Our stories
As Quakers we believe that faith is expressed through action. Quakers and Quaker meetings live out this belief in their communities. We share these stories here.
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Displaying 112 stories
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Pause for peace: harnessing the power of silence
Taunton, Somerset
Sue Clarke shares the motivation behind the Pause for Peace initiative and how it has begun to spread around the world from her home in Somerset.
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"Greenwash won't wash" say two Friends in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, UK
Carolyn Burch shares how her mind and heart were moved to take part in a demonstration outside Shell's offices in Aberdeen.
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From Malvern to Telford: a peace pilgrimage
Solihull, UK
Lorna Foster from Solihull Meeting reflects on her experience on a peace pilgrimage from Malvern to Telford to raise awareness of the arms fair due to be held there.
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Protecting the vulnerable: taking legal action over landfill fires
Havering, London
Ruth Kettle-Frisby explains why she's taking action against Havering Council in a bid for cleaner air in her local area.
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Taking action against Whitehaven coal mine
Kendal, UK
Maggie Mason from Kendal and Sedbergh Area Meeting discusses the legal action against Whitehaven coal mine and the work which led her there.
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Turning the tide on fossil fuels
Edinburgh, UK
Janet Saunders from Central Edinburgh Quaker Meeting explains how she got involved with campaigning to stop the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline through focusing on insurance companies.
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Clearing the fog: taking part in campaigns for climate justice
Littlehampton, Sussex
Sue Curd took part in Exploring Faith and Climate Justice, a year of learning and spiritual reflection run in partnership by Quakers in Britain and Woodbrooke from July 2022-July 2023. She explains how she was inspired to take part and what she is planning to do now.
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Three counties campaign against an arms fair
Malvern, UK
Mike Davis shares how Quakers in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire took part in campaign against the arms fair in Malvern.
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'The planet is on loan to us'
Inverness, Scotland
Sila Collins-Walden shares how Inverness Quakers are campaigning alongside Extinction Rebellion.
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Community power: from collaboration to action
Newcastle upon Tyne
Faith Lydiard shares how coming together as a local community has inspired positive change.
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Vigil for defenders of the planet
Malvern, Worcestershire
Melanie Jameson shares why some Malvern Quakers are called to join Malvern XR's vigils 'in love and rage for the Earth'.
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Supporting activists on trial
Chelmsford, UK
Chelmsford Quakers explain how they've been supporting Just Stop Oil activists on trial in Essex.
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Remembering John Woolman outside Vanguard
Bristol, UK
The Bristol EarthQuakes group organised a meeting for worship outside the Vanguard offices in the City of London.
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Mobilising and organising for a better future
Taunton, UK
Fran Hicks draws on her experiences to look at the differences between mobilising and organising, and explores how Quakers can successfully embody both approaches.
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Making a difference: a new approach to political engagement
Bolton, UK
Philip Austin and Clare Frackelton from Bolton Quakers share how their meeting is taking a new approach to support each other's witness in the world.
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Sanctuary Everywhere to Loving Earth
Dunblane, Perthshire
Susan Mitchell of Dunblane Meeting picks up the threads between migration, climate change and war.
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How a local study group became climate champions
Alnwick, Northumberland
In this video interview Quaker Rosemary Hartill explains how exploring climate justice materials with her local book group led them to take action together and individually.
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Conscientious objection: taxes for peace
London, UK
Quaker and one of the Peace Tax Seven, Robin Brookes, explains how working for a world without war led to his involvement with Conscience and the campaign to spend taxes for peace.
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A memorial and a catalyst: creating Pity of War
Clun, Shropshire
Jan Arriens describes how one Quaker's concern for civilians affected by war has resulted in a new charity launching on Hiroshima Day 2020.
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From small seeds: welcoming refugees in Central Scotland
Stirling, UK
Quakers in Central Scotland have helped develop a small charity that has grown in five years from a modest project helping Syrian refugees into the award-winning Forth Valley Welcome organisation.
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Settle Quakers welcome people seeking refuge in the UK
Settle, Yorkshire
Quakers are making life in Britain better by challenging disciminatory laws and offering hospitality to newcomers.
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Experiencing the Extinction Rebellion Autumn Uprising as a silent performer
Ashburton, Devon
What is it like to draw attention to climate breakdown through silent street performance? Ashburton Quaker Pip Harris reflects.
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After the arms fair: a Quaker reflects on conscience, arrest and privilege
London
Bradford Quaker Rosie Horsley joined a day of faith-led action outside one of the world's biggest arms fairs. Here she shares what happened next.
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Young Quaker climate strikers call for support from Friends
London, UK
Unified climate action can bridge intergenerational divides and protect our living planet, writes Faith Biddle
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Fundraising Quakers walking 112 miles in solidarity with refugee women
Birmingham
They plan to make the journey on foot over nine days in September 2019, travelling eastwards from Badby in Northamptonshire to Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire.
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Hosting an open-house peace event during Armed Forces Day
Salisbury, Wiltshire
In 2019, Salisbury city hosted a three-day celebration of all things military. Kathrine Sealey shares how local Quakers provided a peaceful counterpoint.
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Spiritual preparations for stopping an arms fair
Hull, Yorkshire
Sam Donaldson, a Quaker and seasoned anti-arms trade activist, calls on Quakers across Britain to 'let us see what love can do!' ahead of the DSEI arms fair.
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A seventeen-year-old Quaker's urgent call for climate justice
London
Youth climate striker and London Quaker, Anya Nanning Ramamurthy, addressed faith groups with this call to climate justice ahead of the climate lobby of parliament on 26 June 2019. Here is the full text of her speech.
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Teaching business students about Quaker ethics
Chichester, Sussex
After reading the new economy booklet series, Chichester Quakers set up a new economy group to find ways to apply their knowledge. Here is what they got up to.
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Quakers host day out in Chichester for people seeking asylum in the UK
Chichester, Sussex
People seeking asylum in the UK in 2019 face many obstacles. To offer respite, Chichester Quakers hosted a day out for refugee families. Michael Woolley reports.
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Edinburgh Quakers reflect on Extinction Rebellion day of action
Edinburgh, UK
Quakers in Scotland are taking action for climate justice through Extinction Rebellion. Rosemary Hartill of Central Edinburgh Quakers reports.
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Why I am striking from school
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Sasha King-Smith, a young Quaker from Sheffield Central Meeting, is taking part in the growing #YouthStrike4Climate movement. Here's why.
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Reflecting on the ethics of long-term imprisonment
Westminster, London
Ben Jarman, a Quaker at Westminster Local Meeting, has worked in prisons for years. What has the experience taught him, and how has his Quaker faith shaped his outlook?
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Nailsworth Quaker Meeting create a community peace garden
Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Rebecca Stapleford, Warden for Nailsworth Quaker Meeting, shares the story behind Nailsworth Quaker Meeting's new Peace Garden.
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Quakers raise funds for refugees with sold-out choir concert
Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
By combining the skills and passion of meeting members, Nailsworth Quakers raised over £8000 for local and international charities.
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Quakers transform meeting house into emergency shelter for rough sleepers
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
When heavy snow hit Weston-super-Mare, Friends were ready to take immediate action for people experiencing homelessness.
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Inspiring children with a love of the natural environment
Birmingham, Central England
Quakers in Central England are supporting children from different faith backgrounds through the Small Footsteps sustainability programme.
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Penrith Quakers paddle England's second longest lake to raise money for refugees
Penrith, Cumbria
Ten Quakers. Four canoes. Nine miles. One Force 5 gale. Here's how they made it happen.
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Healing injustice with peace in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Turning the Tide community organiser Betty Atieno reflects on six years of Quaker-influenced peacebuilding in Kenya
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Towards equality: a Quaker campaign for a Land Value Tax
Lancashire, UK
Jocelyn Gaskell of Yealand Local Meeting is challenging unequal land ownership with a Land Value Tax campaign. She invites others to join her.
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Helping schools develop restorative practices
West Sussex
Vanessa Young, a member of Blue Idol Area Meeting, works with schools to help teachers create a restorative environment where conflicts are resolved peacefully.
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Quakers bring worship to protests against oil drilling in Sussex
West Sussex
In Quaker Week 2017 Louise Williamson helped unite protesters and Friends in worship outside the gates of a new oil extraction site.
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Opposing immigration detention
London, UK
Bridget Walker reports on the current condition of immigration detention in Britain.
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Reporting from the 2017 Quaker Activist Gathering
London
Ruth Tod, a Quaker and serving committee member writes of her experiences at the 2017 Quaker Activist Gathering in London.
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Quakers join water protectors in Lancashire to stop fracking
Lancashire
Lyndy Raine writes from Preston New Road, the frontline of fracking in the UK, to share her journey from concerned citizen to active campaigner.
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Community organising to reduce our carbon footprint
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Alison Crane writes about Gloucestershire Area Meeting's supportive approach to community carbon footprint reduction
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Moses baskets for children
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Janis Leslie got involved with an organisation putting together a basket of basics for mothers and babies who need them.
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Monthly gathering with refugees
Swindon, Wiltshire
Swindon Quakers organise a monthly gathering for refugees and asylum seekers. Local Quakers felt it was important that people felt welcome.
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Mulberry Tree Community Garden
Tottenham, London
Tottenham Quaker Meeting have created a community garden in their meeting house grounds, bringing people together from across the community.
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Housing destitute asylum seekers
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Keith and Ethel Burdett took a leap of faith and invested their life savings in two properties to house vulnerable asylum seekers.
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Welcoming asylum seekers to Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster Quakers were moved to action as the refugee crisis unfolded. This shifted from campaigning to practical action as people started arriving.
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Supporting Bristol City of Sanctuary
Redland, Bristol
Bristol Redland Quakers support the Bristol City of Sanctuary project through regular action including support for a shop distributing clothes and household supplies to refugees.
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Working together to support refugees locally
Llangollen, Denbighshire
Maria Haines shares how a local group worked together to support refugee families in north Wales.
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Putting peace on the careers agenda
Wilmslow, Cheshire
When Gill Alcock realised her daughter's school was hosting military themed activities, she started looking for opportunities to promote peace
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Bearing witness against fracking in Lancashire
Clitheroe, Lancashire
Wendy Hampton of Pendle Hill Area Meeting tells the story of how the Pendle Hill worship for witness against fracking came about from the ministry of one Friend, and the support of many.
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Exposing the arms expo
Hereford, Herefordshire
Quakers joined others to oppose the Defence and Security Expo in Hereford. Every delegate received a lily with a message of peace attached.
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Welfare for all: walking for the common good
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Kendal and Sedbergh Friends report back on their 50-mile pilgrimage for the welfare system.
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Leicester weekly peace vigil
Leicester, Leicestershire
Leicester Quakers maintained a weekly peace vigil for 40 years, holding fruitful conversations with passers-by.
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Not in our name: Pilgrimage for the welfare system
Sedbergh, Cumbria
The story of a pilgrimage organised by Kendal and Sedbergh Area Meeting to bear witness against the dismantling of the welfare system.
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Speaking out against discrimination and injustice
Bakewell, Derbyshire
Quakers oppose government actions which discriminate against people because of who they are or where they were born. Sue Hepworth explains where this conviction began for her.
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Laying a wreath for remembrance
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Stevenage Quakers worked with their Mayor and British Legion branch to lay a wreath of red and white poppies at the local Remembrance Sunday service.
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Water injustice in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Turning the Tide groups in Nairobi are working together to address the injustices that limit their access to a clean water supply.
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Nonviolent change in Rwanda
Rwanda
In a Turning the Tide group in Rwanda, one woman shares her story of personal transformation.
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Poppies at Cavell memorial
Inverness, Inverness-shire
Children from Inverness Local Meeting leave a wreath at the memorial to Edith Cavell every year.
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Action for climate justice at Heathrow
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
A Huddersfield Friend was compelled by conscience to make a stand for environmental justice and joined the flash mob at Heathrow.
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Tackling inequality through credit unions
North Wales, UK
Quakers in North Wales are working to combat inequality by supporting individual Quakers and meetings to get involved in local credit unions.
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Break up the banks? We need a banking revolution!
London, UK
A London Quaker shares how they were led to increase awareness about the UK's banking system and how to change it.
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Direct action against nuclear weapons at AWE Burghfield
Hull, Humberside
Sam Donaldson joined Quakers and others to close down AWE Burghfield, the nuclear bomb factory outside Reading.
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Conscientious objection past and present
Bath, Somerset
Bath Quakers held an exhibition, a talk and a play to raise awareness of conscientious objection to challenge the veneration of war.
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DIY gun amnesty
Keighley, West Yorkshire
When the McConnell family returned to Britain from a country affected by real war, they found a creative response to the children's attraction to toy guns.
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My daughter’s conscientious objection
England
A Quaker parent, and school governor, reflects on a painful struggle challenging militarism at their daughter's primary school.
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Challenging media bias on militarisation
Leicester, UK
Four Quakers questioned the uncritical depiction of militarism in a BBC Radio 4 piece about the expansion of cadet forces in state schools.
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Mourning victims of war in Inverness
Inverness, UK
Quakers in Inverness take part in a monthly public vigil to mourn all victims of war and conflict.
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Peace is the best medicine
Bristol, UK
How medical professionals worked together to raise the alarm about nuclear weapons
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Vigil against renewal of Trident
Bury St Edmunds, UK
Bury St Edmunds Quaker Meeting carried out a silent vigil to protest against the possible replacement of Britain's Trident nuclear missiles.
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Running a community carbon reduction course
North Wales, UK
North Wales Quakers are supporting Friends and others to transition towards a lower-carbon lifestyle through the Footpaths to a Greener Future programme.
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Three Acres and a Cow
Bristol, UK
Three Acres and a Cow is a show about the history of land rights and protest in the UK, told through folk song, storytelling and poetry.
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A positive message on immigration
Reading, UK
A Quaker shares her story of promoting a more positive message on immigration.
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Urban Harvest
Birmingham, UK
Urban Harvest takes the unwanted fruit so often left to rot in community spaces, turning it into a community resource and learning experience.
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Martha House
Tottenham, London, UK
Martha House, which provides accommodation for destitute forced migrants in Tottenham, was supported by a QPSW Sustainability and New Economy grant.
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Launching the Exeter Pound
Exeter, UK
Exeter Meeting used a QPSW Sustainability and New Economy grant to raise the profile of the Exeter Pound, an initiative of Transition Exeter.
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Facilitating Footpaths to a Greener Life
Stocksfield, UK
Stocksfield Meeting used a QPSW Sustainability and New Economy grant to run a training weekend on community-based carbon reduction.
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Creating a grass-free lawn
Dorchester, UK
Dorchester Meeting used a QPSW Sustainability and New Economy Grant to transform their meeting's garden into a grass-free lawn.
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Taking action in Paris at COP21
London, UK
On the last day of the climate negotiations in Paris, Owen Everett took part in a human 'red line' action in the centre of Paris.
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Blue marble minute for the climate
Exeter, UK
Christine Meredith, of Exeter Meeting in Devon, shares how a concern about climate change led her to launch a 'blue marble' minute of silence.
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Walking the Pilgrimage to Paris
Sidcot, UK
Liz McPherson shares her experience walking from London to Paris to call for action at the international climate negotiations in 2015.
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Supporting local action on climate change
Swindon, UK
In the lead-up to the international climate negotiations in Paris in 2015, Swindon Quakers sign up to the Wiltshire declaration on climate change.
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Walking in stillness with the People's Pilgrimage
Lancaster, UK
Cliodhna Mulhern tells the story of a pilgrimage for the climate in Morecambe Bay.
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Cycling the Cooperide from Copenhagen to Paris
London, UK
A bike bloc of international climate activists are cycling from Copenhagen to Paris, arriving during the COP21 summit. We are the Cooperide.
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Joining Quakers on the People’s March for Climate, Justice & Jobs
London, UK
Emily Graham shares her experience at the climate march, which took place in London as the international climate negotiations opened in Paris.
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Joining the Pilgrimage to Paris
Birmingham, UK
A group of Christians walked 200 miles from London to Paris, arriving just before the opening of the international climate negotiations.
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Engaging young people in the general election
York, UK
Bootham School – a Quaker school in York – engaged their students in the general election by hosting a hustings event and holding a mock election.
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Stop the arms fair: Doing it for Hilly
Thirsk, UK
When Anna Botwright of Thirsk Quaker Meeting joined the 'Stop the Arms Fair' demonstration in 2015, her thoughts were with her daughter.
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Shining a light on peace at the arms fair
Castle Douglas
Anne MacArthur travelled from Castle Douglas to London to join protests against the world's biggest arms fair.
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Witnessing for peace on Armed Forces Day 2015
Guildford, UK
When Armed Forces Day came to town, John Morris and other Guildford Friends wanted to challenge it.
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An Over the Top performance highlights military influence in schools
Birmingham, UK
Lynn and David Morris are Quakers and actors. They produced 'Over the Top', a play highlighting the militarisation of schools and the strong passions it can provoke.
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Opposing drills in a primary school
Sidcot, UK
Nicola Havercroft of Sidcot Meeting challenged the unquestioned involvement of the military in her daughter's primary school.
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Raising concerns around TTIP
Somerset, UK
Tom Leimdorfer of North Somerset Area Meeting tells how he raised concerns around the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) through a local council motion.
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Going solar
Colwyn Bay, UK
Donald Saunders tells the story of how Colwyn Bay Meeting in North Wales installed solar panels on their meeting house roof.
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Bringing Hartshill's 'secret garden' back to life
Hartshill, UK
Hartshill Friends rejuvenated their Meeting House's garden, turning an overgrown plot into a biodiverse natural eco-space, as well as a tool for outreach.
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Speaking up for the love of energy justice
Totnes, UK
In June 2015, Totnes Quakers joined 10,000 people to lobby the UK parliament on climate action.
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Engaging with the 2015 general election
Gloucestershire, UK
In the lead up to the 2015 election, Quakers in Gloucestershire came together to explore key issues and engage with parliamentary candidates.
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Quaker questions to candidates
Manchester, UK
In the lead up to the general election in 2015, Manchester and Warrington's Social Justice Group sent questions to parliamentary candidates.
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Making us more equal
Watford, UK
In February 2015, Luton and Leighton Area Meeting held a conference on inequality to explore what action might be taken.
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Led to action on the Living Wage
Lancaster, UK
Responding to economic inequality and injustice in the UK, a Lancaster Quaker shares how she felt led to campaign for the Living Wage.
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Wheel Stop Trident
London, UK
A group of young Quakers formed Wheel Stop Trident in early 2015. They use their bikes to protest the renewal of Trident – Britain's nuclear weapons system.
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Creating the Teach Peace Pack
Wilmslow, UK
A Quaker shares what inspired her to push for the creation of a pack of peace education resources.
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The courage of our convictions
Edinburgh, UK
South East Scotland Quakers stand for peace on Armed Forces Day 2015 as part of their concern about increasing militarisation of society.
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Inequality affects us all: Stone Quaker vigil
Stone, UK
Stone Quakers held a two hour vigil in the High Street on Friday, 13 March 2015 as part of Quaker Equality Week.
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Peace Hub – Quaker Peace & Justice Centre
Birmingham, UK
In November 2014 Central England Quakers launched Peace Hub in Birmingham. It seeks to be a centre to engage people with peace and justice work.
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Capel Quaker Orchard
Capel, UK
Capel Quakers planted a community orchard on the unused land around their meeting house, linking with others in the village.
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Celebrating sustainable living in the Peak District
Bakewell, UK
Bakewell Quakers celebrate the positives of 'going green' by hosting Bakewell Green Festival.
