In the current political climate, the wealth of wisdom contained in the Collection (the history, theory and practice of nonviolence) is needed more than ever. I write this Annual Report at a time not simply of global uncertainty, but of increasing authoritarianism and rising right-wing populist politics. These anti-democratic forces highlight an immediate need for responses which foreground human security and dignity, not the protection of wealth and power. But they also bring with them a crackdown on nonviolent action, precisely because it is on the rise and effective. We see this globally, not least in the US under Donald Trump, and sadly we are also seeing it here in the UK. For the first time, an apparently nonviolent organisation has been proscribed, against the backdrop of a political culture marked by a shocking growth in divisive rhetoric. Rhetoric which embeds cultural and structural violence along class as well as race and gender lines and encourages direct violence towards refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable groups. The agenda that underpins this violence is well-funded, well-organised, omnipresent online and increasingly accepted as normal in our communities. It thrives on pessimism and a sense of powerlessness.
It is easy to feel pessimistic and powerless ourselves at times like this, but the stories and ideas within the Commonweal Collection (the history, theory and practice of nonviolent action) are a reminder that abuses of power can be challenged, evil can be resisted, rights can be defended. They are also a call to action.
The world needs hope right now. The world needs nonviolent activists.
We are passionate about the role active nonviolence can play in building hope, fostering respect for the dignity of others, and helping people embrace their own political agency. Against this need, I am very pleased to report that over the past year our JRCT-funded project ‘Growing the Movements’ has hugely increased Commonweal’s visibility and reach.
Our Collection Development Worker, Sue Easterbrook, has reorganised and relabelled our resources, and added new titles, including new holdings on Disability Rights activism, as well as a new fiction and poetry section. The Collection is now much more accessible and easy to engage with – we urge you to come and visit!
Our previous Outreach Worker, Donna Craine, left us last Summer through mutual agreement. In November, we were delighted to welcome Emma Goodway in her place. Emma has hit the ground running, and has facilitated hundreds of conversations on nonviolence and activism. Emma has focused on a different theme each month: hope, creating a community, women and peace, poetry and storytelling – to name but a few. We have made connections with a wide range of people and organisations (religious, cultural, creative, trade unions, activists, political and more). We have hosted events and talks, facilitated a nonviolence book club, trialled resources and used creative workshops to encourage learning and conversation.
We are grateful to Ludi Simpson and Mollie Somerville for sharing their thought-provoking reflections on their Just Stop Oil soup-throwing action, and to Dr Majbritt Lyck-Bowen for an inspiring talk on her new book: Moving with Dignity, a positive peace approach to migration. Our link with the Peace Museum continues to provide a gateway to new audiences, and we look forward to collaborating ever more closely with them as they go from strength to strength in their wonderful new premises.
We also now have a set of book lists and other online resources, which we hope you will find useful. You can find all our digital resources here: www.commonwealnonviolence.org/resources.
Through this work, membership has grown, more books are being borrowed (in person and via inter-library loans) and we have a thriving mailing list who regularly receive an email newsletter from Commonweal.
However, we have also identified challenges in the much-needed work we are doing to increase the visibility and use of nonviolent tools and resources. Firstly, people’s information habits have changed vastly since our founder David Hoggett founded the collection in the 1960s! Not only are people reading books less, but they are more likely to buy second-hand than borrow from a library. Secondly, there is a disconnect between short-form internet content and the resources we hold for deeper exploration and engagement with these vital ideas. Thirdly, we are acutely aware of the historical structural biases in traditional approaches to nonviolence.
These challenges are also opportunities, and Emma is leading on our work to decolonise the Collection, as well as bringing her wealth of creative experience to develop more emotionally engaging ways of connecting people with the ideas within the collection. We also plan to employ a new member of staff on a fixed term contract to work with us to develop our digital strategy, and are seeking ongoing funding for all areas of our work.
Allied to this, we are working to integrate the internationally significant Civil Resistance bibliography established by Michael Randle, April Carter and Howard Clark www.civilresistance.info with Commonweal’s own online presence.
As Commonweal has grown, we have this year invited applications for new trustees. We are very moved by the interest shown in the Collection by some incredible people – some of whom we hope to welcome as new Trustees at this year’s AGM. At present, the Trustee body comprises: Susan Mottram (Chair), Ellie Clement (Vice-Chair), Heather Blakey (Secretary), Jen Fox (Treasurer), Rachel Julian and Ute Kelly. Our wonderful Chair, Susan Mottram, sadly leaves us as a Trustee this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Susan from the heart for the huge amount she has contributed to Commonweal over the years. You will be sorely missed, Susan!
Commonweal Fundraiser, with Ceilidh, buffet supper and raffle
As we grow, we urgently need to ensure our financial stability, not least as we now employ staff and take our responsibilities towards them very seriously. To this end, we are having a Klezmer Ceilidh! It should be a fantastic night, with the wonderful Ey Up Klezmer! (who have generously donated their time for this event). Tickets include a buffet supper – all for £15! Solidarity tickets at £20 are also available, which enables us to also offer low-income tickets at £10. I hope you can join us – get your tickets here.
As you can see, there is a lot going on at Commonweal. We would love to hear your reflections on the work we are doing, and your ideas for what we can do next. And if you’d like to get involved – whether as a volunteer, a prospective Trustee, or simply to join our mailing list, please get in touch:
- Sue Easterbrook – Collection Development commonweal@peacemuseum.org.uk
- Emma Goodway – Outreach commonwealoutreach@peacemuseum.org.uk
- Trustees commonweal@riseup.net
Finally, thanks are due as always to the staff of the JB Priestley Library, as well as the Peace Museum, to our fantastic staff Emma and Sue, and to our amazing volunteers.
Thank you also to our supporters, to our readers, and most of all to the nonviolent activists here and around the world who continue to inspire us and give us hope.
Heather Blakey on behalf of the Commonweal Trustees,
September 2025
Download the report here.