How to Use Your Creative Business as a Platform for Activism

How to Use Your Creative Business as a Platform for Activism

with our industry experts

Chances are - because you are part of The Sustainable Fashion Collective - you care about  some of the more pressing issues facing the world today, including, importantly, climate change. Something we are asked time and again by our members is how to use sustainable businesses as a platform for activism. 

In this Masterclass, we are taking a look at some influential and inspiring texts by people who have paved the way for today's activists - Gina Martin and Rebecca Huntley. Drawing on their wisdom and experience, this month we are going to equip you with the tools and inspiration you need to use your business as a force for real, last change. 


  • How to Be an Activist

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

    Something true of our members across the board is their desire to do good things with their businesses. And many of you are looking to do even more. So, in this Masterclass, we’re taking a deep dive into Activism and the hundreds of ways you can positively change our environment and society.

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  • How to Create an Activism Campaign

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    We've established that everyone can be - and on some level already is - an activist. But what if you want to campaign for change? Where do you start?

    In this lesson, we draw on the advice of activist Gina Martin to bring you a series of things to consider when planning and running an activism campaign. Think of it as your campaign checklist. And then get out there and fight for what you believe in!

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  • Raising Awareness

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    You've decided on a worthy cause, and your campaign is underway. But how will you make sure that it has the impact and reach it deserves? From targeting the right individuals to ensuring you get great press coverage, this lesson is about raising your campaign profile for maximum effect. 

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  • Dealing with Online Abuse

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    If you put your head above the parapet, stand up for something you care about and shout about it, you're likely to get pushback. Unfortunately, this can sometimes take the form of online abuse. In this lesson, we will explore tools you can use to deal with trolls and bullies and ensure that you can maintain your resolve as you fight for your cause. 

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  • What to do when Campaigning Ends

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    Well done - you're campaign is over! Maybe you have secured the change to legislation that you were hoping for, or raised well over your goal amount of money for an amazing cause. So, what now? 

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  • How to Talk about Global Issues In A Way That Makes A Difference

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    Climate change is affecting every one of the earth’s systems. We have just over a decade to cut pollution or CO2 and limit the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius or less if we are to prevent the collapse of the natural world and the societies that rely on it.

    The impact of climate change is already being felt in our food chains, contributing to refugee crises in some countries and creating a global security nightmare for domestic governments and international bodies. So why is it so bloody hard to convince people to act??

    Breaking the climate silence is essential to break human cognitive biases and psychological barriers surrounding climate issues. 

    Katharine Hayhoe, ‘The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it’. 

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  • Dealing with Climate Deniers

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    If you are an activist working in the climate change arena, chances are you have come up against both climate change deniers and climate anxiety or despair. Climate change deniers are those people who refuse to accept the facts of climate change. Sometimes, as an activist, you will come up against these kinds of people. This lesson will help you to deal with them. 

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  • How to Deal with Climate Anxiety and Despair

    with Charlie Bradley Ross
    Summary

    Climate anxiety or despair is a term that refers to the feeling of helplessness that many feel in the face of such a large, daunting and seemingly unmanageable issue. 

    This video will give you some tools that you can use to work through both, and make sure that you don't lose sight of what's important as you fight against climate change. 

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Past Events


In this Masterclass, you will learn:

  • What an activist is, and some famous activists who have paved the way for us today
  • How you can be an activist without necessarily campaigning 
  • The power of money in creating social change 
  • How to plan and prepare for a campaign 
  • What the key parts of a campaign are
  • What Gatekeepers are, and why they are important
  • Tips on public speaking 
  • How to find the right people to target 
  • How to encourage your friends, family and the general public
  • How to write a persuasive pitch
  • How to write a press release, find journalists and pitch to press 
  • How to conduct interviews for editorial, tv and radio 
  • How to deal with online abuse when campaigning 
  • Why talking about climate change in terms of facts and figures doesn't work 
  • What we can learn from Gen X
  • Why women are central to the fight on climate change 
  • How we can use guilt, pride and tribe mentality to galvanise people 
  • The power of hope
  • What are climate deniers
  • How to approach someone who refuses to listen on climate change
  • What climate anxiety and despair are 
  • Some tips for how to cope with climate anxiety and despair, and resources you can use 

Additional Reading