Going one step further22 January 2008
Be part of a big movement and make a difference in your neighbourhood.
Local Groups
Friends of the Earth local groups are run by volunteers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Friends of the Earth Scotland is a separate group).
There are more than 200 such groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the network is growing.
They have an amazing track record of getting things done.
In fact some of Friends of the Earth's most outstanding successes are down to them.
Because their members live and campaign locally, the groups' opinions hold more weight when talking to MPs and councillors in their area.
Decision-makers have to listen to people in their own constituencies, local authorities need to respond to people in their communities, and local businesses pay close attention to what customers on the high street are saying.
You could join a local group tomorrow and start to make a difference.
Why be part of a local group?
Joining a local group means you can...
- Meet like-minded people and have fun.
- Feel more connected to your neighbours.
- Be part of changing something you feel strongly about - nothing else feels quite like winning a campaign.
- Gain skills in a variety of areas, from public relations and the media to education.
- Be at the heart of Friends of the Earth and its national campaigns - help get crucial legislation like the Household Recycling Act and Climate Change Law approved.
- Get access to expert advice and materials from across the Friends of the Earth network, including its national and regionally based campaigns teams.
But you don't need to take our word for it, take it from Guy at Hull Friends of the Earth or see what groups like Manchester Friends of the Earth have achieved.
Find out what's going on in your area
Look up the contact details of your closest local group.
Find out more about Starting a group - or contact the Network Developer for your region for more information.
This article is based on an extract from Friends of the Earth's book How Can I Stop Climate Change?
© Ivan Coleman
