Community Organising

Seeking social change with Citizens UK

What is Community Organising?

Community Organising is a methodology which is used to strengthen society and the democratic voice of everyday people, raise leaders, and do something about injustice. Community Organising brings normal people together so they have the collective (relational) power and can act together on common concerns. By joining with others in this way, we can seek the ‘peace and prosperity’ of our cities, towns, and villages.

Community Organising aligns with the heart of God - starting with relationship, connecting us with our wider community, and centring those on the margins and with lived experience of injustice. In People of Power: How community organising recalls the Church to the vision of the Gospel, Angus Ritchie expresses how it’s not enough for the church to have a ‘heart for the poor’, instead the poor must be at the heart of the church. Ritchie observes how engaging in Community Organising ‘recalls the church to that vision, placing those who experience injustice at the heart of the struggle for social justice.’

 

Who is Citizens UK? 

Citizens UK is the home of Community Organising in the UK, bringing together diverse people and organisations to build a better, fairer society. As a diocese, we've partnered with Citizens UK to grow Community Organising across Thames Valley. Citizens UK builds local alliances by gathering local institutions, like schools, faith groups, charities and unions, to act with the local community on their interests for the common good. We are equipping people in Community Organising methodology, and supporting three Citizens UK alliances, which together form Thames Valley Citizens:

  • Reading (launched in November 2023)
  • Oxford (launched in November 2023)
  • Milton Keynes

We believe the church has a key role to play in strengthening communities and raising voices against injustice. Community Organising with Citizens UK is a practical, effective way to do this.

Be Aware
Engage & Act
  • Run the Growing Good session on Justice (from CUF), focusing on Community Organising as a way to pursue justice.
  • Join Reading Citizens, Oxford Citizens, or Citizens: MK as a church.
  • Participate in local campaigns via the Thames Valley Citizens alliances. 
  • Join the national Migration Justice campaign to make the pathway to citizenship more timely, fair, and affordable.
  • Access practical Community Organising training to explore how your church could grow their connections within and beyond the church, and work with others to address poverty and inequality.

Contact diocesan Social Justice Adviser, Hannah Ling, to talk about your local context and find out how to get involved.

 

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Additional Community Organising resources:

Page last updated: Wednesday 10th September 2025 4:22 PM

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