Make A Change Launch – 10.08.22

Are you bothered by something unfair in society? Want to do something about it? 
Then this is for you.

About this event

Are you worried about our planet?

Do you feel unsafe within your community?

Do you feel wronged by a system you interact with?

Is school/college/uni set up for you to succeed?

Are you getting the support you deserve to keep you healthy?

Come and join us as we explore how we can make a difference through activism and community organising.

Blackpool’s Activist Alliance are inviting you to series of workshops starting this summer, where we will share skills and knowledge equipping us all to take steps towards positive change on the issues that we care about.

The workshops will cover things like …

• Getting started & finding your people
• Different types of community organising
• Using art and creativity to get your message across
• What’s going on locally? Blackpool-based activists sharing their work

This event kicks off a series of workshops and activities. You’ll be able to find out more, hear from those already taking action as creative campaigners in Blackpool and start having conversations about what’s important to you.

You don’t need to identify as an activist or come with any specific knowledge. Everyone has expertise to share through their lived-experience and anyone can be an activist!

So whether you are new to this or have done stuff in the past, whether the action you want to take is big or small, whether you want to change something happening on your street or at a global level, come along to our Make A Change event!

Who’s going to be there?

Ella Baker School of Organising (EBSO): EBSO specialise in training community activists using fantastic training materials based on concrete examples of struggles here in the UK. They’re growing a volunteer network of trained facilitators that can learn from each others experiences and can deliver training to local community groups. Their work is all about encouraging people to come together and organise for a more democratic, more equal and more sustainable world.

💭EBSO will be giving us an intro to all things activism & community organising.

Skate Like A Girl (SLAG) Collective: They were called ramp tramps and skatepark slags and their interest in skateboarding was misconstrued as interest in male skaters. Now @slagcollective are reclaiming the derogatory language that surrounds their hobby, empowering a group of women in Blackpool to proudly skate like a girl.

🛹You’ll hear about how they started up, what they do and you’ll even have the change to have a go at skating.

Brendan Bunting: Brendan is a Blackpool-based artist who creates social and politically inspired art often using recycled materials. His work adresses a number of social issues and workshops will be collage-based, inspired by his own practice.

We’ll explore the theme of climate change and the environment using collage as a tool for activism. We’ll also look at infographics, and how they can help you to present factual information in an engaging and visual way.

More to be announced…

So what’s the deal?

When: Wednesday 10th August 2022   morning session 10:30- 1pm, afternoon session 1pm-4pm. Come for one or both, lunch provided.

Where: Art BnB, 180-182 Promenade Between, FY1 1RJ, Blackpool.

For who: Those living, working or studying in Blackpool who want to find out more about activism and our skills and knowledge exchange workshops.

Age Range: Suggested age range 15-20, but if you’re older or younger and interested in social action you’re welcome.

Cost: This is a free event

Food: We’re providing a pizza & salad lunch. We’ll ask you for your dietary requirements when you sign up.

Access: We will ask you abut your access needs (e.g. large print, BSL interpreter, level access) when you book your ticket.

Getting here: Public transport

• Tram to North Pier
• No 1 bus to North Pier or Cocker St
• No 12, 18 or 22 bus to Queen St (Central Library)
• No 3 or 4 bus to Dickson Rd
• No 2, 2C or 12 bus to Abingdon St

Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on Queen St and Cocker St.

You can sign-up for morning, afternoon or the full day. Just choose what you would like from the ticket selection.

If you are under 16, your parent or carer will will need to fill in a consent form. We’ll email this to you once you sign up.

Who are the Activist Alliance?

This event and the following skills and knowledge exchange workshops are being programmed and facilitated by Activist Alliance partner Aunty Social.

The Activist Alliance is a collaboration between Boingboing CIC and community partners based on the concept of Activism for Resilience, the idea that people taking action towards social justice is beneficial to their mental health and wellbeing, both in the doing itself and in the potential outcomes. This is why the Boingboing conception of resilience is ‘beating the odds whilst also changing the odds’.