Stages in managing a local response to the People's Emergency Briefing film

Guidance on follow-up community action that dovetails with the PEB film's facilitation guide.

· Some people and groups will already be engaged in climate action or nature recovery

· Some will never have faced the issues in the briefing, or be too busy with their own issues

· Be careful to choose the right language to use for each audience - remember we need a calm response to some inevitable feelings of alarm, and responsible next steps

· All audiences will need to be offered a pathway / feel empowered to take action together

1. IDENTIFY THE LOCAL ACTION ALREADY HAPPENING

· Local community and business projects

· Local council and public service (e.g. water) policies and projects

· Any networks already connecting these initiatives, and/or other local campaigns

2. ONGOING LEADERSHIP IS VITAL

· Identify leaders of local organisations and all ages of the community – including farmers (FWAG), schools, sports clubs, voluntary groups, faith groups and ethnic groups

· Engage them appropriately using trusted messengers (like speaking to like)

· Research the interests of your local MP, and contact them accordingly

3. FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS

· Some people will need time to absorb what the film says (and/or see it again locally)

· Those in groups will need to report to their own meetings

· Have a further date already booked for people to come back together for further discussion and to review next steps (and ask for their contact details at the screening)

4. INVITATIONS

· Invite local leaders and active projects to the screening, also local media editors

· Depending on the local population, decide whether to have more than one screening

· If inviting the general public, consider ticketing/Eventbrite/Ticket Tailor/QR code for assessing numbers - and be prepared for a wide range of views!

5. AT THE SCREENING (see the film’s Facilitation Guide for a process)

· Decide in advance whether to have smaller discussion groups after seeing the film

· Have enough people to welcome attendees and enable discussions

· Decide on and invite some local projects to say what they’re already doing

· Perhaps add successful ideas from elsewhere (Greener Henley, Great Collaboration)

· Neutrally record all suggestions from a plenary discussion. One option – ask people to use post it notes for their responses to the local actions mentioned in the film e.g.:

o Preserving wildlife

o Managing the risk of local floods

o Reducing food waste

o More active transport

o Cutting carbon emissions

o Generating renewable energy

6. PREPARE FOR THE FOLLOW-UP AND SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS

· Identify a core of people prepared to help take things forward, with their contact details

· Meet separately after the screening to review together the feedback from the attendees, and consider further outreach to people who did not attend

· Agree an appropriate agenda for the follow-up meeting and invite attendance, including from any existing local environmental networks

· Consider whether to show the 10-minute Great Collaboration film on possible actions

· It can be helpful to have a draft programme for next steps, but be careful to let attendees feel they’re in charge of their own pledges, and it’s not all predetermined

· Consider how local actions might be supported, both collectively and severally

7. AT THE PUBLIC FOLLOW-UP MEETING

· Present the feedback from the screening

· Invite further comments, including ideas for local action

· Note offers of help to develop individual projects

· Consider the need for further screenings to reach more people

· Consider whether to show other films e.g. Six Inches of Soil, POWER Workshop

· Consider a joint walk around the area to review project opportunities, or a bioblitz

· Consider the need for further campaigning, including pressure on the MP

· Consider whether to hold a community meeting to develop a local action plan

· Agree a process for keeping in touch e.g. Whatsapp group for between meetings

· Agree a convenor and date(s) for future meetings

8. CAMPAIGNING

· Connect with existing campaigning groups in your area

· Gather more local voices e.g. using the Climate & Nature Meter Guide approach

· Share the results with your MP at a local constituency surgery

· Share with local councillors, and candidates before future elections

· Find ways to keep up the pressure without impeding local community projects – some people are natural campaigners; others prefer to get stuck into projects on the ground

9. ORGANISING

· At further meetings, consider agreeing terms of reference for the longer term

· If with your local parish council, could be a sub-committee or a working party

· If raising money and delivering a project, options include a community interest company, a community benefit society or a community land trust

· Whichever option is chosen, someone has to be the secretary for communications

· Also consider using posters, social media and/or a website for wider publicity

10. NETWORKING

· Make contact with existing local networks

· Consider forming your own network such as those just started in Essex and Norfolk

· The Great Collaboration can support with a dedicated online forum for your initiative