Production & World Build
Production & World Build focuses on logistical and hands-on work and takes care of the practical and technical sides of events.
- What do the Production teams do?
- How to Request Production Support
- Sound & Power
- Logistics
- Site Design & Build
- Sustenance
- Toilets, Sanitation and Waste
- Accommodation
- Creating Amenities & Sustenance Maps
What do the Production teams do?
Production & World Build focuses on logistical and hands-on work and takes care of the practical and technical sides of rebellion. In short: we amplify actions!
We make sure to provide the equipment needed to intensify any action. This involves sourcing, delivering and operating kit and training crews to work both behind the scenes and on the ground.
We consist of six main teams, Site Design and Build, Sound and Power, Logistics, Sustenance, Sanitation and Waste and Accommodation.
See the next pages for more detailed information on each group, checklists for running your own Action, Protest or Rebellion, and information on how to connect with or get involved in these teams.
Contact Us: production@extinctionrebellion.uk
How to Request Production Support
If you require support or advice from Production Logistics, Site Design and Build, Sound & Power, Sustenance, Sanitation and Waste or Accomodation your request will need to come through Production World Build.
Please contact us via the email: production@extinctionrebellion.uk
We just have two golden rules….
ONE POINT OF CONTACT - please nominate one person to talk to us about production requests. To avoid any confusion of information or mixed messaging all communication will go through your nominated point of contact.
ADVANCE WARNING - Please give us as much notice as possible. You don’t need to have all of the information and detail but we are much more likely to be able to help the sooner we can get the date in the diary.
Please refer to the info and questions below, these will be applicable both if you know you need support or if you’re not sure what support is on offer.
NB. If your action is not an XR action there may be a small fee attached to various services in order to cover the time and expenses of our volunteers. We can provide more details when you contact us.
Does your action require amplified sound?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Sound and Power.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- The location / date / time of the action.
- Is the action static or moving?
- How many people are you trying to reach, and over how big a space?
- How long will amplified sound be required for?
- What are you amplifying, speeches, recorded music, live music?
Does your action involve using kit from the warehouse or XR's van?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Production Logistics.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- Dates the kit / van is required for?
- Do you have a driver - must be over 25 and have some previous experience of driving a small van?
- Do you have volunteers to help load / unload?
- You will need a budget to cover Congenstion Charge / ULEZ / fuel.
Does your action involve feeding people?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Sustenance.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- Date / time / location?
- How many people are you trying to feed?
- Hot or cold food?
- Do you have a kitchen available to prepare food in?
- Do you have a food station to serve from?
- Is mealtime a part of the action or are you providing sustenance on the go?
- Do you have a budget?
- Do you have volunteers to assist with sustenance prep / serving / clearing?
Does your action need access to water / toilets / waste disposal?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Sanitation and Waste.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- Date / time / location?
- How many people at your action?
- Do you have a budget?
- Do you have a volunteer team on the day?
Does your action have a physical aspect which needs designing and setting up?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Site Design and Build.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- Please refer to the Site Design and Build section in the Rebel Toolkit
- Do you require kit from the Warehouse? Please check the Warehouse inventory here.
- Do you have a volunteer team to build and strike the site?
Does your action require accomodation for people?
If the answer is YES you can ask for support from Accommodation.
Before contacting please think through your responses to the following:
- Date / location?
- How many people?
- Do you have a budget?
Sound & Power
What is it?
Providing mobile PAs, sound systems, pop-up stages and solar-power set-ups; essentially bringing the vibes to any action! The Sound and Power team have kit stored in the central warehouse to provide amplification of any sort to your action.
What skills or training do I need?
You don’t need any specific skills or knowledge to join the team as all training can be given. Sound and Power run training courses to equip people with the knowledge and skills needed. In particular training can be given for people interested in running the cycle rickshaws which amplify sound at many London marches.
Help and Support for Sound and Power
If you have any questions about site Sound and Power please contact the team at: production@extinctionrebellion.uk we are happy to help via email, arrange a chat or zoom meeting or lend support as needed.
Join the Sound and Power Team
We are always looking for new members to join our friendly team. Sign-up for email newsletter here.
We are spread across London and the Regions & Nations and are keen to connect Sound and Power crews across the UK. Email production@extinctionrebellion.uk to get involved from your area.
Join the Rickshaw Crew.
If you would like to join the rickshaw crew to support protests and actions in London by providing mobile amplification please join this signal group. No prior skill necessary, all training can be given.
Logistics
Logistics: Looking after the safe handling, transport and storage of XR’s amazing action kit and equipment; literally bringing all the toys needed for any actions.
Typically required when you or any team involved in the action has kit or assets to move around. Logistics coordinates the flow of kit to and from site, so this involves knowing what is coming, where it’s coming from, how it’s getting to site, where it needs to be and when, when it needs taking away and where it’s going to.
A team of volunteers is needed to make this happen and organising and managing these teams is a big part of logistics too. Logistics works with lorry, van, or car drivers, rickshaw or cargo bike riders, volunteers on foot loading and unloading, and shifting kit around by hand or with trolleys.
Check List for Logistics for a specific Action:
- Have, and record a clear list of what is being supplied, where it’s coming from, how it’s arriving and where is needs to be.
- Make sure everything is clearly labelled.
- Make sure you know where things need to be returned to - quick and efficient site clearing is as important as the set up.
- Keep encouraging volunteers before, during, and after the event. You’ll likely need a lot of people to help move kit around and everyone works better when they feel needed and valued.
- Make sure you have enough space in your transport, whether this is a truck, van or cargo bike - underestimating space is worse than having some spare room for the inevitable extras that will arrive.
- Know when to say no. If you don’t have the capacity to move or deliver kit whether this is due to lack of funds, resources or volunteers, communicate this to your team, or the team making requests of you, as soon as you can.
Warehouse Information
A Layout of the main warehouse and lists of what is held there, plus other UK locations in this spreadsheet
Help and Support for Logistics
If you have any questions about logistics please contact the production team at: production@extinctionrebellion.uk We are happy to help via email, arrange a chat or zoom meeting or lend support as needed. The production team manage the Warehouse in London which has kit available for use on actions, and subject to availability the production van is also available for use on XR Actions.
Join the Logistics Team
We are always looking for new members to join our friendly team. We are spread across London and the regions & nations, and are keen to build a production network across the UK. When the time comes for the next big rebellion we want to connect production crews across the UK to work together on a decentralised plan involving all regions.
Sign-up here to get involved or connect up with others from your area.
Site Design & Build
What do we do?
We are responsible for the design and build of sites, spaces, occupations and the different elements within those spaces, i.e. Outreach Hubs, Stages, Creative Structures etc.
This work is typically undertaken by this team for larger actions or where significant public outreach is planned. However all actions should consider elements of design in their planning.
What is it?
Every Action, Protest or Rebellion takes place on a site which has been chosen according to various criteria. If the Action is aimed at a specific individual / company / business this more than likely determines the site, but if your Action focus is broader the site will be chosen according to criteria identified by your Action Planners.
The Site Design and Build team will work with these criteria to design the various elements of the site to maximum effect, and then with a team of volunteers execute the build and break of the site. Site Design and Build is particularly important for larger outward facing rebellions or protests.
If I want to do Site Design and Build for a specific Action what skills or training do I need?
No specific training is needed but it’s helpful to be able to imagine spaces and be able to relate this to the experience you might have in a given space.
Each Action you are involved with will give you more experience of what works best in a given situation. Site Design and Build work closely with the creative team particularly with regard to flags, banners and site decoration.
Check List for Site Design and Build for a specific Action
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Who is your action aimed at and how should it look to them?
- If a major reason for your action is to get press / social media, how does it look to the camera?
- How does it look to a passerby: is there an element of outreach involved, are you trying to draw people in, or are you addressing a large crowd?
- Is it a regenerative action for rebels, how will it look and feel to them?
- Are you expecting crowds, which direction will they come from?
- Do you need to be visible from a distance?
- If a major reason for your action is to get press / social media, how does it look to the camera?
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Each of the elements involved needs to be positioned correctly on the site in order to fulfill it’s purpose. Think about each element in terms of:
- its purpose
- who is it aimed at?
- What is its relationship to neighboring elements and the site as a whole? This applies to everything, whether it’s a main stage, an outreach gazebo, a welfare tent, toilets, a food or water station, a banner or flag, a sound system, an element belonging to a partner organisation, or a crew logistics base.
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Size and space
- How big is your site, how will people move around it?
- Do they need physical signs, digital maps, or stewards with info?
- Is there enough space for a flow of people without bottlenecks?
- Is there too much space so your crowd will appear very small?
- What’s the access like for wheelchair users or disabled people?
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Article on appropriate crowd densities for various situations
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Have you thought about the weather?
- Will it impact your action?
- Can you alter the site design to mitigate against too much wind / rain / sun?
Help and Support for Site Design and Build
If you have any questions about Site Design and Build please contact the production team at: production@extinctionrebellion.uk
We are happy to help via email, arrange a chat or zoom meeting or lend support as needed.
Join the Site Design and Build Team
We are always looking for new members to join our friendly team. We are spread across London and the regions & nations and are keen to build a production network across the UK. When the time comes for the next big rebellion we want to connect production crews across the UK to work together on a decentralised plan involving all regions. Signup here to get involved or connect up from your area.
Sustenance
Sustenance: Making sure there’s systems, crew and equipment in place to feed hungry rebels so they can go on rebelling!
If I want to do Sustenance for a specific Action what skills or training do I need?
Some experience in food preparation and a basic knowledge of food hygiene would be ideal but is not essential. If someone in your team has these skills there is plenty of room for others to volunteer alongside.
Check List for providing Sustenance for a specific action…
- How many people are you aiming to cater for? Do you have the capacity for this (in terms of food, distribution, volunteers, cooking space etc)?
- Think about what is most suitable for your action, what will the weather be like? What time of day is it? How close are local amenities? How integral is food to the action? If sharing food and eating together is an integral part of bringing groups together make sure there is the time and space and facilities for this. Or are you providing high energy snacks on the go? Easy to eat food for people in a sit in / occupation / lock-on?
- Where can you prep / cook / eat? How much time will it take and how many volunteers do you need? Do you have the facilities necessary?
- If your kitchen / prep area is off site how will you transport the food? Where are your ingredients coming from? Do you have food donations or need budget, and time and people to shop?
Providing Sustenance without a kitchen or dedicated team
If it its possible or appropriate to have a full sustenance team, ask people to bring extra food or drink to share with others. Things like - vegan pasties, biscuits, dried apricots, energy balls, crisps, nuts and roasted seeds are great nutritious options. You should aim to serve plant based food, with minimal allergy restrictions. Please note your ingredients so if you befriend anyone with allergies, they can check!
Help and Support with Sustenance
If you have any questions about Sustenance please contact the production team at: production@extinctionrebellion.uk. We are happy to help via email, arrange a chat or zoom meeting or lend support as needed.
Join the Sustenance Team
We are always looking for new members to join our friendly team. We are spread across London and the regions & nations and are keen to build a sustenance network across the UK. When the time comes for the next big rebellion we want to connect production world build crews across the UK to work together on a decentralised plan involving all regions. Sign-up here to get involved or connect up from your area.
Toilets, Sanitation and Waste
What is it?
Shits and giggles! Seriously, Sanitation and Waste may not have the most glamorous name but it’s a vital part of any Rebellion and often has a great team of people who have as much of a laugh as anyone else, and are always hugely appreciated by everyone.
The Sanitation and Waste team will ensure that everyone has access to a toilet, to safe drinking water, and that the site is left in as pristine a condition as it was found - or often better.
If I want to do Sanitation and Waste for a specific Action what skills or training do I need?
No specific skills or training are needed.
Check List for Sanitation and Waste for a specific Action:
- Where are the nearest public toilets to your action? If there are no public toilets near by is there a cafe or pub that would be happy for people to use the toilet? Often agreements can be made with local businesses which benefit all parties and are a great opportunity for outreach.
- Check any toilets that you have identified as useable are also accessible. -If there are no toilets available you may need to provide your own, either using a portable system or hiring toilets, this will depend on who you are catering for.
- If you are hiring toilets you need to think about how many people will need to use them and how long they will be available for. Hire companies can often help you figure out how many units you may need.
- Will people have access to clean drinking water? Are there facilities on or near the site? Local cafe’s or pubs that can refill bottles? Drinking fountains? When tapping into water sources that have not been agreed to extreme care must be taken to ensure it is clean safe drinking water.
- Do any of your groups on site require access to water? eg. Sustenance team? Art blockers?
- How much waste will you be generating? It’s always best to find ways to produce less waste before trying to organise dealing with waste.
- How will you collect waste in a hygienic way? XR has a large number of pink litter pickers made for the big one which are stored in the warehouse in London and can be leant out for any action.
- Make sure all waste is sorted for responsible disposal. How will you remove waste from site? Can you use waste disposal systems already in place for the location you are at?
- XR are known for leaving sites cleaner than they have found them - let’s keep this up!
Help and Support
If you have any questions about Sanitation and Waste please contact the production team at: production@extinctionrebellion.uk. We are happy to help via email, arrange a chat or zoom meeting or lend support as needed.
Join the Sanitation and Waste Team
We are always looking for new members to join our friendly team. We are spread across London and the regions & nations and are keen to build a production network across the UK. When the time comes for the next big rebellion we want to connect production world build crews across the UK to work together on a decentralised plan involving all regions. Sign-up here to get involved or connect up from your area.
Accommodation
Working on providing indoor accommodation for groups or individuals and setting up and running protest camps.
The Accommodation Team work hard to help everyone find a place to stay for major events (usually rebellions in London).
We aim to provide a safe space for anyone in need; people who otherwise would not be able to come to London and places where rebels can rest and regenerate after a long day’s protest.
The number of camps and indoor accommodation organised depends on the number of rebels registering. Managing accomodation needs extensive planning, as it will involve infrastructure, essentials, and preparing to be camping in more than one park. Please see volunteering roles below.
Camping
Campsite specific locations are not normally released until just before we open them. This is to avoid unwanted attention from the public. We aim to cooperate with local communites as far as possible - if you live in London and there is a community area possibly suitable for camping near you, please let us know.
Camping in London at Rebellions
Join the London Campers Community Telegram Group for updates and to communicate with other potential campers.
Managing the camp(s) will be a daunting task. We need campers to volunteer at least a few hours help - we are all crew! Please join the London Campers Volunteer Chat, where you can connect to other volunteers.
Camping in public spaces in London is illegal, however XRUK liaises with local authorities and the Met Police to ensure camps are safe. Locations will only be released once the local authorities have been contacted approximately 7 days before, at which point they are more likely to be supportive.
Contact the Accommodation Team by email if you have any questions: xr.accommodation@proton.me
Indoor Accommodation
We aim to secure as many indoor spaces as possible, such as church halls, mosques, community centres, warehouses and sports halls.
- Could you offer space in your home or camping in your garden?
- Do you know any spaces in London that might be suitable?
commuUnityHome
In addition, there is comUnityHome accommodation.
CommUnityHome is an online marketplace for shelter that connects hosts with campaigners needing a bed. By... Organising and Unifying people around a compassionate circular economic structure. Identifying the harm done by those people, groups and communities in creating wealth and its ongoing accumulation who have a significant influence over whether we can build an economy that is regenerative and redistributive. Lighting the spark for revolutionary, systemic and equitable transformation.
If you have a spare bed to share - register as a host.
If you need accommodation, register as a guest an then make a booking.
For details on how it works see here.
Volunteering
- Can you volunteer to help the Accommodation Team?
- Can you research places in London that might be suitable for accommodation?
- Can you call around venues to book them for our next big event?
- Are you at home on Mattermost and Telegram or good at admin? We need volunteers to monitor chats, manage info and write posts for broadcasts and newsletters.
To volunteer to help out with any of these roles please contact the Accommodation Team.
All necessary information, guidance and assistance needed to take part will be provided.
Check back here or check the Rebellion Broadcast for the latest info!
Creating Amenities & Sustenance Maps
Producing maps using Google MyMaps mean that you can share the editing workload and then publish a public view for participants to use. Google Help on using the tool.
Below are some examples.
The Big One Rebellion
The Big One Google MyMap
Note the use of layers for the different days as well as fixed infrastructure
- Toilets (public and onsite loos of last resort) including full descriptions and accessiblity
- Water refill stations
- Sustenance
- Welcome Hub
- First Aid
- Action Wellbeing
March for Biodiversity
The Big One for Biodiversity V2 Google MyMap
Note the use of areas to show meeting zones at the start of the march
People Pickets
Animals Peoples Pickets Google MyMap
Note use of icons to allow people to find specific pickets - numbers might have been easier