Starting a Local Initiative: Defeating Narratives of Division

This session will explore how you make the very first steps in developing a local organisation capable of reducing the influence of far-right narratives of division. This sessions forms part of a series aimed at curtailing the influence within our communities of narratives of division.

The focus of this discussion is on racism (including hostility to asylum seekers and anti-Muslim racism), but other narratives of division are very similar in their origins and impacts.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

Feel: that the task is not overwhelming and that there is a tried and tested strategic approach to these first steps.

Know: that you are capable of finding five people to join you and start a local initiative.

Do: begin the work of creating a local initiative.

About the training programme

Many good people, exasperated at the growth in narratives of division feel frozen and unable to act as they are unsure how to make a positive impact.

This is the first of a new series of informal online and in-person training workshops begins from the assumption that people who hold divisive views are not necessarily bad people, and that we have a wider responsibility to:

• Engage with them about their views; and
• Work with them to address the issues that are causing their resentment (usually cross-community issues such as low paid, insecure work, housing affordability, the quality of public services, and the breakdown in an inclusive sense of ‘us’ within communities).

Delivered in partnership with the experienced facilitators from Ella Baker School of Organising, these sessions will equip people active at a grassroots level to effectively act to reduce tension, build unity and address resentments.

What will I learn?

Over the last 18 months, we've seen narratives of division poisoning community relations, escalating to violent conflict on our streets. More and more otherwise decent people seem to be being drawn into blaming ‘minorities’ for problems that they have not caused. It could be someone in your group of friends, your family or your wider circle. Sound familiar?

These sessions will share ways that you can create long term change by developing your confidence and skills so that you can build genuine understanding and lasting connections in your own spaces and communities.

Your Training Lead

John Page from the Ella Baker School of Organising has been a long-time organiser in the trade union, anti-racist and community spheres and has worked as a specialist union organiser and as lead organiser at a number of leading anti-racist charities.John has won significant campaigns in the workplace, and has helped organise communities to oppose narratives of division.He is an experienced trainer and has delivered hundreds of on-line and face to face training sessions to the BMA, trade unions, environmental and a variety of voluntary and community sector organisations.

John is co-author (with Jane Holgate) of Changemakers: Radical Strategies for Social Movement Organising.

This session is in our upstairs workshop space. We're having a lift installed in October 2025.

There is currently no level access. It’s a single flight of 14 steps then you go around the corner and there are two small steps. Once you’re upstairs there’s a loo. You shouldn’t need to come downstairs for anything until the end of the event.

If you can’t manage the stairs but really want to attend, please let us know by the 24th of the month before by emailing (using the contact organiser button/link) or sending us an SMS text/WhatsApp message on 07957 602790. and we will try to move the activity downstairs.

If you have additional access needs (e.g. large print, BSL interpreter, level access) please let us know.

GETTING HERE

• Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station
• Bus: No 6 or 18 to Topping St., No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings), No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd

• Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park.

TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is usually plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St and Topping St from 6pm.

These training sessions are supported by the Community Cohesion Fund (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Community Recovery Fund) administered by Blackpool Council.

The fund was created to support those communities impacted by the public disorder that took place in July/August 2024. It aims to Foster Community Understanding: Promoting a shared understanding of the issues at a community level, developing community cohesion.