Become an activist!
What is activism?
Activism
Activism is taking action to make change. Going to a
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to take action.
means taking action to make change.
The action could include:
- working with others to spread your message.
- sharing your story with the people who can make the change happen.
Going to a campaign event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to be an activist.
You don’t have to be an expert and you don't need to go to protests.
You just have to be a person who wants to create change with other people.
Find out more in our activism Easy Read
Stand up for what you care about
Campaigning for change by becoming a local
activist
An activist is a person who campaigns to bring about change.
is a powerful way to stand up for the issues you care about, whether that’s
cuts
Cuts are when there is less money to pay for things like clubs and support.
to services, better health care for people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
, or an issue specific to you.
Our
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
activism coaches help people across England develop the skills to become effective and inclusive community organisers.
Our team can help you uncover your passion, support you to draw up your plan to make change happen or put you in touch with other activists in your area.
Attend a free Community Organising and Activism Awareness Training event
If you're looking to understand more about activism and community organising, with a desire to create change for people with a learning disability, do come along to one of our one day face-to-face activism events.
We are going to be holding events right across the country in 2024 and all the locations and dates will be displayed on this page soon. Please keep popping back for our latest updates.
Topics covered will include:
- Activism
- Community organising
- The Mencap coaching offer
These events aim to empower you to start your own campaign with training and encouragement from one of our experienced activism coaches. They will also enable you to find likeminded people, identify your goals and set up a campaign plan to achieve success.
Interested? Simply book your place and we'll send you more details.
Watch our Activism in Action film
Activism means taking action to make a change. Whether it’s signing a petition, campaigning in your local community or sharing your knowledge with friends – lots of small actions add up to a big difference. Watch our Activism in Action film to find out how you can become an Everyday Activist and start campaigning for change!
Become an activist in your local area
You'll be making a difference to the lives of people with a learning disability, their family members and carers.
Talk to your local Mencap activism coach today!
Join our everyday activists Facebook group
The Everyday Activists - Campaigning with Mencap Facebook group is a great way to find out about local events, campaigning activities and sharing ideas about how you're getting along campaigning for the
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
of people with a learning disability and their families.
It's a private group so only members can see who's in the group and what is being posted.
Frequently asked questions about activism
What is activism?
Activism means taking action to make change. This could be working with others to spread your message or sharing your story with the people who can make the change happen.
Going to an event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to be an activist.
You don’t have to be an expert and you don't need to go to protests.
You just have to be a person who wants to create change with other people.
Who can be an activist?
We believe that anyone can be an activist. We know that many people are already ‘everyday activists’ – someone who challenges others when something is not right.
We also believe that the people who are impacted by a decision are the most powerful voice in any campaign. This could be people with a learning disability, family members, carers or anyone who has lived experience of learning disability.
What support can Mencap offer activists?
Using coaching and our new activism tools we would like to empower people to take action locally. Our activism tools will guide you and will help you to break down your campaign into smaller steps.
What is coaching?
Coaching is where a person helps someone else to identify what they can do. This could be about starting a campaign group, sharing stories or working toward campaign success.
Coaching, together with our new activism resources will help you find other people who could join you as activists and will help to shape your campaign.
Which model of disability do Mencap follow?
Although people have different thoughts on disability, they can be sorted into two different areas or models. They are; medical, and social.
Although we are a charity Mencap follow the social model of disability.
What issues can I campaign on?
We believe that the people who are impacted by a decision should have the biggest say. We also think that local people understand their communities best. You can campaign on any issue that’s important to you – we won’t tell you what to do or what to say, but will help you bring your idea to life.
You don’t have to campaign on one of Mencap’s big priorities, but there may be opportunities to get involved in national campaigns if they fit with your local priorities.