The value of community support has been starkly highlighted during the Covid 19 epidemic with neighbours helping each other out. Shopping and prescriptions have been delivered and phone calls to help relieve loneliness made, along with many more community initiatives.
A new group launching in Swindon believes community organising is the way forward with people looking out for each other.
ACORN Swindon will launch via a ZOOM meeting 5pm-7pm on 25th April. You can join the meeting by registering on Eventbrite when a link to the meeting will be emailed to you. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/acorn-community-organising-workshop-tickets-98961415257
ACORN aims to reclaim nuts-and-bolts, tried-and-tested organising techniques — like door knocking and collective action — to unite people across the country. Members often organise training workshops. Campaigns are launched to defend members in the face of evictions and poor living conditions where landlords are unwilling to make improvements.
Some branches are tackling the problems of local transport systems and local environmental issues, uniting with other organisations to strengthen their voices.
ACORN Bristol have been working with great success for some years now and many more branches are forming across the country, especially after the last general election.
ACORN is a member led organisation bringing people together, be they council, housing association or private tenants: defending rights but also challenging policies. Recently they forced the TSB and NATWEST to change discriminatory policies against people on benefits.
Founding member Gary Green said, ‘I’ve always been passionate that everyone should be able to afford a decent, secure home. I’ve been horrified by the rise of homelessness and stories of the terrible conditions some people are living in. I’m looking forward to getting started. We will elect group officers at the meeting and start to work on local campaigns. If people are interested, they should come to the meeting. We are also interested to hear from anyone who is threatened with eviction or has poor living standards.
Our Facebook page is ACORN Swindon http://www.facebook.com/ACORNSwindon/. All the details are there.’
