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Learning

Creating Change Together – Our 2024 Year in Review

Act Build Change expanded its community power in 2024, developing partnerships and training with hundreds of organisers across the UK.

Stephanie Wong | 27 Jan 2025

Illustration of a hand flipping the front page of a desk calendar. The front page has the year '2024' written across the front in large type. The part of the page visible underneath features rows of lines, representing lists.

As we reflect on 2024, Act Build Change has made remarkable strides in strengthening community power and social justice across the United Kingdom. Here are the key highlights from our transformative year.

Growing Our Movement

This spring marked a significant milestone with the launch of our membership program, now connecting 353 member organisations and organisers across all four nations of the UK. Through regular online training sessions and coaching, we've created a network of new and experienced organisers working together for change.

Academic Excellence & International Partnerships

Our commitment to advancing organising practices reached new heights in 2024. A major highlight was hosting Professor Hahrie Han's UK book tour, which engaged over 248 organisers and social justice leaders. The tour explored crucial themes from her book, Undivided, particularly examining how to build power across difference for racial justice. Stephanie's (our CEO) role as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University alongside Marshall Ganz has led to exciting opportunities for 2025, including teaching positions at Stanford University and returning to Harvard as Head Teaching Fellow.

Transformative Partnerships

We've established several significant partnerships this year:

  • Shelter – Supporting their eleven-person organising team with trauma-informed approaches and sustainable practices.
  • POMOC – Empowering Eastern European migrants across the UK through comprehensive organising training.
  • Everyday Democracy – Launching a program to support 100 people in becoming Democracy Champions.
  • Greater London Authority – Running a year-long program supporting collective care and resilience in the migration sector.

Expanding Our Impact

The publication of our Shape of Safety guidebook, created in collaboration with NSUN, Revoke, and the Voice Collective, marks an important step in reimagining trauma-informed safeguarding practices for young people.

Team Growth

2024 saw a significant expansion of our team, welcoming new project managers, community organisers, and trainers. With support from Esmée Fairbairn's three-year funding commitment, we're positioned to build our organisational capacity and focus on long-term strategic growth.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we move into 2025, we're excited about several initiatives:

  • Launching new organisational membership opportunities.
  • Starting the Migrant Power Project in partnership with the Civic Power Fund.
  • Expanding our coaching pods and training programs.
  • Deepening our membership work and supporting others in developing their own membership organisations.
  • In memory of our colleague Louie Herbert, who we miss dearly, we're continuing his legacy by making his foundational organising training available to our membership community.

As we close this year, we extend our gratitude to our members, partners, and funders whose solidarity and resources make our work possible. Together, we're building sustainable community power for lasting social change.