As my time at SCM is coming to an end, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how I came to this role as a Faith in Action Project Worker and why. I have come to realise that I haven’t shaped my own activism through research and knowledge; my life experiences have shaped my activism. I am from a large, majority working class, former heavy industry town in the north west of England. We have vast socio-economic issues, cultural divides, issues of racism and racial violence, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and Othering of those who are not ‘British enough’. I sit here, at 23, and realise that, with all its issues, this town made me who I am. It is a reflection of an underserved place who struggle to create cohesive community due to rife prejudice. Bearing witness to all the issues, I know that there is a lot of work to be done, and just being alive in this environment radicalised me to desire justice, equity, and community.
Growing up, I witnessed injustice and discrimination. I was, and still am, surrounded by poverty. A lack of social cohesion and unwillingness to connect with people who are different that ourselves has led to a town divided; blame for socio-economic issues pushed around between different groups of people who are made vulnerable. When I was a young child, I always had a sense that people in my town ‘didn’t like each other’, but had no understanding as to why. As I got older, and became more aware of the world, I learned of anti-asylum seeker and anti-refugee rhetoric; I witnessed a family member be asked where they’re ‘really from’ whilst out shopping in the town centre. I grew older again and supported someone through their PIP (Personal Independence Payment) appeals, which went to court twice and was awarded instantly by the judge, who wondered themselves why the PIP had been denied in the first place. I endured the stress and anxiety of the uncertainty with them as we waited for the court dates to arrive and then awaited the judge’s decision. I continue to be surrounded by poverty; it is estimated a third of people in my town cannot heat their homes and put food on the table during the winter. People lack access to healthcare from a GP or dentist, leading to the local hospital and its emergency department being overwhelmed with people who need medical attention. As a queer person, I see the suffering of my trans* siblings at the hands of people who do not know them, and I feel the crushing weight of a community in distress and anger. I witness Othering daily, people told they are different or lesser by people who consider themselves in some way above or superior. The weight of it all can be overwhelming. What am I, one young person, supposed to do about all these issues? Where do I begin?
I struggled for a while as to how to act. I felt unsure what my voice would do. I recognised the privilege I have; white, I have spare time, some excess money, and the energy to put into action. I also have a supportive family and friends around me. I have grown up with my dad playing music where the lyrics critiqued society, and my mum who always encouraged me to express myself how I felt best. The privilege of this is something that I can never deny and am very grateful to have. I knew I was being called to do something, I just wasn't sure what. It wasn’t until I finished my undergraduate degree that I realised there are many ways to take action. I could do more than write to my MP. I continued my studies and met someone who is now a close friend. We were activist together, two people from working class backgrounds, from places with little opportunity who want to leave the world a bit better than we found it. Once, they even provided me a card with information with what to do and who to call if you get arrested. We talk about challenging ideas, pushing back on expectations of academia and the boundaries assigned to us by our working classness. As I was finishing my Masters, I began to work at SCM as part of the Faith in Action project. I was drawn to the role as I saw how my personal work towards social justice intersects with the campaigning work of SCM. I felt that it was time to take my work broader and share the knowledge I could with others. I knew this role allowed me to engage in activism in a different way; a way that is more organised and has community support. People within SCM want to create change and bring about justice, and this role is a small part of achieving that.
Recently, I became familiar with Deepa Iyer’s ‘social change ecosystem map’ and began to dig deeper into the ways in which our activism can be done. Iyer outlines ten different roles we can take within activism that all work towards the goal within our social justice campaigning. Writing to MPs and protesting is just a small part of the potential actions we can take. Iyer explores how these roles are important and acknowledges how different people feel they are able to fulfil these roles. The ten roles that are explored are:
Weavers
Weavers connect people, ideas, movement, and organisations together to build collective power. This could be a shared calendar between local activists that details upcoming events, or a monthly meeting where people can reflect, align their efforts, and share resources.
Experimenters
Experimenters try new approaches to solve old problems. They may create community response teams to issues in the area, instead of calling for emergency help straight away. A communal fund may be set up to help those in the local area.
Frontline Responders
Frontline responders take immediate action in a time of crisis to help those in need. They organise appropriate resources and supplies to be distributed quickly. This may be food, water, or medical aid during a protest. They may also arrange emergency housing for people and families who have nowhere else to turn. They also ensure important messages get share to those who need to hear them.
Visionaries
Visionaries imagine bold and new possibilities for the future. They may host sessions where ideas are shared to create an idea of what the future could look like. They generate ideas that positively impact the community and society.
Builders
Builders create, develop, and sustain the structures that support change. This could be founding a mutual aid network or creating a community pantry.
Caregivers
Caregivers provide direct support to sustain the wellbeing of others in the movement. This can be cooking meals to share with those at, or returning from, a protest or offering childcare during community meetings and events.
Disruptors
Disruptors are those who go on protests to disrupt the status quo, raise awareness, and build power. They may organise a march or sit in to demand change, or they may arrange financial boycotts.
Healers
Healers centre healing to repair trauma done to communities or movements. This could be facilitating a peer support group, hosting a healing circle after a protest, or a professional therapist or counsellor who offers sliding scale fees.
Storytellers
Storytellers craft and share community stories through art, music, media, and movement. They stories shift the narratives and inspire action. Storytellers could create documentaries that uncover the realities of life for a particular group of people, or share their art and the inspirations behind it.
Guides
Guides offer insights, tools, and mentorship to those on their social change journey. They may host workshops on how to organise effectively, or work with local youth groups on advocacy campaigns.
I find myself fitting into a few different roles, and I find myself having different roles in my personal life and my work here at SCM. At SCM, I fit more into the ‘guide’ and ‘weaver’ role. I engage with people who have similar interests to SCM and we connect, work together, and organise campaigns. In my personal life, I feel I am more the ‘disruptor’ or the ‘caregiver’. I want to take action with others in my community, and when I can’t, I want to ensure they are safe and have space to decompress after a day protesting. Knowing there my action does not always have to be protesting reminds me that I am at my best when I can play my role well.
Growing up witnessing and experiencing injustice shaped me to who I am now. I realise that injustice does not exist within neat boxes with clearly defined edges, but instead it intersects and overlaps. I use my privilege to protest, be out with my community, and care for them when we go home at the end of it all. I continue to see injustice in the world and I cannot back down or look away from it. Instead, we come together, I take up my role with my community and continue to be shaped by the life I experience.