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Stewarding a small action Training

The Steward role at a small action
What do Stewards do - refresher
What extra tasks might Stewards do at a small action
The Police - refresher
Protest Liaison - Speaking to the Police and other authorities
Witnessing an arrest
Wellbeing and First Aid
Accessibility & Inclusion
Disruption and Deescalation
Deescalation / Embedding Non-Violence techniques
Quiz!
Practicalities
Finding events near you
Q&A
Further Information

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The Steward role at a small action

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What do Stewards Do - refresher

General duty of care for people and the environment
Keep everyone (activists, the public) safe and calm
A source of information and help
Watch for hazards such as traffic, trip hazards etc.
Keep routes clear for the public to pass through, think about cycle lanes too
In an emergency, disperse people away from an area
Help emergency vehicles to get through
Lost children or vulnerable adults
Stewards do not participate in the action itself. Important to stay separate

Most important: look after yourself – take regular breaks, drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are the only Steward (just remove hi-vis when having a break)

The first thing we are going to cover is a quick refresher of the Steward role:

Stewards have a general duty of care for people and the environment
Keep everyone (participants, the public) safe and calm. We are the calm in the eye of the storm
Act as a source of information and help
Watch for hazards such as traffic, trip hazards etc.
Keep routes clear for the public to pass through, think about cycle lanes too
In an emergency, disperse people away from the area, think about which way you would send people in an emergency when you arrive at an area
Help emergency vehicles to get through
Help with lost children or vulnerable adults
Remember that to keep other support crew safe, Stewards do not participate in the action, even at small actions. This includes things like holding placards/banners. You should remove your hi-vis if you wish to participate, but it is better to keep roles completely separate

�Most important is to look after yourself – take regular breaks, drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are the only Steward or are stewarding all day (just remove hi-vis when having a break)

If you are new to the Steward role we recommend that you attend General Stewards training where we cover a lot more about the Steward role including Stewarding marches. We run this training throughout the year and recordings of previous training are available on the Rebel Toolkit, we will share the links at the end. We also run specific training on roadtaking.

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What extra tasks might Stewards do at a small action

Liaise with the Police or other authorities
Help with wellbeing or First Aid
Help with resolving issues or with deescalation
Help with access and inclusion

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The Police - refresher

The Police dislike uncertainty and risk. If we are able to give them some information, such as an end time for an action, they are more likely to be calm and allow us to carry out the action as planned
We always tell the truth, sometimes we choose not to pre-liaise and sometimes we only communicate after an action has started
There’s more chance the police will be helpful if we’re polite to them, but we do not need to answer their questions
It is the job of the Police to gather information and all Police Officers are trained to gather information. Officers in “blue bibs” are the Police Protest Liaison (see photo)
It is important to be aware that people of colour and other marginalised groups such as trans people and people with mental health challenges have suffered, and continue to suffer, from over-policing, and their interactions with the police are inherently more risky
If police are getting twitchy or worse and there ARE marginalised people nearby, move closer to them - your presence helps deter the police from acting unlawfully
If police are sprinting, they’re usually responding to a crime in the vicinity and it is nothing to do with our action
If police numbers change, it’s often just a shift change. The new shift will line up in ranks and march in
If officers start putting on gloves then it is likely that they are going to perform stop and search or arrests
Reminder if we see/hear blue lights and sirens (including police with blue lights) we move people out of the way
Remember that it is always ok to follow direct police orders if necessary to avoid personal arrest, or to remove your hi-vis and step away for a while

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Protest Liaison - Speaking to the Police and other authorities

At most actions, Protest Liaison is managed by a specific person that has been trained and allocated to perform this role. In this instance you should direct Police, Security staff and other authorities to this person
At small, low-risk actions, there may not be someone performing this role. As potentially the only person wearing a hi-vis at a small action, Police and Security staff may come to you to ask for information
It is important to understand from the action planners whether they are happy for you to talk to the Police and to Security staff, and if they are, what information they are happy for you to share. You should only ever share information that you have been given approval to share

We have a right to peaceful protest. This comes from rights which are protected under Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act. Public authorities, including the police, are required to show a certain degree of tolerance towards peaceful gatherings where demonstrators do not engage in acts of violence, even if these protests cause a level of obstruction or disruption

Protest liaison develops communication with police, security personnel or other authorities to optimise the action, reduce misunderstanding and increase safety. At most actions, Protest Liaison is managed by a specific person that has been trained and allocated to perform this role for the action. In this instance you should direct Police and other authorities to this person if they approach you to ask questions

At small, low-risk actions, there may not be someone performing this role (although we always recommend that this is considered when planning an action)

As potentially the only person wearing a hi-vis at a small action, Police and Security staff may come to you to ask for information

It is important to note that this is not “Protest Liaison” training, these slides are intended to provide some advice to help Stewards if they are approached by the Police and there is no trained Protest Liaison person present

It is important to understand from the action planners whether they are happy for you to talk to the Police and to Security staff, and if they are, what information they are happy for you to share. You should only ever share information that you have been given approval to share

We recommend that you find out before the action if anyone will be performing the PL role, and if there is nobody allocated, whether the action planners are happy for you to speak to the Police and Security if approached, and what information is OK to share. If you can’t do this before the action we recommend that you do this as soon as you get there on the day, after you have put on your hi-vis

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Protest Liaison - continued

Beware of friendly probing by the Police and respond with “I’m sorry, I don’t have that information” or “I’m sorry I don’t have a mandate to discuss that”

Be careful not to accidentally identify coordinators/action planners if you are asked a question by Police/Security. Do no refer to “action planners” or “organisers”, use “contact” instead

Training in Protest Liaison is offered to interested rebels after a vetting process. If you feel this role is of interest to you, please contact protestliaison@extinctionrebellion.uk

Beware of friendly probing by the Police and respond with I’m sorry, I don’t have that information” or I’m sorry I don’t have a mandate to discuss that”

Be careful not to accidentally identify action planners if you are asked a question by Police/Security. It is a police tactic to ask a question and watch who you speak to next. Do not refer to “action planners” or “organisers” in conversation with the police, use “contact” instead. We recommend that you use your phone for communication, with action planners/ coordinators, as walking up to people to ask questions can incorrectly identify them as “organisers” to the Police

Training in Protest Liaison is offered to interested rebels after a vetting process. If you feel this role is of interest to you, please contact protestliaison@extinctionrebellion.uk

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Witnessing an arrest

Note down the following information:

Physical description of person being arrested, real name if safe, or Pseudonym
Arrested, WHERE, WHEN
Arresting POLICE OFFICER
Destination POLICE STATION

Call the information in to Back Office ASAP

We don’t expect there to be arrests at small, low risk actions, but it is always beneficial to have somebody that knows how to react if this happens unexpectedly - arrest is always a possibility, even if you are walking down your street
Your wellbeing and safety is a priority. If by stepping in to formally witness an arrest you are being threatened with arrest for Obstructing a Police Officer, then take a step back and say "I am taking a step back officer. I am just here to witness the arrest"
We always recommend that you have the number of the XR Back Office written down when attending an XR action
It is also useful to have a bust card with you that you can hand to someone, or put in their pocket if they are being arrested (see photo of bust card)
There further training on witnessing an arrest in the Rebel Toolkit, we recommend that you read this and watch the 5 minute video
Here is a quick summary of the key points:

Note down the following information:

Physical description of person being arrested, Real name – if safe, or Pseudonym/handle - If possible, try and get them to whisper their name or alias to you if you don’t know it. If they do not want to share this information with you (e.g. if a police officer listening), then do not force them into giving this information to you. Just move on! You could also try and get their name from some of their friends (if they are standing nearby) or people who the arrestee was talking to prior to their arrest. Try and get a good mental image of what the person looks like, what they were wearing and height and other identifying factors. For example, the colour of people's shoes are sometimes a really unique colour (e.g orange shoes with a pink stripe)

Arrested, WHERE, WHEN - This is the location e.g. address and the time of the arrest

Arresting POLICE OFFICER - warrant/shoulder number

Destination POLICE STATION - If the arresting officer won’t tell you where the arrestee is being taken, try and get the arrestee to ask the officer where they are being taken and then get them to tell you. This is because the police technically don't have to tell bystanders where an arrestee is being taken but they do have to tell the arrestee themselves. In an ideal world, you will get the name of the police station, but in some cases the arresting officer may genuinely not know, or might just be being difficult. If you are unable to get a location, just tell the back office what you know

Call the information in to Back Office ASAP

It is also useful to get some contact details for any other witnesses to the arrest and pass this information to back Office too. If (for whatever reason, such as a police officer is listening in) another witness doesn't want to give you their details, then that is fine. Try and give them a bust card and get them to call the Back Office themselves

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Wellbeing and First Aid

Action Wellbeing supports the physical and emotional wellbeing of everyone involved in XR actions
Think about what might be useful to know, or to bring with you:

Are there any First Aiders in the group?
Location of the nearest toilets and accessible toilets
Spare pair of earplugs
Snacks
Sun cream and water in hot weather or location of free water such as a cafe
Location of warm space/drinks in cold weather or thermal blanket or hand warmers

First Aid incidents can happen anywhere, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, call other people to help
Minor injuries - call over a first aider if you have one
Serious injuries - call an ambulance
Someone feeling overwhelmed/seems distressed - take aside to sit down, offer water/ reassurance/ to call a friend/family if needed
Someone feeling unwell and needing to leave the action - ensure they have assistance/company- either a friend or trusted wellbeing person, do not send them off with someone unknown to them, or on their own.

Action Wellbeing supports the physical and emotional wellbeing of everyone involved in XR actions. At larger actions the Wellbeing team includes qualified First Aiders

Action Wellbeing assist with all sorts of things, including: information on the nearest toilets, sun cream or rain protection, conversation, warm drinks, support during arrests and many other useful things!

At smaller actions there may not be a designated wellbeing team/person, so think about what might be useful to know or to bring with you:
It is useful to know if anyone in the group knows First Aid
Look up the location of the nearest toilets and accessible toilets - this is by far the most popular question you will be asked!
A spare pair of earplugs is always a good idea
Vegan snacks like energy bars or chocolate are helpful
In warm weather, sun cream and water are useful (or at least knowing where someone can get free water such as a cafe).
In cold weather it is useful to know where people can go to warm up or get a warm drink, and you might want to think about thermal blankets or hand warmers if people are in costume or are standing about for a long time

First Aid incidents can happen anywhere, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, call other people to help if you are not sure
Minor injuries - call over a first aider if you have one, or perhaps a trusted person could help the person with the minor injury to find a pharmacy for plasters, painkillers etc.
Serious injuries - call an ambulance
Someone feeling overwhelmed/seems distressed - take aside to sit down, offer water/reassurance/to call a friend/family if needed
Someone feeling unwell and needing to leave the action - ensure they have assistance/company- either a friend or trusted person, do not send them off with someone unknown to them, or on their own.

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Accessibility & Inclusion

We want to make our events as inclusive as possible. At smaller actions you may need to help to make sure the event is accessible and enjoyable for everyone
It is useful to research the location of the nearest toilets and accessible toilets beforehand
When you get to the action, have a look around to see if you can spot any potential issues - are there steps or raised kerbs? Is the event going to be noisy?
Think about how you might support someone e.g. help with steps, an alternative route for wheelchairs, somewhere quiet. It is always useful to carry a spare pair of ear-plugs
Don’t be afraid to offer help. “Is there anything you need?” If the answer is no then that is fine and you can move on

We want to make our events as inclusive as possible
At larger actions we look at accessibility beforehand to make sure the action is as inclusive as possible, but at smaller actions this may not have been considered to the same extent
Not all accessibility issues are obvious, some people find certain situations more challenging (e.g. noise, crowds, walking distances, steps, hearing the speeches etc.)
It is useful to research the location of the nearest toilets and accessible toilets beforehand
When you get to the action, have a look around to see if you can spot any potential issues - are there steps? Is the event going to be noisy?
Think about how you might help someone if they find this challenging e.g. help with steps, an alternative route for wheelchairs, quiet space, a break in drumming/speeches. It is always useful to carry a spare pair of ear-plugs
Don’t be afraid to offer help. You can do this by asking… “Is there anything you need?” If the answer is no then that is fine and you can move on

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Disruption and Deescalation

Sometimes you will come across disruptive or angry members of the public
Your safety and that of other activists and the public is our primary concern
Don’t engage with disruption if you are alone. Ask someone to stand with you or make sure someone else is nearby
Sometimes the best thing to do is to ignore the person, especially if they are passing by
If they are not moving on, then engaging is usually an improvement on not engaging. Make eye contact, smile, say hello. Most people want someone to listen to them for a while and then they will move on

We try to maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at our actions, but sometimes you will come across disruptive or angry members of the public, or other authorities such as Security guards. As potentially the only person wearing hi-vis, they may approach you, or you may need to step in and help
Your safety and that of other participants and the public is our primary concern - so don’t engage with disruption if you are alone. Make sure someone else is watching nearby, or ask someone to stand with you
Sometimes the best thing to do is to ignore the person, especially if they are just passing by, or just want to comment and then move on
If they are not moving on then engaging is usually an improvement on not engaging. Make eye contact, smile, say hello, most people want someone to listen to them for a while and then they will move on. Actively listen to the person. Nod your head if it feels natural. Maintain eye contact occasionally looking away to the side. The key is for the other person to know they have been heard and this will normally help to de-escalate the situation
If your attempts to de-escalate are making the person more angry and a genuine apology is not working, then it is ok to back away. If if they say, “Go away”, then it’s best to go away
The hardest challenge can be deescalating rebels who have been triggered by a member of the public. It can be helpful to let them know that you will take over managing the disruptive person so they can concentrate on their role in the action
For Intoxicated members of the public - it usually helps to engage and listen to them for a while, try to find a connection with them, humour often works, walking and talking whilst moving in the direction you’d like them to go can work well, or you can suggest they might be more comfortable somewhere else
The Police are there to keep activists safe too, so if you feel the situation is unsafe, ask for help, or call the Police

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De Escalation / Embedding Non-Violence techniques

Breathe. Ground yourself. Notice your sources of support.
Remember The Humanity of All
Empathy Before Education
Ask First - Is the other person ready to hear your perspective?
BreaTHE. Debrief with Support

Full training in non-violence techniques is available and we recommended that all Stewards attend this�

To help in tense circumstances we use a 5 step process. We use the acronym - BREATHE:

B for Breathe. �The purpose of taking a breath is to calm you down and slow your responses. Being calm has a calming effect on others.

Look around, notice who’s around you and could support you if needed. If it’s easier for you, ask someone to stand with you/help

�R for Remember the Humanity of All

Take a moment to put yourself in the other person's position and think about what is important to them right now. Consider their feelings and needs.

�E for Empathy before Education

We need to build on our understanding of the individual and to express empathy. We need to listen to the person’s perspective, without jumping in with a justification or explanation. Be respectful.

Actively listen to the person. Nod your head if it feels natural. Maintain eye contact occasionally looking away to the side.

Reflect back on what you are hearing in order to let them know that you understand. Use short phrases to echo what they have just said.

You may choose to express empathy by listening in silence, giving non verbal acknowledgement. The key is for the other person to know they have been heard.

A is for Ask First

After a few reflections, you may want to offer your perspective. However it is important to ask if the person wants to hear it! Mentally this prepares them to listen and helps create a culture of consent. Asking for consent prepares them in a small way for listening, so they are more likely to take on board what you are saying. You might want to say something like “would you like to know why we are here?”

�THE - Breathe

When the conversation is over, come back to your breath. Debrief with your group or check in with someone afterwards

We are now going to have a short quiz to see what you have learned………………….

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Test your Knowledge Quiz 1

Someone participating in the action is being arrested - what would you do next?

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Answer: You see someone being arrested

Walk over

Hand over Bust Card, or put in pocket if appropriate

Note down the following information:
Physical description of person being arrested, real name if safe, or Pseudonym
Arrested, WHERE, WHEN
Arresting POLICE OFFICER
Destination POLICE STATION

Call the information in to Back Office ASAP

Ask other rebels who witnessed the arrest to call the information in to Back Office

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Test your Knowledge Quiz 2

A member of the public stops in front you and starts shouting at participants, they aren’t showing any signs of moving on

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Answer : A member of the public stops in front of the static protest you are Stewarding and starts shouting at participants, they aren’t showing any signs of moving on

Keep yourself safe
Look for someone to support you or watch nearby
If the person is not moving on, approach at a safe distance. Get in between them and the rest of crowd
Smile, say hello, engage with them and actively listen to their issue, apologise if appropriate
Use deescalation technique like BREATHE
In emergency, alert the police
Debrief, chat with someone afterwards

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Practicalities

Before the action:

Find out who will be doing PL on the day
If no PL find out what info can be shared with Police
Find out how you will communicate on the day - is there a secure chat? Suggest one is set up if not
Find out if anyone is looking after Wellbeing or if you need to bring supplies
Find out if there are any trained First Aiders in the group
Get your kit ready!

On the day:

Arrive before start time
Put on hi-vis as soon as you get there
Look around the area for points to note about area for safety and for accessibility

After the action

Debrief with your group

What went well
What could be improved on

Complete the feedback form
Get some rest

Things to Bring

Hi-vis
Comfortable Shoes
Clothing Layers /waterproofs
Water bottle/food
Notepad & Pencil
Back Office number written down
Bust card(s)
Earplugs (plus spare)
Phone
Power bank for your phone
Torch (in Winter)
Wellbeing supplies such as snacks, water, sun cream etc. if nobody else is providing

Before the action:

Find out who will be PL on the day

If no PL find out what info can be shared with Police

Find out how you will communicate with action planners on the day - is there a secure chat? Suggest one is set up if not

Find out if anyone is looking after Wellbeing or if you need to bring supplies

Find out if there are any trained First Aiders in the group

Get your kit ready!

On the day:

Arrive before start time

Put on hi-vis as soon as you get there - this is important as it marks you out as support crew

Look around the area for points to note about area for safety and for accessibility, are there busy roads/cycle lanes to be aware of, are there steps or Kerbs etc.

After the action

Debrief with your group

What went well
What could be improved on

Complete the feedback form - we have a generic form that can be used for any action, see link that will be sent after training and pinned at the top of Stewards chats

Get some rest

Things to Bring

Hi-vis
Comfortable Shoes
Clothing Layers /waterproofs
Water bottle/food
Notepad & Pencil - important for witnessing arrests, taking down details of lost children etc.
Back Office number written down
Bust card(s)
Earplugs (plus spare)
Phone
Power bank for your phone
Torch (in Winter)
Wellbeing supplies such as snacks, water, sun cream etc if nobody else is providing

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Finding events near you:

You can find the XR Map and Calendar on the XR website, or by using the links below

XR Map:

https://eventmap.extinctionrebellion.uk/

XR Calendar:

https://teamup.com/kswyi17ixzj7f9i7fu

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Q&A

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Further Information

More info about Stewarding: https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/action-support/chapter/stewarding
More info about Protest Liaison

https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/action-support/chapter/protest-liaison

More info about Wellbeing:

https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/action-support/chapter/action-wellbeing

More info about Embedding non-viloence/deescalation:

https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/action-support/chapter/embedding-nonviolence-deescalation

More information about Accessibility:

https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/accessibility

Witnessing an arrest video: https://vimeo.com/364579852

Find events near you:

Map: https://eventmap.extinctionrebellion.uk/

Calendar: https://teamup.com/kswyi17ixzj7f9i7fu

Feedback form:

https://xrb.link/y1lvR3

To contact the Stewards team: stewarding@extinctionrebellion.uk