Training you to change lives: Act Build Change
This blog is part of a series highlighting the amazing work of our grantee partners.
Act Build Change (ABC) was founded in 2018 with a mission to help communities and individuals reclaim their power; reshape their realities; and sustain their victories. Their story is one of the power of organising to catalyse individual, local, and systemic change.
ABC is a training and relationship building community. Their aim is to make the methods of organising and collective care accessible to everyone who wants to end injustice in their lives and build a better world. They recognise that transformation requires not only the will to act, but also the skills and knowledge to bring about change. Their work centres living experience — with accessibility, intersectionality and care as pillars of their work.
ABC is also cultivating a network of community leaders committed to confronting injustice. They seek to ensure that those closest to the issues are not only in the room, but have a seat at the table. By doing so, their actions have a ripple effect on entire communities.
Impact
ABC’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In just five years, they have evolved from the kernel of an idea to one of the UK’s most trusted community organising bodies. Through training and support, they have equipped countless leaders with the tools to tackle injustice.
Their combined approach of care and impact has led to a surge in demand for their services. They have worked with over 150 groups across the UK and Ireland; ranging from local collectives to organisations such as the NHS, Open University, Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire, Trussell Trust and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
The impact of ABC’s work extends far beyond statistics. A recent evaluation stated: “Act Build Change teaches leadership explicitly. There are lessons in leadership for everyone because of the depth and breadth of the real stories they tell. Their credibility is huge because of that.” — Clare Wightman, CEO, Grapevine Coventry & Warwickshire
They collaborated with Grapevine to organise for systemic change in their work with people experiencing isolation, poverty and disadvantage in Coventry and Warwickshire. This work centres a disability justice approach and a significant amount of it is led by those with visible and non visible disabilities.
These stories abound across the UK. For example, since April 2022 they have worked with Kinship to secure life-changing victories for those who care for children when their parents cannot. They supported a Kinship organiser to grow and train leaders in Newcastle and Middlesbrough. The success of this work grew into a national movement, with carers across England training in a bespoke Organising Academy.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABC innovated to create online tools; training; and a collective care programme. From this quick thinking, they have built an impressive array of online resources to ensure their work is accessible to an even wider range of communities.
Next Steps
Act Build Change continues to build new partnerships across the UK. They are driven by a profound belief in the potential for change within each of us. As they grow to new heights, they remain dedicated to this vision: communities and individuals able to build a world that serves them. We could not be happier to work alongside and learn from them.
