Can you help?

We are a volunteer-led community, and your help will make all the difference in ensuring our witness is safe, spiritually grounded, and creative.

Quaker Roots are particularly organising volunteers for the Walk of Witness on Mon 8th Sept, the No Faith in War day on Tues 9th Sept and the ‘Stop DSEI’ hand-in on Weds 10th Sept. Use this form to let us know what roles you are interested in, and we will be in touch with more information and details of an online volunteer briefing on Tues 2nd Sept (you can still volunteer if you can’t make that briefing date).

If you would like to help out on other days, get in touch with Stop the Arms Fair who are helping coordinate actions.

Use this form to let us know what roles you are interested in, and we will be in touch with more information and a briefing session.

Steward

• Being a friendly face as people arrive.
• Let people know when & where things are happening.
• Help Friends join Telegram group to get updates.
• Hand out bustcards, remind people of basic Know Your Rights info, point towards legal observers if needed.
• Have some postcards for members of the public who want to know what’s going on, engage them in conversation about DSEI.
• On Walk of Witness on Mon 8th, help people stick to route, keep up with group.

Offer to help as a steward.

Pastoral Friend / welfare

• Potentially tense environment, people nervous about being there – talk to them, calm them, make them feel at ease.
• Reassurance, give space for people to talk or have some quiet.
• Give out water and snacks, encourage people to check-in with their own needs.
• If you are a qualified first aider – be on hand.

Offer to help as a pastoral Friend

Elder

• Meeting for Worship – 12pm Tues 9th Sept – uphold, explain at beginning, close at end, be aware that we may be continuing to worshipfully uphold people taking action.
• General upholding of worshipful approach to protest across No Faith in war day, atmosphere may be tense, secular activists may be unfamiliar with worshipful approach.
• Uphold & respect other faith groups taking action in their own tradition, and people of all faiths and none using a diversity of non-violent tactics.
• On Walk of Witness on 8th Sept, uphold silent vigils (approx. 20 mins) at each stop.

Offer to help as an Elder

Police Station Support

While Quaker Roots are planning low-risk actions this year, we uphold those using a diversity of non-violent tactics, including those who may be at risk of arrest. It is so important that we support arrestees, which includes meeting people at the police station when they’re released. Read more about what Police Station Support involves.

This would be an especially useful role for London-based Friends (you don’t need to have been at the protest to help with this role, or be specially trained). Call outs for police station support during the DSEI arms fair protests will happen in a messaging group – offer help via our form and we will put you in touch with those coordinating.

Offer to help with Police Station Support

Stop the Arms Fair (STAF) have coordinated Legal Observers this year. The priority at the moment is volunteers for Police Station Support, but if you are a trained LO and would like to observe, let us know via the form.

Creative actions

• Singing – we have songs we’ve used in previous years, or bring your own. QPSW will organise amplification, someone to help lead us will be helpful.
• Helping with banner-making, origami and paper lanterns (led by Friends House staff).
• Photos, videos or other ways to document the actions.

Read more about creative actions.