Ways to do outreach

Talking about the Crisis on the Street

When Nonviolent Civil Disobedience has been most effective, it has taken place on a foundation of connected and organised communities. Actions are our primary way to get into the public eye but our actions alone are not enough. We need to use these actions to start conversations, to tell the truth and to open our arms to all who wish to join us.

Talking to Passers By

Part of our purpose as rebels is to Tell the Truth, so engaging with the general public during actions is vital. Some might be a bit annoyed with you/Extinction Rebellion, so it may be useful to have some de-escalation training under your belt, but most are simply curious!

Aim To:
• Listen to them.
• Share the facts but don’t overwhelm them.
• Shift their frustrations and anger from XR to the system as a whole.
• Invite them to take a step with a small ask or an invitation (leaflets are great too!).

Remember:
• Introduce yourself, be open and honest.
• It’s a conversation, after the first 2 mins listen more than you talk.
• People rarely change their stance in a single moment, you are planting seeds!
• If someone is looking for an argument just step back and “agree to disagree” – there are plenty of other people to talk to!
• For more detailed advice and some answers to the difficult questions have a look at Talking about the Crisis on the Street and Responding to difficult questions and hostile encounters.

The Crisis Quiz

One way of starting conversations with people is by using the crisis quiz. Its short, and only takes a minute or two, but most people are surprised by the answers and want to know more.

Starting Conversations

Some examples of open questions:
• What worries do you have about climate breakdown?
• How do you feel about the future of our food security?
• How well do you think Britain is prepared for the effects of Climate Breakdown?
• Why do you think our government has spent millions on oil and gas bailouts?

Bring the conversation to the fact that our government is negligent by not fulfilling its duty to the people. And then listen to the answers, really listen.

Introduce the Demands and Citizen’s Assemblies – wouldn’t it be great to hear what people actually want? Mention France’s recent Citizen Assembly’s outcome, i.e. wanting to make Ecocide a crime under national and international law.

If conversation moves to solutions, this is a great opportunity to invite them to a Community Assembly – we are trying to start the direct democracy process off in our local area! If people have experience of what real democracy looks and feels like, the closer we come to creating popular support for our 3rd demand.

Small Asks

At the end of each meaningful interaction ask people to do one thing to help (judge the right scale for the individual you’ve just spoken to) here are some examples:

On-the-Ground Signposting & Recruiting

Don’t be afraid to recruit people on site!
People will often come along to check out an Action/Rebellion site if they are passing by, or if they are in a Local Group but haven’t taken a role and just want to help out. We don’t turn people away! Make sure they don’t move into arrestable positions without having done an NVDA training, but don’t hesitate to give them something to do. The best thing you can possibly do is be friendly and welcoming. Be someone they want to keep talking to.

For Example:

  1. Flyers – handing out or flyposting
  2. Sustenance – give out tea & snacks on site
  3. Talking to the Public – have 10 min trainings ready so they can learn and practice!

Street Outreach Skills Training

To see upcoming Outreach Trainings, visit this page.

Post Training Resources

Recording of the training

Handy tips & tricks (see handout below) and how to use 'ALLESHA' for effective street outreach:

Street Outreach Skills HANDOUT with further linked resources

Sign-up Resources

This page - Local Group Sign-ups - will give you a link to a folder which contains QR Codes and downloadable pager sign-up forms - it also has useful info about Action Network - a way for Local Groups to have an email contact list - there's excellent training on how to use Action Network which is also linked on the page.

Please Note: when you open the folder of QR Codes and paper sign-up forms, scroll down to the bottom for the forms and download from there.

Survey Boards

Survey boards are a great outreach method and have proved to be really effective and fun to use. Rebels have said that the boards can be an easy method to initiate conversations as people are curious about the boards and approach your stall more readily. We have presented two board design options below for groups to try.

Just use whatever software you have (e.g. Word, or Google Docs) to write out the words you want on your board and print BIG!

There are a few versions fo these boards for you to get inspiration from. Each type will lead to different conversations, and comes with some guidance on how to use them.

Board Designs

#1: Original

Question 1 (First Panel)
How concerned are you about the climate crisis?

⇒ Either use a scale of 1-5 where 1 is ‘not worried’ and 5 is ‘terrified’, or 1-5 different choices, for example

  1. Not Worried
  2. Bit Uneasy
  3. Quite Worried
  4. Seriously Concerned
  5. Terrified

Question 2 (Second Panel)
Do you think that the UK Government is doing enough? (optional ‘about it’?)

⇒ Use a scale of 1-5 where 1 is ‘They’re hopeless’ and 5 is ‘They’re doing a great job’

Or just use the emojis from the template.

Question 3 (Third panel)
Would you consider going to [INSERT UPCOMING EVENT] (between/from) [INSERT DATE] (optional - ‘to call for an end to the fossil fuel era?’)

⇒ People add sticker if they are ‘considering’ and don’t if they aren’t (no need for Yes/No)

Optional text to print ‘sign up to our email list here...’ and ‘keep yourself informed…’

Possible additions - but keep things neat and tidy

#2: The Deliberative One

Question 1 (First Panel)
How concerned are you about the climate crisis?

⇒ Either use a scale of 1-5 where 1 is ‘not worried’ and 5 is ‘terrified’, or 1-5 different choices, for example

  1. Not Worried
  2. Bit Uneasy
  3. Quite Worried
  4. Seriously Concerned
  5. Terrified

Question 2 (Second Panel)
Which of these climate impacts concerns you most? You can choose more than one answer.

⇒ Divide the panel up into sections where participants can place their stickers:

  1. Extreme weather, e.g. flooding, drought and heatwaves
  2. Political Instability
  3. Wildlife loss and destruction
  4. Energy crisis
  5. Food insecurity
  6. Pollution
  7. Other

Question 3 (Third Panel)
Do you think that our Government is doing enough?

⇒ Use a scale of 1-5 where 1 is ‘They’re hopeless’ and 5 is ‘They’re doing a great job’

Or just use the emojis from the template.

Question 4 (Fourth Panel)
How could we as ordinary citizens put enough pressure on our government for it to act more urgently? Choose the options that are most effective.

⇒ Divide the panel up into sections where participants can place their stickers:

  1. General strike
  2. Tax strike
  3. Petitions
  4. Get professionals/notables to sign open letter to MP
  5. Mass marches
  6. Lobbying together with a pressure group
  7. Take part in mass civil disobedience
  8. Creative stunts & actions

#3- The Nature One

RNN survey boards.PNG

Question 1 (First Panel)

How concerned are you about the loss of nature?

⇒ Either use a scale of 1-5 where 1 is ‘not worried’ and 5 is ‘terrified’, or 1-5 different choices, for example

  1. Not Worried
  2. Bit Uneasy
  3. Quite Concerned
  4. Very Concerned
  5. Seriously Concerned

Question 2 (Second Panel)
Which of the following is most important to you? You can choose more than one answer.

⇒ Divide the panel up into sections where participants can place their stickers:

  1. My connection with nature
  2. Government action to restore wildlife
  3. 1 in 6 species are in danger of extinction
  4. Clean rivers and seas
  5. Climate caused crop failure

Question 3 (Third panel)
This is the 'commitment' questions, something they can do. The following text was used for Restore Nature Now - but you could change it to a local event or action or even 'sign up to our email list'.

Would you consider joining the Restore Nature Now march with Chris Packham and many thousands of others, on Saturday 22nd June in London? To really show our politicians that nature is important to us?

⇒ Just use YES or perhaps Yes/Maybe options

Possible additions - but keep things neat and tidy

#4: The English/Welsh Nature-Themed Pie-Chart One

Screenshot 2024-05-28 at 10.25.57.png

Question 1 (use number scale)
How serious is the nature crisis / biodiversity loss?

Question 2 (use pie-chart layout)
Which parts of the nature crisis concern you most?

Question 3 (use pie-chart layout)
Where can we take action most effectively?

Question 4 (the call to action)
This is where you offer the next step. It could be a question like 'would you join our email list?' or 'Would you like to come to our next welcome meeting to learn more about XR?' or inviting people to the next big event/action (e.g. 'Would you like to join us in London for Restore Nature Now march?')

Tailor and print words
All these questions are available on this Google Doc - you could take a copy and edit the questions and answer to suit. Welsh translations of questions and options also contained in this doc.


Producing the Boards

We recommend purchasing white A1 or A0 foamboards that can be found from craft stores or online (approximately 1m x 70-80cm)

Graphics for the boards

Files to print for the survey:

#1: The Simple One

#2: The Deliberative One

#3: A colour version of a Citizen’s Assembly focused board
Pdf to download here - you should be able to print these at home and carefully tile together to create the size you need for these boards.

Or you can create your own versions using the XR FUCXED CAPS as well as other fonts and symbols which can be downloaded here.

We have suggested two ways to attach the boards together though you might find alternative methods that work for you.

Making the boards themselves

Wooden Support

Bamboo

General Advice

Talking to Family and Friends

We know that personal connection is one of the most effective ways of changing people's perspective on the climate crisis, and bringing them into activism.

So speaking to our friends and families about why we do what we do can be really powerful! But it can also be really difficult.

We can feel that people don't want to hear what we have to say, or worry that people will think our actions and views are too extreme, when we know that they are completely proportionate to the scale of the crisis we face.

Thankfully, there are some really useful resources available help with this!

Resources to help you...

The climate communication charity HEARD recommends using a "can do" framing for conversations. Rather than talking about how "everything is fine", or "will be fine", nor saying "everything is ruined". Say instead that we can change/improve this, it's within our reach if we try. See these slides and this guide to read more about how to change the way we talk about climate.

A Gift for Conversation

A Gift for Conversation is a 'gift book', designed to help you talk about the climate crisis to people you care about. Written by an XR Rebel, it is available in paper copies via a 'pay-as-you-feel' system, and as a pdf version for free.

Rebels have given dozens of copies to their friends and families and it has triggered some brilliant conversations. It has even been given as a gift to the judge in climate activism trials!

How to speak with your family and friends about environmental issues

This short guide provides some really solid advice on the basics of talking to people about climate change and the environment. It doesn't go into the details of the issues like the book above, but covers the practise of active listening, how to keep the conversation productive and polite, and the power of the personal.

Outreach Hubs

An Outreach Hub is a pop-up tent where you can find XR info and support, meet rebels, pick up vibrant print designs and join trainings and workshops. They also serve as a place of sanctuary where you can pull up a chair and know you’ll be welcomed.

A lot of the information and advice would also be useful when running a simple stall.

Rebels chat each side of a stall in a gazebo

Setting up your Hub

Purpose?

Consider the aim of your hub, is it informing the public about the climate emergency, who XR are, our demands, our focus on NVDA? Is it promoting a local group, or a big event coming up (e.g. a 3.5 talk or the next rebellion). It could be more than one thing, but talk about it with your team so people feel clear on the aim of the day and ensure every person interacting with the stall goes away more informed, more connected (this could be signing up to the email list, or the Rebellion Broadcast, or at least knowing where to learn more or contact their local group)

What location?

Is there a lot of public footfall for outreach? Is it a place where people linger and there’s space to stop?

What are the logistics?

How are you transporting the Hub kit from storage to location? Is the location accessible by car/van? What’s the best drop off point for unloading? Make sure you have a team waiting to help unload and set up the Hub on the day.

Familiarise yourself with the local ecology.

A week or so in advance, speak to local traders and/or people who might feel you are invading their patch to put and people at their ease about XR’s intentions.

Take time to dress the Hub and surrounding area ...

...so that it looks welcoming and attractive. Build a team to share this task and teach others. Tuck bags and boxes away, both for security and to show the public you care. Make sure you have a team for the clean up, pack down and transport of objects home.

Look outwards!

Is all your messaging clear for the public to see? Are QR codes displayed without obstruction?

Have a welcome crew...

...skilled up in outreach who are on hand to greet people and share information… also a flyering crew in the area around the Hub.

Visuals

Welcome banners and human sized banners are great for dressing sites and as a backdrop for people speaking. This helps to create strong visuals and messages for photography and live streaming.

Welcome banners: 3m x 70 cm, position letters 17cm from the top of the material, with two fingers between each letter. Don’t overcrowd the space. Full width banners, to hang at the back of the gazebo: 3m x 1.5m

Reach out to your local/Regional Art group to get advice on making visual assets or check out the Art Blocking section on the Rebel Toolkit.

outreach 3.PNG

Kitlist

In a spirit of sustainability try and get hold of second-hand materials that will last.

Optional but useful:

Print Materials

Promoting sign-ups

outreach 4.PNG

Expanding your Hub into an Outreach Day event?

Art Blocking

Programming

Extras

outreach 5.PNG

FlyPosting

XR flyposting is putting up beautiful posters in public spaces to:

Lots of information, resources and ideas are contained in the Paint the Streets pages.

Doorknocking

Door Listening

Why Door-to-door Listening?

You may want to consider approaching members of your local community to invite them to take part in Actions or Community Assemblies. The process of knocking on people’s doors and simply listening to what they have to say is both humbling and empowering, and if done with care and consideration, it can foster strong links across a local area, helping to initiate a local movement and/or help an existing one gain momentum.

What Do I Need to Consider?

Throughout the door-to-door listening process it is important to remember that you are approaching people’s homes/businesses/places of worship and that people may not be able to talk or may not want to. If someone does not feel like they have time to engage with you, then listen to them and respect their wishes – their home is their private space, and they are entitled to feel safe and free from hassle.

It is also important to try to avoid making assumptions: avoid judging someone on their race, gender, religion or age, and/or what their house looks like or the area in which they live. Everyone is different, knock on someone’s door with an open mind and with a willingness to connect and learn.

With door-to-door listening it is vital not to have an agenda, do not knock on the door with content that you want to peddle through as this will prevent you from being able to actively listen. Listen, genuinely listen, and let the person whose home you have knocked on guide the interaction. Do not try to equate their experiences with yours or interrupt with questions. Questions you might have will be related to your perspective and they will work to interrupt someone’s flow or make the conversation change direction.

Step by Step Guide

  1. Knock on the door. Take a step back once you have knocked so that people can open the door without feeling like their space is being invaded.

  2. If a child answers the door, do not introduce yourself, ask to speak with an adult.

  3. Introduce yourself slowly and clearly, making eye contact and avoiding making fast movements. Think about your body language – having your arms by your side and visible will make people feel more relaxed than if you have your arms crossed or your hands in your pockets. The aim is to make people feel at ease.

  4. Explain who you are, why you are there and that you are representing either your Local XR group or your Community Group – it is important to be transparent.

    5. A good introduction would be “Hello, my name is _______. I am here on behalf of ________ and I am knocking on doors to better understand the issues that matter to people and their families in the local area.”

  5. It is important to give people the option of whether or not to engage, so follow this short introduction with a question, such as “do you have some time to talk to me about the issues that matter to you?” If people do not want to engage, move on. This is their home and you are a visitor.

  6. If people want to engage with you, then actively listen to what they have to say, keeping in mind your body language throughout the process. Let them guide the interaction. Do not interrupt, argue with them or outline your opinions. If you need to take notes, then explain why you would like to and check that this is ok with those you are listening to. Ideally, however, do so after the process as this will ensure you are fully present when you are listening.

  7. Be engaged. You may wish to highlight that you have heard what they have said by nodding along or making small sounds of agreement.

  8. If someone asks you questions, engage with them, but try to ensure that you avoid stressing your opinions if it may make people feel uncomfortable about expressing theirs. If a natural point arrives at which you can ask a question, prioritise asking probing questions that seek to understand their perspective better. Do not ask prying questions about personal information – people are entitled to privacy and such questions can alienate.

  9. Thank the person for their time and for sharing their views and feelings.

  10. If you feel there has been positive engagement and a genuine connection, then before you depart you may wish to give the person more information about your Local Group or any local events happening. However, if there is no right time to do so, then leave this step out.

    11. Be prepared with leaflets and sign up sheets if they are interested but don’t push it upon them.

  11. Follow-up your door knockings - if you’ve forged a relationship with someone, you should be the one to follow it up. Keep track of where you’ve had meaningful interactions.

Top Tips:

How to use Door Listening as a Local Group:

GOOD LUCK!

Try virtual door knocking

  1. Log in, find ‘Directories’ on the left-hand side of the screen.
  2. Click ‘Neighbours’.
  3. Click ‘Message’ to contact individual people with your invite!

How to Host a House Meeting

What do you feel about the Climate Crisis? And what does it mean to you to be part of Extinction Rebellion? Then, there’s how do your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues feel, too?
Sometimes, it can be hard to have a conversation about all this because the science is shouting we’re heading for extinction and it can feel like the world doesn’t want to hear the truth.

Where?

It’s really up to you - it could be on a video platform which is accessible, or a social gathering for a small number in an open space, or even at work - host as many meetings as you can.

When?

Try multiple time variations - your friends, family and contacts are probably free at different times. And by hosting, many more people will engage with the climate crisis more deeply.

How?

How you invite people is important - don’t round robin everyone. Make it personal - preferably with a call- emails and messages are easy to ignore! Perhaps tailor your groups - pockets of friends, family groupings, and people connected by faith, background, or interests; people are probably more likely to come if they know someone else, so let them know who’s invited/coming to encourage attendance. If someone declines, ask why - there’ll be valuable learning here.

Be ambitious!
For this rebellion, aim to invite everyone you know to one, with probably no more than 6-7 per meeting to give everyone time to contribute meaningfully.

What happens in a House Meeting?

Start with introductions - not everyone may know each other, and everyone shares why they have come.
Then, give a short talk - cover why you joined XR, your tipping point, the science that keeps you awake at night and the facts you wish you could forget… what you think about peaceful mass civil disobedience… the government response to the ecological emergency… why we must build back better. Be vulnerable with your fears, express your love and rage… And remember, you don’t have to learn a talk off by heart - you can have crib notes to help! Also, you can offer to share some facts links with your guests, so they can do follow-up research too, after the House Meeting.

You may find the Street Speaker Scripts give you a useful basis to start from.

What happens next?

After this 15 minutes or so of you chatting, it’s your guests turn to talk and share how what they’ve heard has made them feel (this part takes around 30 minutes).

Next steps for engagement, or not?

Of course, it’ll be great if any of your guests want to now join XR, but not everyone will, so acknowledge that and thank everyone for sharing their thoughts and feelings. Your goal is to make everyone feel comfortable, and also give a range of options for involvement:

How to wrap up the House Meeting