Notes - Monday 18 August 2025
7.30pm - 9pm University Arms
Attendees: Shaun, Saul, Vicky S, Julia, Liddy, Ashwini
Apologies: Sue, Bee and Claire
Yorkshire Summer Action Gathering
May/June 2026 event but planning by regional team likely to start in the New Year. Venue needs a main room for about 80-100 people and a couple of breakout rooms for up to 30 people. Ideally near the train station. Input on the programme for the day and potential external speakers from the Sheffield area. Options include the Showroom/Work Station; Hallam University building; potential to suggest local speakers or topics for expert talks eg psychology of influencing/engaging on environmental issues.
Action: Identify further suggestions for venue, catering and topics/speakers (all)
Sheffield and Hallam University volunteers
We discussed joining the SHU and UoS schemes to recruit volunteers. If we join the UoS and SHU schemes we will be able to have stalls at their events and explore how the students may be able to help with our campaigns They could design and create a new banner; help with media work, make materials for stalls and actions; support stalls.
Action: Register with both universities (Liddy)
Campaigns
Climate Plan
SYCA COP 30 planning meeting is on 3 Sept; FoE webinars on 27 August and 16 Sept will be mainly focused on linking Planet over Profit actions with COP 30.
Action: Need those who can attend to register and feedback to group (all); Ashwini may be able to attend on 3 Sept and share Foe plans
FoE YouGov Survey might be useful to send to MPs
Action: to send to our MPs (all) https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/britains-renewables-expansion-backed-overwhelming-majority-people
Julia and Sue have both been in touch with Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central MP)
Action: invite her to a FoE meeting - potentially online with a smaller group with individuals asking questions on specific issues. Could record and share with wider membership.
Action: Explore if she would be willing to attend and identify possible dates. Consider inviting other MPs (Julia and Sue)
Planet over Profit campaign
Pollen Market stall shared with Sheffield Action on Plastics and Greenpeace is planned for Sunday 21 September 10-4pm.
Action: Take postcards and leaflets/masks (Liddy/Sue) Investigate getting a banner (Saul) Will need people to man the stall (Liddy/Ashwini/Shaun (10-12)/Saul & Claire (12-2); Julia (2-4pm)
Off the Shelf event with Tony Juniper - Shaun suggested we might ask if we could do a stall. 5-6pm Saturday 18 October at the Showroom.
Action: Ask Tony if he would be happy for us to have a stall in the foyer to collect signed postcards for the FoE campaign. (Shaun)
Letters from businesses are still needed - Ashwini has used telephone, Shaun has emailed and developed an online form they can complete. Liddy has managed to visit two shops in person
Action: All to explore with local shops; Shaun to recirculate list of relevant local businesses.
Also potential for a stall at the Food Festival on Sunday 2 November - for discussion at the next meeting as this is close to COP30 on 10 November.
 |
| Friends of the Earth stall at the Pollen Market - Picture credit Shaun Rumbelow |