How to organise a Warm Up
What is a Warm Up?
Warm Ups are based on the principle that if we can’t afford to heat our own homes, we have a right to go into any public space and keep warm there! In the past, FPA and allies have warmed up in libraries, shopping centres, banks, a concert venue, energy firm HQs and the House of Commons lobby.
Different locations and your approach carry different levels of risk. However, at past events security guards have refused to remove participants which included elderly people and children.
Our Warm Ups have helped to deliver local wins for communities and the national moratorium on the forced installation of prepayment meters which remained for almost a year.
Below is a guide on how you can organise a Warm Up in your area.
Stage 1 – Coordinating
Form a team
Your planning team will make sure that all of the below happens. 1 or 2 people can take on coordinating roles to make sure tasks are assigned and carried out.
Think about people you know who can help plan beyond just turning up on the day.
Arrange a meeting
Meet up to plan. This can be in person, on zoom or via a phone call. The important thing is to keep it simple – people have different levels of availability so it may be difficult to find a time when everyone can meet, those who can’t can catch up on notes or through a follow up call.
Agenda for the first meeting
At this first meeting, you will need to pin down two things.
- a) potential location for the action
- b) who to invite to take part
It is a good idea to have these pinned down as early as possible, as making decisions like these in larger meetings can be difficult.
Stage 2 – Planning
Pick a location
When picking a location there are a few things to consider. Picking a location should take into account the wishes of the groups you want to involve.
Lower Risk: These are public locations that you have a right to congregate in but you may be asked to leave:
- Libraries
- Town centres
Medium Risk: These are private locations you are allowed to enter but will likely be asked to leave by the staff on some occasions security could be called:
- Lobby of local council building
- Department store
- Lobby of a bank
Avoid places that provide key services such as hospitals, childcare facilities, or religious centres without permission.
Remember that both security guards and police can be unpredictable and will sometimes act beyond their powers. New policing powers in England and Wales have also severely restricted protest rights.
Low, medium and high risk locations can be unexpected – on a day of Warm Ups in December 2023 participants were able to Warm Up in a British Gas office for half an hour without trouble while others were thrown out of a shopping centre in 20 minutes.
Invite participants
Once your planning team has met and agreed some basics, you can start recruiting more people to get involved in the build up or on the day. Approach fellow campaigners, friends, family and people in your community.
The next step should involve inviting other groups into the area. Think about what groups are local to you and how they may be affected by rising bills
- Pensioners associations
- Local charities
- Faith groups
- Residents groups
- Climate activist groups
- Local people through street canvassing, visiting warm hubs or food banks
- Trades unions
Many trades unions have spoken out publicly about energy prices. If you are a member of a union contact your union branch and invite them along. Your town may also have a Trades Council where local union reps meet and discuss supporting activities like this. Search online “The name of your town” followed by “Trades Council”.
Briefing
In the days before the action, bring together as many participants as possible to run through the plan, assign roles and ensure the action is carried out safely.
Briefings should cover
- Introductions
- Why we are here
- Health and safety e.g. fire exits
- Assigning roles
- De-escalating
- Legal considerations
Find information and Know Your Rights trainings, or request legal observers for your Warm Up:
England & Wales – Green and Black Cross
Scotland – Scottish Activist Legal Project
Roles
Spokesperson – This person(s) is responsible for explaining why the action is happening. They could be talking to the local press, on a livestream / recorded video, or to the people responsible for the building you are keeping warm in.
Wellbeing – Responsible for ensuring everyone feels safe, comfortable and looked after. You will need to make decisions as a group like how long you wish to stay and what people’s access needs are. Wellbeing check in with participants in advance and during to ensure these needs are met.
De-escalator – Person willing to speak to irritable or aggressive members of staff or the public in a calm, reassuring and non-confrontational manner.
Documenter – It is essential that someone takes photos and videos for posting online or media coverage.
Outreach – People to chat to passers by about why you are here, handing out leaflets and taking contact details if you are looking to keep in touch for future actions.
Banner holders – It can be good to swap people in this role with others during the action; holding a banner can be physically demanding but also offer a welcome break from other roles such as outreach or de-escalation.
Stage 3 – On the day
Press Release
Use and amend our Template Press Release to send to local media outlets. Email e4a@fuelpovertyaction.org.uk to inform us that your action is taking place.
This can be edited to fit the details of your local action and should be sent to local news outlets just before and again after the action.
Be sure to include:
- Pictures or videos from the action (you can link to a drive where these are uploaded)
- Quote(s) from participants.
Bring signs and banners
Make sure your action is visible and creative. Could everyone wear warm coats and bring a thermos flask? Or a hot water bottle?
Think about what messages you want to get across. Examples include:
“Energy For All” / “Ban forced prepayment meters” / “Cold homes kill” / Disconnections are deadly” / “Freeze profits, not people” / “Energy is a human right”
Think of how to stay busy and entertained
- Chanting, singing, instruments or dancing – see our Chants + Songs suggestions, or make some up
- Read books
- Arts and crafts
- Cards or board games
- Hold group discussions or speak outs
Deciding how long to stay
Have a plan in advance but be flexible to changing this depending on what unfolds. Options include:
1. Go in for a quick photo 2. Stay until asked to leave by security 3. Push it further and refuse to leave
The number of people participate will influence this plan – bigger numbers make you harder to remove!
Make a video and take photos
Make a short video explaining who you are and why you are doing this. Be sure to take lots of pictures.
Collect emails, take contact details
Be sure to tell people passing by why you are doing what you are doing. Ask people to provide email addresses and phone numbers so they can support future actions.
Share!
Be sure to share evidence of the action happening to raise awareness or pressure your target. Use our Social Media Toolkit for suggestions on what to post.
