On the Day - 12 Stewarding Tips
If you're new to Stewarding, why not print this page of top tips and bring it with you to your first action?
Stewards on a protest are welcomed, and we want to be professional too.
- Stewards' primary task is to keep protesters and passers by safe (e.g. from traffic).
- Don't talk to the police or security, never repeat or text anything you might hear them say, nor rumours.
- If asked (e.g. how long, what else): you don't know, you are here to keep people safe, you are not part of the protest.
- Stay calm, don’t get into arguments, take a deep breath and de-escalate.
- To communicate quickly to a crowd, use Mic check.
- Stewards work in pairs so that if for instance there is an accident, one stays with the injured, the other gets help.
- Ask the lead steward anything you don't know, but find out where the nearest toilets are yourself as this will often be asked.
- Do not point or gesture at people who might be helping at the protest- you may be being filmed so you don't want to be identifying people.
- Safeguarding: stay in pairs, do not give unclaimed children to random people, leave reuniting to the authorities.
- On a march slow the front to the slowest participant, don't allow gaps to widen, send banner pairs to hold intersections.
- On a static protest keep a path clear on the pavement for passers by and keep protesters off the road unless it is closed to traffic.
- Ask and suggest, don't order: people don't have to obey you.
Watch the 4min video of these tips: Stewards Briefing Video.