The cascade effect of simple actions (+10 ACTions to get you started)

What if weeding your kerb could lead to your community owning a park and starting a local veg box scheme for families in your area?

Sometimes it can feel like small actions have no impact - we're told to switch off the lights, wash at 30 °C to protect the environment, or shop more sustainably.

We hear you. These actions seem to have no impact, and you feel the only 'real power' is with the politicians you've lost trust in.

ACTionism is different - the power is yours and you don't have to give it away. And the best part: your first small action can quickly lead to something much bigger

It may sound unlikely, but this is exactly how change occurs.
> Small actions spark conversations
> Conversations lead to connections
> Connections build into movements
> Movements create real change and power

The Pattern
Identify a frustration or need → Take Individual action → Conversation → Finding others → Regular collective action → Realising your power → Systemic change

Here's an example: From weeding your kerb to community land ownership and growing space

Step 1
Identify frustration: Notice how overgrown the kerbs are on your walk to work because the council has lost its handyman.
ACTion (10 mins): Weed the kerbs outside your house and plant wildflower seeds.
Conversation: A neighbour stops to chat about what you're doing and mentions the lack of green space in your area

Step 2 (30 minutes): You meet to plant more wildflowers together along the street.
Connection: Local business owner notices and offers to donate bulbs and space for planning meetings

Step 3 (2 hours): First meeting of "Green Our Neighbourhood" group – six people turn up
Regular action: Monthly litter picks and planting sessions with a growing volunteer base
Realisation: This group has real power – 30+ active members, local council starts to take an interest in how you're working

Step 4 (Ongoing): Launch a community share offer to purchase derelict land and transform it into a community park and growing space, which eventually produces enough to create a vegetable box scheme for local families in need.

The space also becomes a gathering place where the wider community can connect, facilitating more actions, conversations, and connections, ultimately leading to greater power and change.

We know what you're thinking - "This sounds great, but I'm just one person with a job/family/dog/cat/no time!"

Obviously, one person does not need to do all of this because ACTionism is about finding others and taking collective action, but often, we need one small action to become visible to others, one frustration to be shared, or one action to be seen, for the cascade effect to take place.

Ready to ACT, here are some quick-win ideas to start with:

• Plant wildflower seeds in neglected kerbs
• Leave free plant cuttings outside your home
• Offer to mend clothes for neighbours (note through doors)
• Fix or upcycle something broken on your street (painting benches is a great place to start)
• Offer to teach a skill via your local noticeboard
• Set up a street book swap box
• Run a bike repair session in your garden
• Put out a "help yourself" box of unwanted items
• Start a street WhatsApp group for sharing and borrowing

We'd love to know what you think- do you have any Quick-Win ideas to share?

Let us know on Instagram or LinkedIn.