Advocacy consultant & facilitator www.rosemaryforest.co.ukhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lyueer3u7s2pTurned up 45 mins early to prep workshop day 2 … venue was locked. No host, no mobile number, alarm blaring. We started plotting moving into cafés & new venues when keys arrived. Lesson: always get a mobile + stay calm, flex, & keep participants in the loop. What’s your best event hiccup story?15 Sep 2025 08:13 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyueer3u7s2phttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lydco3uikk2tSharing complex info + wanting action in the same meeting? Long presentations risk losing attention & energy. Tip: break presentations into chunks & pause for discussion or breakouts throughout. By the “what can we do?” stage, people are already engaged.08 Sep 2025 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lydco3uikk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lxfdcuqlkk2lJust this weekend I ended up in a conversation w/ a fellow dog walker about this. They parroted the line of free speech & I confess I was left flummoxed & unsure how to respond. It's worth reading this article & thinking through how you'd respond. https://bylinetimes.com/2025/08/27/lucy-connolly-far-right-martyrdom-media-reform-free-speech/27 Aug 2025 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxfdcuqlkk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lxa5bbw4hs2cFacilitators say they’re neutral, responsible for process, not content. But what if you’re also a convener with a stake in the discussion? I’ve walked this tightrope. Tips: get a colleague to help, name when you take your “facilitator hat” off, be mindful of influence, & stay transparent.25 Aug 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxa5bbw4hs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lxa4rbfxrs2cTa da! At long last I’ve made a website: www.rosemaryforest.co.uk I help individuals, groups & orgs with: • Collaboration • Consensus building • Advocacy support If you’re working in a coalition or strategy, let’s connect! (PS: chose Squarespace over Wix — see why: boycottwix.org) https://www.rosemaryforest.co.uk25 Aug 2025 13:39 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxa4rbfxrs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3luzgdklcgs2mIf you’re a campaigner, advocate or changemaker convening others — you want meetings where people actually participate. But that doesn’t always happen — even with thoughtful, committed groups. Today, I’m sharing a 🧵 with a few small, practical tips focused on process and structure:28 Jul 2025 10:51 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3luzgdklcgs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3luhmia6z5s2uA little 🧵 on why participation stalls, even when people care. A few weeks ago, I ran a quick poll asking campaigners, advocates & change-makers about the biggest challenges when collaborating in coalitions & informal alliances.21 Jul 2025 08:53 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3luhmia6z5s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lu5uiowpxs2kReally practical webinar today re influencing politicians from insiders. Thanks to @nancyplatts.bsky.social Aaron Davidson & Michael Bannister for sharing & @fairsay.bsky.social‬ for organising! A 🧵 on advice that really stood out: #Advocacy #Campaigning17 Jul 2025 11:50 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu5uiowpxs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3ltw36djkvs2qCollaboration in campaigning is essential but let’s be honest, it’s hard. We can’t create change alone. The scale of the challenges cuts across sectors – from protest rights to social security, migration to climate. That’s why collaboration matters. A little 🧵 of thoughts I've been percolating on ⬇️14 Jul 2025 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltw36djkvs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lt4nphhnhs2iSuch a stark contrast in the number of women who stood together celebrating suffragettes on Wednesday morning, only to vote to prescribe Palestine Action in the evening. https://x.com/zarahsultana/status/1940754655891673325?t=4FsYrsmTopUKBjOg2s7qTQ&s=1904 Jul 2025 06:51 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt4nphhnhs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lsdrq3ymss2aDon't sit quietly while the government bans Palestine Action. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/palestine-action-briefing?source=direct_link&24 Jun 2025 09:26 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsdrq3ymss2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lsbntreu2s2jThe government has announced it plans to move forward w/ banning Palestine Action. This is a drastic move & makes it a criminal offence to be part of the group. I'd hoped they wouldn't move forward with this threat. It's one more example of just how restricted civic space in the UK is becoming.23 Jun 2025 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsbntreu2s2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lsbmm6hzgc2s📢 Calling campaigners, advocates & change-makers! What’s the biggest collaboration challenge in your coalitions or alliances? I’m creating free resources to help campaigners collaborate better & want to know what would be most useful. Vote in the poll or reply with your thoughts! bit.ly/3ZHV47N23 Jun 2025 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsbmm6hzgc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lrvclzyyw22eHad a lovely morning w/ @martingilbraith.com & others in our IAF coffee meet up in Stroud. A few highlights: 🐎 Learning that Equine Facilitated Learning is a real thing! 💡 Getting inspiration for how to approach a challenging discussion. ⛱️ Chatting outside in the sunshine with interesting folk!18 Jun 2025 15:18 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrvclzyyw22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lmwgex3sq22dReading with great sadness about the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of women, and today thinking of all the amazing trans women in my life. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/16/critics-of-trans-rights-win-uk-supreme-court-case-over-definition-of-woman16 Apr 2025 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmwgex3sq22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3lguly54ayk2tSo excited about the first @iafenglandwales.bsky.social & friends meet-up in #Stroud! While I love the folks I've met in London, really keen to connect with more local facilitators. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jan 2025 08:56 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3lguly54ayk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3l7o3viktmb22📣 This is the Work: supporting advocacy and policy folk apply anti-racism and decolonial approaches to their work. Fantastic new resources from Bond, The Advocacy Team & Peace Direct. They are so thoughtfully communicated, much needed and frankly quite powerful resources. bit.ly/4fGpxJ129 Oct 2024 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3l7o3viktmb22https://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3l5o6frrn7k25Over the last few months I've been working SMK to design a session for trustees to help guide conversations around campaigning regulation and law. I've written a short blog on how this came about, what the offer is (and a bit about me) here: bit.ly/4gTN4aw #campaigning http://bit.ly/4gTN4aw04 Oct 2024 06:50 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3l5o6frrn7k25https://bsky.app/profile/rosemaryforest.bsky.social/post/3l55dotbur323Really exited 2 be speaking at this Muslim Charites Forum webinar launching their new resource 'Principles of Advocacy'. I'll be talking about what advocacy is, why it matters & how to approach it strategically to ensure greater impact.. You can register ⬇️ lnkd.in/eYBzrnis27 Sep 2024 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:3qsp3umf3mxvwib2n4h375nx/app.bsky.feed.post/3l55dotbur323