Local Groups

What are Local Groups?

Local groups’ are city or neighbourhood based volunteer-run groups that are part of the Friends of the Earth Scotland local group network. 

For half a century, local groups have been a core part of our work and structure. In fact, local groups predate the national organisation! 

Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation. Its strength comes from connecting local struggles across the world. 

Coordinated, local organisation is fundamental to FoES fulfilling it’s aims and with a renewed focus, we hope to enable the regrowth of local groups across the country.

Many of the challenges we face as a society are huge. But the way we can challenge them is by organising in our neighbourhoods and communities. From defeating fracking and stopping incinerators, to saving local parks to winning better bus services, local organising in Scotland has achieved major victories.

Not only that, but by building local connections and organisations, we defend our communities against those trying to divide us.  

Interested in setting up a local group?

While FoES has and does work with other grassroots groups across Scotland, we see investing in and supporting FoES local groups as a priority because they build the power and strength of the whole organisation through:

• Growing awareness and presence of FoES and our vision in communities across Scotland
• Building FoES membership through local recruitment, ensuring that we continue to follow the demands of the people, not funders
• Participating in FoES democratic structures, ensuring that local concerns and knowledge are represented at all levels of the organisation
• Campaigning locally and participating in national campaigns to ensure that necessary social and environmental change is being pursued strongly at all levels.
• Sharing with other local groups and participating in events and trainings to strengthen the network and build up people’’s capacity to take action

Is a FoES local group the right choice?

Setting up a group isn’t easy and taking on a coordination role can be a lot of work. But organising in our communities is essential to create a fairer world.

By being part of the FoES local group network you get:

• To play a major role in winning transformative campaigns, from stopping new oil and gas projects to publicly owned bus networks
• Direct support from FoES staff on maintaining a group, strategy, tactics, campaigns and logistical support like insurance
• To be part of a national network of other local organisers with similar goals
• To be represented on the board of Friends of the Earth Scotland and help shape the work of the organisation
• To be part of a global network of thousands of local groups across over 70 countries
• Access to training for group organisers

Local groups build power in your area

Local groups build the power of the movement in their local area, through:

• Fundraising: through fundraising events, sponsored events or collections
• Promotion: ensuring that FoES campaigns and actions are known about locally
• Recruitment: encouraging people to join FoES as full members

Get in touch

If you would like to hear more about how to set up a local group in your area, get in touch at activism@foe.scot