Everyday People Making Change

The Chicken Run

Sometimes social justice requires going the extra mile…like dressing up as a chicken and running 18km in the hot sun to your nearest Nando’s. Wales Citizens leaders did just that, with some more than palatable results. Join us for this episode of Citizens UK’s new podcast series, which tells the extraordinary story of young people tackling exclusion and winning big institutional change in their home city. Hear from Ali Abdi, Community Organiser, and Alaa Khundakji and Elbasheer Idris, Cymru Wales Citizens leaders, on how they persuaded executives to create the first ever Halal Nando’s restaurant in Cardiff.  Feeling fired up? Find out more at www.citizensuk.org and get in touch by emailing podcast@citizensuk.org or tag us on social media @CitizensUK using the hashtag #EverydayPeopleMakingChange. And don’t forget to like, subscribe and rate us 5 stars!

Millions for Mental Health

It’s no secret that health services are stretched. And for young people, access to high quality mental health support is often out of reach. How then, did communities across Merton convince a local health trust to fund MILLIONS into new and improved services?  Join us for this episode, as guest Ranjeet Singh, Director of Communications at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, likens the Trust’s evolving partnership with South London Citizens to a ‘marriage’: full of communication, common interests and a healthy dose of tension.  Hear also from James Potter, Chaplain and Mental Health Lead at Wimbledon College, and Peter Brierly,  Assistant Director at Citizens UK. They describe how a newly formed alliance of students and community groups was able to totally transform the landscape – with impacts still paying off for young people today.  TW: Reference to mental health struggles and suicide. Feeling fired up? View all the show notes and info on how to take action with Citizens UK by visiting our website - www.citizensuk.org/podcast. Get in touch by emailing podcast@citizensuk.org or tag us on social media @CitizensUK with the hashtag #EverydayPeopleMakingChange. And don’t forget to subscribe and rate us 5 stars!

Living Wage Takes Off!

It's never too early to make change. And in the current cost of living crisis, it's more urgent than ever that we do. Join us for this episode as we hear the remarkable story of how school children, parents and teachers joined forces with civil society institutions across Newham Citizens and persuaded one of Newham's largest employers, City Airport, to become Living Wage accredited - putting thousands of pounds back into workers' pockets. This is a story for anyone wanting to learn how to tackle the injustice of poverty pay, and for school communities to be inspired by the potential of our youngest changemakers.  Feeling fired up? Find out more at www.citizensuk.org/podcast and get in touch by emailing podcast@citizensuk.org or tag us on social media @CitizensUK. And don’t forget to like, subscribe and rate us 5 stars!

Sink or Swim

To sink or to swim? That was the (pretty literal) choice everyday people in Essex had to make. Join us as Colchester's campaigners dive into the creative actions they took at their local swimming pool...from donning swim gear outside to serenading Leisure World Execs with love songs and Valentines' cards. Guests Caroline Beckett and Caitlin Harland tell the story of how communities being 'relational, not confrontational' were able to win a safer, more accessible all-women swimming group. We unpack the impact this had for women affected by trauma or other forms of exclusion, and why it matters that different people come together to champion equal access to participation in daily life. TW: References to trauma, sexual assault. Feeling fired up? Find out more at www.citizensuk.org/podcast and get in touch by emailing podcast@citizensuk.org or tag us on social media @CitizensUK. And don’t forget to like, subscribe and rate us 5 stars!

Toilet Triumph!

Would you ever dare to give politicians food and drink at an event…with no bathrooms? How about respectfully wrapping up their invites in toilet paper? Be inspired by the remarkable story of how community leaders from 15 diverse organisations won their campaign to reinstate accessible public toilets in Hove Cemetery through strategic and creative actions. Our hosts chat to Frida Gustafsson, the former Community Organiser for Brighton and Hove Citizens, and Sandra Walker and Michael Austin from Brighton Progressive Synagogue. They unpack how, after 7 previous years of no luck, this brand-new alliance helped Councillors understand the deep and discriminatory impacts of the issue on many affected communities, and persuaded them to fund the change needed. Feeling fired up? Find out more at www.citizensuk.org/podcast [http://www.citizensuk.org/podcast] and get in touch by emailing podcast@citizensuk.org [//podcast@citizensuk.org] or tag us on social media @CitizensUK. And don’t forget to like and subscribe!