In the first of a short series of episodes exploring the topic of community organising, Sonali Bhattacharyya joins Tom to discuss anti-raids organising in Waltham Forest. How does a group form? What else in the wider ecosystem needs to be considered and engaged with? What works? What makes it sustainable and effective? Sonali talks generously and honestly about what she has learned and what we can all learn and do. The need for anti-raids organising is particularly acute at this moment, and there is much in this discussion that shows how interconnected and important other forms of community organising are in making this ground-level work effective. There is a lot of insight into the practicalities and what makes things work which listeners will find useful in their own activity.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Anti-Raids Network https://antiraids.net/

Everybody to Kenmure Street (doc) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_to_Kenmure_Street

Suburban Socialism by Oliver Durose https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696636/suburban-socialism-by-oly-durose/

Defend The Community Organising Unit: Activists into Organisers by Tom Williams https://newsocialist.org.uk/activists-organisers/