Tools for Social Change’
Short course led by the Trapese Popular Education Collective

Saturday 27th March 2010 to Saturday 3rd April 2010, Ragman's Lane Farm,
Forest of Dean, near Gloucester.
Cost range from £175 - £350 depending on income

*** BOOK NOW – PLACES LIMITED. DEADLINE FEB 27TH 2010 ***


"We need more popular education to build the movements for climate justice."
(Naomi Klein, final plenary, KlimaForum, Copenhagen, December 2009)

 About the course


Despite the enormous pressure for them to do so, in Copenhagen last
December, governments were unable to take the urgent action needed to avert
catastrophic climate change and the devastating impacts on humanity. As the
dust settles after COP-15, the role of grassroots organising and doing it
ourselves is ever more important. However, we face huge challenges,
including how we can move towards a more effective climate justice movement,
how can we build more resilient communities and how can we achieve system
change not climate change?

This dynamic and engaging week long course will provide training in
grassroots organising, including tools for direct democracy, facilitation,
using consensus, popular education techniques and how to plan, communicate
and implement effective campaigns. It will also explore how these tools can
be used to set up community initiatives, ecological and social projects, and
consider how we can work together more effectively.

'Tools for Social Change' will be based on building participation and trust
between facilitators and participants. No previous knowledge is required but
a commitment to work co-operatively and to respect diversity is needed. The
sessions will weave together histories, debates, practical sessions,
academic ideas and real life case studies. The interests and ideas of those
involved will be integrated into the week. There will be time to share your
ideas, work on practical ‘crash technology’ projects around the farm,
discuss cutting edge political debates, play games, watch films and enjoy
food together.

This course draws on the 'Do It Yourself Handbook' (handbookforchange.org)
and Trapese's work since 2004. It follows the success of the "Do It
Yourself, Tools for empowerment and social change" at Findhorn College in
March 2009. It will also build on courses delivered at CAT, work at C-words
season at Arnolfini, 'Start Producing the Future' series of dayschools and
films (Oct-Nov, 2009) and Trapese's events at KlimaForum in Copenhagen.

About Trapese

Trapese is a Popular Education Collective which offers workshops and
training aimed at inspiring and promoting action for changing our world.
Trapese stands for ‘Taking Radical Action through Popular Education and
Sustainable Everything!’ Our work involves interactive workshops, games,
films, trainings, and action/campaign planning sessions. We also produce
resources and write on various issues. We aim to provide opportunities for
children, young people and adults to explore the big issues of our time. Our
work focuses on practical steps to inspire, inform and enable action, and
how to develop workable alternatives. We are a not for profit collective
motivated by a passionate belief in the power of learning together. There
are currently five people working on Trapese projects and we are based in
the UK.

Facilitators will include Paul Chatterton, (MA Activism and Social Change,
Leeds www.activismsocialchange.org.uk; www.paulchatterton.com) Kim Bryan,
(Press Officer, Centre for Alternative Technology) Alice Cutler, (Freelance
teacher/ activist, Bristol) and guest workshops from others TBC . We bring
together many years of experience of organising and teaching but are also
still committed to working out solutions together and engaging critical
thinking about our work.

 To register interest or with any questions please email
[log in to unmask] and we will send you further information.

Applications must be received *by 12 noon Saturday February 27th 2010 at the
latest. *

Deposit of £50 to secure a place will be requested with full amount payable
before the start of the course.


For more information about Trapese or to download a chapter of the book see
www.trapese.org
To download flyer see http://www.stuffit.org/trapese/ragm.pdf