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The Big One

The Big One last weekend was a fantastic success, many went from Exeter. There were people from all sorts of groups, many part of the Exeter Community Alliance.

There were 60,000 people at the 'die-in' on Saturday and estimates are that there were probably 100,000 people over the four days - some for just a day others stayed all four. There were over 200 different groups represented and the organisers did a fantastic job. There were plenty of stewards, the liaison with the police must have been exceptional - there was a minimum of police presence and not a single arrest associated with the protest!

The only downside was the lack of media reporting. The largest ever climate protest and it was almost totally ignored by the mainstream press and BBC. If anyone complains about the likes of Just Stop Oil you can point to the fact that two protesters at the snooker world championships gets front page in just about every paper, 100,000 people at parliament gets ignored.

There is a debrief at the Hub tonight to discuss the protest, what went well and what we can learn. We will also be thinking about what to do in Exeter over the next few months. If you would like to attend please book a free ticket here

Exeter Community Alliance Meeting

Tuesday 2nd May at 5:30

The time and date for the next ECA meeting has been decided - Tuesday 2nd May at 5:30. It will be at the Hub at 40 Bedford St EX1 1GJ. Agenda is in the process of being built - if you have anything you would like to be discussed please let me know. Please reply to this email if you are thinking of coming, while I don't expect it to be oversubscribed, if only 10% of our subscribers come along it'll be pretty full.

We will meet at the Hub on Bedford St, there will also be the option of Zooming in if you are unable to attend in person. Please let me know if you would like to join by zoom so that I have time to set that up and invite you.

We will be discussing how we run the ECA and how we use the Hub.

What is the Exeter Community Alliance?

We are an umbrella organisation linking up a range of Exeter based volunteers, groups and organisations. The intention is to provide a high street presence in Exeter where our members can engage with the public and provide other community based functions (such as repair workshop, art workshops, energy advice, presentations, meetings, people’s assemblies - we have a long list).

We are working to be open throughout the day, staffed by volunteers with knowledge of all our member organisations.

Additionally there is the Climate Action Hub Exeter which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (registered with the Charities Commission, reg #1198667) which has 4 trustees. We are looking to recruit more trustees (especially those that represent communities, gender identity, class or race that are usually poorly represented on charities' boards of trustees).

We have adopted the model used by Climate Emergency Centres (the UK-wide movement championing this concept of which we are a member) whereby landlords allow us to use premises that would be otherwise untenanted and costing the landlord business rates. In return for saving the landlord the business rates and keeping the building occupied we would ask for a peppercorn or zero rent.

Climate Action Hub Exeter is the entity that leases the Hub from Princesshay which is owned by the Crown Estates. We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use the premises for a year.

The emphasis of the ECA is not solely environmental but for a wide range of community led social justice initiatives.

We have over 370 people receiving this newsletter and over 50 different local groups under the ECA umbrella.

You can find more information about us at exetercommunityalliance.net

MEMBERSHIP

ECA has two levels of individual membership. If you are receiving this email and have not yet requested voting membership you are listed as a 'subscriber' There are no duties, obligations or rights expected of, or assigned to, subscribers. They simply get this newsletter.

'Voting members' are eligible to vote at ECA meetings. Voting memberships can be held by either individuals or organisations (applicable when different people will be representing that organisation at ECA meetings).

Voting membership is currently open, please let me know if you would like to become a voting member.

We currently have 20 voting members.

Additionally, any local group that respects our principles can join under the umbrella of the ECA. So far over 50 have done so. There are no duties, obligations or rights expected of, or assigned to, groups that join the ECA. They simply get to use the space and share promotion of each others' projects and activities.

The ECA is a separate entity from Climate Action Hub Exeter which is a registered charity with four trustees. Climate Action Hub Exeter is a member of the ECA.