This document discusses community organizing and how the organization PEACH has used community organizing tactics and tools. It provides examples of how PEACH helped residents address issues with temporary housing managed by private companies through actions like BBQs, videos, reports to the council, and negotiations. As a result, they prevented evictions, got hundreds of repairs completed, paused new properties being transferred to the problematic management, and got the mayor to look into breaking the contract. It discusses how PEACH built power in the community through building relationships, developing leaders, taking public action, and persistence.

1. Community
organising
What is it?
And how have PEACH used it?

2. A set of tools and tactics...
...to build power of communities
...to address the BIG issues
...that otherwise seem outside of our control.
What is Community Organising?

3. - Regeneration delayed, houses standing
empty. Council decided to open them
up to temporary tenants
- 200+ Council properties transferred to
Tando (became Mears) management
- Rent is 2-3 times that of a Council
property, repairs non-existent
- Tando and Mears are private property
companies who make £££££
Terrible temporary housing

4. Action- Tando House of Horrors BBQ

5. - Fri night kids and parents club
- Childcare and activities
- Dinner
- Organising
Tando Tigers (later became Mears Cats)

6. - Videos
- Reports
- Council meetings
- Press
- TV/Radio
Actions and Negotiations

7. Ivorine- Mears Cat
Speech at PEACH 5 Years Anniversary
Our members and teams grew

8. - Prevented multiple evictions
- 100s of repairs completed (windows, cookers,
ceilings, carpets, doors, locks, boilers etc etc)
- Pause on properties being handed to Mears
- New Mayor has promised to look at breaking the
contract
- Council is now looking at alternatives
- Residents will get a say in the new provider
Progress...

9. Shout out some of the things that we did along the
way… eg:
- We gathered evidence
- ?
- ?
- ?
- ?
Breaking it down...what did we do?

10. It’s a Housing
Education
Wages
Transport
Youth Services Cuts
Health Surgery
POWER Problem
What’s the problem?

11. - Does anyone feel uncomfortable with the word
power? Why?
- Whats the diference between Mears power and
PEACH power?
What kind of POWER?

12. Power OVER vs. Power WITH
Dominant vs. Relational
What kind of POWER?

13. 1. Building meaningful relationships→ strong teams
and growing numbers
2. Developing leaders→ clued up, confident leaders
bring other people along and stand up together
3. Taking public action and negotiating→ to win
4. Persistence
4 major practices to build power:

14. Have a mini 1-2-1 with someone you don’t know- 10
mins to answer all 3 questions
- What motivates you to be involved in Big Local?
- Something that you’re proud of and why?
- A risk that you took in your life that paid off- what
happened?
Feel free to ask eachother follow up questions
1-2-1: Organising Secret Weapon

15. Action should be:
- Fun! And empowering.
- Something people feel comfortable doing
- Get a reaction (otherwise there’s no point)
- A bit cheeky
Plan an action

16. Transport issue in your area:
- You’ve done your research and found out that the bus route is most expensive in
the UK
- 16-18 year olds have to pay this very high adult fare with no discounts, despite
being in college
- Its affecting their ability to get to school- some families are speaking about
going without because of having to pay for the fares
- However, pensioners do get a discounted fare
- You have got a big team together of 16-18 year olds, and some of their
grandparents are involved too.
- You’ve just found out that the bus fares are about to be increased AGAIN.
- You want to get a meeting with the Council’s Lead on Transport, but they’re not
returning your calls.
You’ve decided to take action- what could you do?
Scenario:

17. - Lots of trained, brilliant community leaders
- Strong team of residents who want to carry on
- PEACH is well known and powerful
- Legacy of tackling big issues
HOWEVER:
- Staff intensive work!
Relation to Legacy