Dear John,
Did you know there are hundreds of rebels volunteering full or part time, all year round, across the UK, to help Extinction Rebellion UK change the world?
I want to introduce you to three of them.
Without our volunteers, there would be no Extinction Rebellion. And we risk losing some of our most vital rebels, because they’re struggling to survive.
Right now, we can only afford to support around 20 UK rebels with a contribution towards costs such as food, rent, childcare and transport.
Will you help us support more rebels to keep volunteering their vital time and skills?
Meet Dolly….
Dolly from Leeds has given up her teaching career to dedicate around 70 hours a week to saving the earth with XRUK.
She’s helped set many local groups in the Midlands and north of England, and supported groups across the UK as coordinator for national outreach and local group development (as well as coordinating local group development in the Midlands!).
She’s inducted new local coordinators, organised talks and training, run community outreach, matched new rebels to roles in the movement and helped plan actions.
Her work means there are hundreds more rebels on the streets, telling the truth through non-violent direct action. With a bit of financial support, Dolly will be able to keep making a difference.
Dolly says, ‘We’re hurtling headfirst into the abyss. There’s no time to lose. Please help volunteers like me keep fighting to preserve life on earth.’
Meet Sammy…
Sammy is 17. He’s studying for A-levels, but still manages to volunteer 40 hours a week in the XR legal team.
He supports rebels with emotional, practical and legal support:
- running 'know your rights’ training
- answering the 24/7 legal phone line, so rebels in custody can be briefed on their rights and be recommended a solicitor
-
coordinating police station volunteers, so there’s a friendly face to help arrested rebels get home
- Managing the overflowing legal inbox
- keeping the legal website up to date with vital information
Having supported Black Lives Matter activists and members of other protest groups in the fight for Black Liberation, Sammy offers important insights on the experiences of rebels of colour, informing XR’s arrest strategy and relationship with police.
To his team, Sammy is irreplaceable, but without support with expenses he can’t keep working like this for much longer.
Meet Nathaniel…
Nathaniel is a freelance film producer. He joined XR because he was frustrated that the climate and ecological emergency was not being reported in the media.
Nathanel’s spent a year volunteering his time (and equipment) for free, but can’t survive any longer without income.
Thanks to a short term budget of around £500/month for living expenses, Nathaniel is able to coordinate
XRUK’s video team, which between them
bring
decades of expertise, plus around £100,000 worth of equipment.
They’ve produced over 200 high quality videos in the last year, recruiting influencers like Kate Raworth, George Monbiot and Peter Tatchell. These films are re-broadcast by the major networks,
putting pressure on corporations, the news industry and the government.
However, without guaranteed support, Nathaniel will have to take the next job he’s offered - and there’s currently nobody able to step in to fill his role if he does.
If you’re able to, please consider a Christmas gift to XRUK, to help us support essential volunteers like Nathaniel, Sammy and Dolly – to avoid hardship and to keep making a vital contribution to the movement.
Thank you for everything you’ve done to support Extinction Rebellion UK this year. It’s not been easy, but we’re not going anywhere; until we win.
Love, (cou)rage and a very merry Christmas,
Sarah
Extinction Rebellion UK Fundraising Team
