General meeting notes 20th April 26

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Notes - Monday 20 April 2026


Business

Attendees: Liddy (Chair & notes); Vivienne, Saul, Claire, Sue, Julia, Shaun (Co-ordinator)
Apologies: Ashwini
Welcome and Introductions - Simon Bowens (Regional Campaign Organiser)

Campaigns

Planet over Profit Campaign

  • Feedback from the screening of Savages - it was agreed that this had been a success with 40+ attendees and a very engaged audience and that the students’ contribution was much appreciated. We can ask Bee to use Action Network to contact attendees and share the petition link in case they did not sign at the event.
  • Report from Change Lab team - no one attended so Liddy Agreed to check if they had plans to share final output switch us before the project end date. There is potential for another Change Lab project next year.
  • We signed an open letter to fast fashion brands who use viscose in their production - Shaun updated on this letter that we have signed as a group
  • Howdens Letter - Show solidarity with Malaysian communities at risk | Local action - Shaun explained we had been asked to write to the local Howdens office in order to put pressure on their Head Office. Saul to identify best way to send lobbying letters to Travis Perkins and Howdens; National FoE have had coverage in response to a press release; we could use social media to raise awareness of the campaign.
  • Stalls to support the PoP campaign 
    • Claire updated on potential stalls
    • We have one booked for Thursday 23rd 11am-3pm SU Sustainability Fair and can get more postcards signed (some left from film screening) and petition signatories before handing in during June. Claire will share more potential dates for the Pollen Market over the summer.

Climate Change

  • What Matters Most - https://actionnetwork.org/forms/what-matters-most-in-sheffield/ - Simon explained that a community survey has successfully been used in other areas as a listening exercise to generate information on the top three local community priorities that can be used on stalls, for engaging local politicians/local council and for campaigning. We will use it over the summer so we can take the results to engage with the Council in September.

Events

  • Thursday 23 April Sustainability for Earth Day - Cancelled/postponed (Ashwini)
  • Wednesday, 27 May - Opportunity to meet Asad Rehman, Friends of the Earth CEO in Leeds (Simon Bowens) - need to register on EventBrite.
  • Saturday, 4 July Yorkshire Summer Action Gathering in Sheffield. Simon Bowens shared the plan for the day and how we can contribute to Welcome in the morning and Showcase in the afternoon. The post-event social including a walk and/or visit to local green spaces.
  • Friday, 5 June PoP Day of Action on - we will need to contact Olivia Blake and Abtisam Mohamed re handing in the postcards. Julia to contact Abtisam and Liddy to contact Olivia and coordinate asking if we can have a photo opportunity to hand over the postcards in June.

Group Development - these items deferred until the next meeting

  • Group development course feedback (Ashwini & Liddy)

Any Other Business (AOB)

  • Next meeting - Monday 18 May University Arms 7:30-9pm
  • Invitation to join the Global Sustainable Future Network CiC - Ashwini was invited by a LinkedIn contact. The website has little specific information about activities directly relevant to FoE campaigns and Simon offered to look at whether a link would be appropriate.