Organising for the next generation

By Noel Hatch

At the recent Compass Conference fringe “Nothing Left to Lose: Politics for the Next Generation”, the key question framing the debate was “our grandparents got us the welfare state, our parents got us individual rights, what will our contribution be?”

The consensus during the elections was that the silencing of the issues that will define our generation has so far been more deafening than the debate might have been – from cuts to climate change, we were literally told to put up or shut up.

But maybe being in this mess together could be a way of building those relationships? We’re one million unemployed, but are we one million strong? As Ben Seymour wrote, “20% youth unemployment and no movement, no struggle; how bad does it have to get?”

For too long we have let those in power at worst ignore us and at best claim to speak on our behalf. To talk of the enthusiasm of young people to campaign on climate change is faint praise if it is ignored: Westminster prefers to turn to Motorway Man. The parallels couldn’t be more ironic.

At the same time, while the corridors of power are crowded by lobbyists, we are kettled in by police when we try and talk truth to power, or even arrested for trying to get too close to the people we elected to represent us. We are so untrusted that we need parties to train people to come and organise our communities even while they ignore the calls we make when we organise them ourselves.

When I went out to friends to crowd source ideas for Compass’ A New Hope video, it struck home how, against all the odds and away from the spotlights, young campaigners are organising for the next generation. Friends who set up an online group because they were getting ripped off. Others who invited people to a campaign session so people can live better off, others who got people to write to their MP to support the campaign they care about the most and others who pitched up their tent to prevent the world turning to toast. There are also young people who’ve stayed at a shelter to help the homeless, who’ve gone down the beach to clean up the mess. Some have even taken part in a flashmob to show people how exploitation of young people at work just isn’t right.

In that spirit, we’re holding an event this Saturday, June 26th, with the TUC, called “Organising for the Next Generation”. Young campaigners will show you how you can learn new techniques on how to engage with young people. You can sign up at here.

Why is it time to organise for the next generation? Because, as Laurie Penny puts it, “No more asking nicely. It’s time to get organised.”