People Power

People Power is a unique and high-level annual campaigning conference, organised by SMK in partnership with the Good Agency.

It brings together grassroots campaigners, heads of major campaigning charities, and leading thinkers from the Government, media and corporate sector to debate current and emerging issues for campaigners.

People Power 2013

People Power was back by popular demand on Wednesday 24th April 2013 to help charities, not-for-profit organisations and individuals across the United Kingdom campaign more effectively.

People Power 2013 included stimulating debate, workshops and talks – all designed to help make campaigning and activism more effective.

Clive Stafford Smith, Founder and Director of Reprieve, opened the day with humour and provocation, challenging participants to remember that they have power, are quicker, more nimble and efficient that the bureaucracies they are often trying to influence, and that ‘perfectionism is the enemy of action’:

“The only way you can lose is by not doing.”

- Clive Stafford Smith.


Margaret Aspinall, figurehead of the longstanding Hillsborough Justice campaign, closed the day with a powerful – and empowering - speech about her on-going fight for justice, and the amazing achievements made by the Hillsborough Family Support Group against the odds.


"Never, ever give up. Keep knocking. Someone eventually will open that door."

- Margaret Aspinall.

We offered a limited number of free conference places to campaigners who could not afford the conference fee, or to not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £100,000.


For information about the day, please see here.

For photos, please click here.

Some Tweets from the day:

“#PeoplePower13 inspiration, morale boost & lot's of learning.”

“As always #peoplepower13 was a great day of thought, discussion, reflection & thinking about the future.”

“Hillsborough Campaign shows that perseverance gets answers, justice & change. Margaret & others are inspirational #peoplepower13.”

“Lots of buzz in the room around propositions, audiences & styles of influence.”

“Listening to passionate local campaigners turning passion into action #peoplepower13.”

People Power 2012

People Power 2012 took place on Tuesday 6th March. We were delighted that Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International delivered the Keynote Address and Dame Vivienne Westwood gave a closing inspirational speech.

Other speakers included: John Sauven, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK; John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies; Emma-Jane Cross, Chief Executive of BeatBullying; Kirsty McNeill, Director of Strategy, Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown; Adrian Lovett, European Director, ONE; Matthew Smerdon, Deputy Director, Baring Foundation; Maurice Frankel, Director, Campaign for Freedom of Information; Julieete Jowit, Senior Writer, The Guardian and Observer; Glen Tarman, Head of Advocacy, BOND; Deborah Doane, Director, World Development Movement.

In the lead up to People Power 2012, Linda Butcher tweeted some of her favourite campaign images and badges and asked others to do the same.

Here is a collection of some the best tweets, iconic campaign images, badges and slogans

For more information, please visit the People Power 2012 website.

People Power 2011

People Power 2011 took place on Tuesday 22nd March 2011 in London. Speakers included:

  • Keynote Address: David Lammy MP
  • Balloon debate, chaired by Tony Juniper, environmental campaigner. Panelists included Jo Fox, BSkyB; Caroline Fiennes, Global Cool Foundation; Polly Higgins, environmental lawyer, This is Ecocide; and climate change activist Dan Glass, So We Stand/Plane Stupid Scotland.
  • Breakout sessions included:
    • Ellie Mae O’Hagan, UK Uncut
    • Stephen Pittam, Trust Secretary, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust & Martin O'Brien, Director of Reconciliation and Human Rights, The Atlantic Philanthropies
    • Susan Nash, Vice President (Society and Citizenship), NUS
    • Quintin Oliver, Director, Stratagem
    • Abi and Emma Moore, founders, PinkStinks
    • Samantha Heath, Chief Executive, London Sustainability Exchange
  • Question Time session, chaired by Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Shelter. Panellists included Lord Herman Ouseley, founder of the 'Kick It Out' campaign; Andrew Butler, Campaigns Manager, Lush Cosmetics; Louise Hanson, Head of Advocacy, Which? and Andreas Whittam-Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner and Vice President of Gingerbread.

 

People Power 2010

SMK has assembled a report that summaries the intelligent debate and ideas explored on the day. The report covers all sessions from the day, which were:

  • Opening remarks: ‘Freedom Pass’ - Lyndall Stein, Chair, SMK
  • Keynote speech: 'Campaigners in the new decade - are we the new champions of democracy and change?' - Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director, Greenpeace International
  • Question Time: 'How will Government engage with campaigners in the new decade?'
  • Conversation 1: 'What will charity campaigning look like in the next ten years?'
  • Conversation 2: 'How will the media (and the public) perceive activists in the coming years?
  • Question Time: 'What is the future of public protest?'

Download a full report of the day here - People Power: Conference Report (PDF)

Speakers included:

  • Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission
  • Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers
  • Tony Benn
  • Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance
  • Nick Hardwick, Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission
  • Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty
  • Nick Hardwick, Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission
  • Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty

We hope you can join us for the next conference for what will again be another stimulating day of debate about the role of campaigners, and the role of ‘people power’, in shaping a more just society.