activities, and societal pressure to keep children 'entertained'. But what if this summer could be different? What if, instead of spending

The Alternative High-Street

An Alternative High Street is the vision of the Re-Action Collective. It is a space that champions repair, reuse, repurposing, sharing, and upskilling. It promotes a culture where caring for what we have and sharing it becomes the norm, rather than defaulting to buying new. Vibrant hubs of community interaction

Partner opportunity with ACTionism: Empowering Community Action Across the UK

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.

Cooperation Hull - Top 8 tips for starting a community powered group of ACTionists

Cooperation Hull is pioneering a grassroots movement that embodies the very essence of ACTionism - the belief that ordinary people have the power to create extraordinary change when they come together with purpose. Through their innovative People's Assemblies, they're replacing traditional party politics with people power,

ACTionism in Action Newsletter

ACTionism exists to inspire you by showcasing ordinary people who are challenging the system to create change. We've had a busy few weeks since we launched this newsletter and our content hub - thanks to everyone who has been in touch with supportive messages and ideas on how

ACTionism Summer Connect - online meet - Tuesday, 19 August 13:30 - 14:30 CEST

We won't be hosting a Spotlight call in August but you can join us for a relaxed online gathering designed to keep our ACTionism community connected during the summer. This friendly virtual meetup is perfect for anyone who's still around over the summer and wants to:

What if all documentary films were screened like the Actionism doc - at community screenings?

The future of documentary impact isn't just about reaching more people—it's about empowering communities to act together. And the answer can be found in Social Cinema screenings.

Fundraising ACTionist needed

We're looking for someone with fundraising and partnership skills to help our small volunteer-led team secure funding. We're excited to have started on this journey, and are already seeing and hearing so many positive things about what we've created so far with no budget!

Why David Attenborough needs to lean into ACTionism in his documentary - OCEAN

David Attenborough’s new documentary, Ocean, might be visually stunning, but I think it's missing the most important part - people. Almost everyone I know who has seen Ocean has been moved by the beauty and urgency of what’s happening beneath the waves, but they also share

How can you take action when it comes to food and farming right now?

Reclaiming this connection with our food systems isn't just about eating better; it's about finding your people and discovering the collective power that comes from understanding the real stories behind our food.

ACTionism is about acting towards something, not just resisting the world as it is, but reimagining what it could be.

There’s a growing feeling that many of us carry. An ache. Knowing that something’s not working, and that we want to be part of building something better. But how? Where do we start? Where do we belong in this story of change? At Re-Action, we’ve been exploring

Events

The collab we need - October 5th at Cornish Bank in Falmouth

Coming soon - two potential screenings of ACTionism in collaboration with our friends at 99p Films.

Food

ACTionism Meets the American West: How Montana Cowboys Are Rewriting the Food Story

By pooling the resources of 5 ranches, the Old Salt Co-op are finding collective agency to reclaim their rightful role as land stewards - and proudly declaring their belief that “Land Is Kin”.

Guides

ACTionism Contributor Guidelines

Thanks for expressing an interest in contributing to ACTionism. Here are our guidelines for anyone wanting to submit content for our movement.

ACTionism in Action Newsletter 28/07/2025

ACTionism exists to inspire you by showcasing ordinary people who are challenging the system to create change. Something to join: A conversation about JOY & ACTionism * What if #JOY was a form of climate action? * What if reuse, repair, and radical connection became the most powerful way to push back

How to empower and spark collective action in children as young as 4

Empowering Young Voices: How Smart School Council Transforms Children into Changemakers What if children as young as four could identify problems in their school and take meaningful action to solve them? Smart School Council is revolutionising how we think about student voice and democratic participation in education, proving that age

Reflections

Citizen Future: why we need a new story of self and society

“The doom-laden headlines of our times would seem to indicate there are two futures on offer. In one, an Orwellian authoritarianism prevails. Fearful in the face of compounding crises — climate, plagues, poverty, hunger — people accept the bargain of the “Strong Man”: their leader’s protection in return for unquestioning allegiance

Spotlight: Using Pol.is: A Dynamic Tool for Consensus Building

Pol.is is a tool designed to facilitate large-scale, open-ended conversations while identifying areas of consensus. It enables groups, whether face-to-face or online, to engage people in active decision making and participatory processes in an inclusive and scalable way. The challenge: Traditional consultation and decision-making processes often fail to capture

Food

Spotlight: CanTeam

What if schools could become thriving community hubs that tackle food poverty, reduce waste, and strengthen social connections all at once?

Stories of Action

From a balloon to global network

Through my interest in reducing waste at home, I came across an online directory of zero-waste initiatives. I had previously submitted new projects I’d discovered, so when I read about the party kit concept, it made sense to suggest party kit could be added to this directory.

Spotlights

Video Spotlight: Smart School Council

What if every child's voice mattered in school decisions, not just the loudest ones? This article explores how Smart School Councils work, why more schools and communities need this approach, and how you can take action to bring democratic education to your area. Building a citizen future in

Reflections

ACTIONISM + ACTIVISM

Just Stop Oil have hung up their hi-vis. After years of relentless action, the government has finally agreed to stop issuing new oil and gas licenses in the UK. Whatever you think of their approach, this is a monumental shift - one that wouldn’t have happened without sustained pressure

Reflections

COMPARING THREE PATHS TO CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: VOLUNTEERING, ACTIVISM, AND ACTIONISM

In a world grappling with climate change, inequality, and social injustice, more people than ever are looking for ways to make a difference. At the same time, others are frozen in inaction, fearing that what they have to offer isn’t enough to make meaningful change. Let’s take the