Here are details of the core XR talks and trainings: what they are, how long they take, who should attend them, and how to access them.
At the moment, all formats are delivered online!
Please note that not all training formats will be provided at all times. The UK Talks & Trainings team tries to provide more training in the run-up to rebellions.
To join a live talk or training, search our Events Page or the Facebook page of your local/regional XR group.
Introductions to XR
- Heading for Extinction and What to do About it [Talk]
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A talk introducing the reality of the climate & ecological crisis, and the rationale and ethos behind the Extinction Rebellion movement. This is the XR talk and is recommended for everyone.
Duration: 60-90mins
This is for: anyone new to XR
Request this talk for your local group: contact your regional Talks & Trainings coordinator
- Nonviolent Direct Action [Training]
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An essential training for all rebels. This training introduces Extinction Rebellion’s tactics of nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience, with discussion of the rationale, logistics and do’s and don’ts of our actions.
Duration: 2.5hrs
This is for: anyone who wants to attend an XR action or protest, no matter whether you want to be arrested or not
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page or the Facebook page of your local/regional XR group
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your local group: contact your regional Talks & Trainings coordinator
- Know Your Rights [Training]
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Training which provides essential information on your rights at protests, your rights when talking to the police, your rights when being searched, and your rights when being arrested.
Duration: 2hrs
This is for: anyone who wants to attend an XR action or protest, no matter whether you want to be arrested or not
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page.
Request this training for your group: xr-legal@riseup.net
- Witnessing Police Behaviour [Training]
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By the end of this training, you will be able to monitor the police’s actions, whilst also trying to safeguard the person being subjected to the police behaviour, particularly witnessing arrests and stop and searches. We recognise that the police often use their powers in a discriminatory manner to target Black people, people of colour, LGBTQ+ and disabled people (to name a few), due to institutional racism, sexism, transphobia and ableism within the police force.
Duration: 1hr
This is for: any rebel who wants to attend an action
Find live training: check the Legal Support facebook page and the Events Page
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: xr-legal@riseup.net
- Citizens’ Assembly [Workshop]
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This talk introduces citizens’ assemblies and explores why XR is demanding one in the fight for climate and ecological justice. The session consists of an introductory talk after which you will have the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and have a chat with members from the Citizens’ Assembly Working Group (CAWG).
Duration: 1hr
This is for: any rebel
Find live training: check the Events page
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this workshop for your local group: xr-CitizensAssembly@protonmail.com
- The Money Rebellion Talk [Talk]
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A talk that tells the truth about money and explains how our political economy is the root cause of the climate and ecological emergency. The aim of the talk is to encourage people to get involved in Money Rebellion.
Duration: 60-90mins
This is for: anyone who wants to help build a sustainable and fair future
Request this talk for your group: eventsxr@gmail.com, or fill in this form
Movement DNA
- Roots of Regenerative Culture [Workshop]
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A workshop exploring the pattern by which nature regenerates itself, and how that can inform our own regenerative culture within XR, our own lives and our communities. Drawing on participants’ own understanding and lived experience of life’s patterns of regeneration, the training applies that understanding to uncover how we can make everything we do regenerative.
Duration: 2hrs
This is for: any rebel
Find live training: check the Regenerative Cultures Facebook page or the Events Page
Request this workshop for your group: regen@extinctionrebellion.uk
- Oppression, Movement Building and Our Relationship as Activists [Workshop]
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This interactive workshop will address the importance of understanding the structural nature of oppressions (such as racism, sexism, classism, ableism, the oppression of young people, …), as well as doing personal healing work – both of which are necessary if we are to work together effectively in a united movement.
Duration: 3hrs (interactive)
This is for: any rebel
Find live workshops: check this document, the Regenerative Cultures Facebook page or the Events Page
Request this workshop for your group: ombraworkshop@gmail.com
Preparation for Actions
- How To Action (Action Design) [Workshop]
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A workshop to help you design and carry out your own actions. This workshop explores key principles of civil disobedience, how XR’s principles and values guide our action design, and some important advice and tips to empower you to design and carry out your own actions.
Duration: 2.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to organise actions
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this workshop for your group: eventsxr@gmail.com
- Action Wellbeing [Training]
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Caring for your fellow rebels emotionally, mentally and physically before, during and after Actions is an integral part of every action.
Learn how to support vulnerable people, including those who are glued or locked on. Practise active listening and gain other support skills, such as grounding and relaxation techniques, for yourself, your Affinity Group and action wide wellbeing.
Wellbeing Supporters often find themselves helping with other roles like deescalation and stewarding. Some of this may come naturally, but attending those training sessions will also help boost your all-round action-care skills.
Duration: 2 hrs
This is for: rebels who want to organise and provide Action Wellbeing
Find live training: check the Regenerative Cultures Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this training for your group: action.xrregen@protonmail.com
- Nonviolence and 1-to-1 De-escalation [Training]
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Learn the basics of De-escalation rooted in Nonviolent Communication (NVC). How might you de-escalate a tense situation with someone who disagrees with you but is in dialogue with you? How might you de-escalate with very angry or drunk people in protest situations? How might you authentically express your motivation for being involved in XR?
This is a hands-on, interactive session with roleplay practice, utilising break-out rooms in Zoom. Come and learn and expand into empathic connection with those who might disagree or want to disrupt you.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: these skills are good for everyone involved in XR to learn and are essential for people in De-escalation teams
Find live training: check the Embedding Nonviolence Facebook page and the Events Page
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: xrnonviolence@gmail.com
- Nonviolence and Large Crowd De-escalation [Training]
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This training explores what nonviolence is, and teaches techniques for creating and maintaining a nonviolent atmosphere during large actions and occupations. This training can help rebels nonviolently de-escalate situations involving other rebels, members of the public, security guards and police.
Duration: 1.5-2hrs
This is for: rebels who want to become de-escalators
Find live training: check the Embedding Nonviolence Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this training for your group: xrnonviolence@gmail.com
- Nonviolence and Drama Triangle [Training]
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In this training we will explore, in an embodied way, our relationship with the roles of the Drama triangle (Victim/ Persecutor/ Rescuer) and how they generally keep conflict in the stuck realm as opposed to moving towards a more conscious place of potential transformation.
During this exploration we will also learn how we can be supported through becoming familiar with the archetypal characters of the Brave Warrior (for the Persecutor) the Wise Elder (for the Rescuer) and the Curious Child (for the Victim). Remembering these archetypal energies in each of us will help us respond more creatively when we inevitably fall into the roles of the drama triangle in moments of challenge.
Duration: 1-1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to deepen their practice in nonviolence and conflicts
Find live training: check the Embedding Nonviolence Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this training for your group: xrnonviolence@gmail.com
- Stewarding [Training]
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Steward actions with more confidence with this great workshop from some of XRUK’s most experienced stewards. Learn to spot and manage or mitigate risks to make actions safer and more successful as part of a key actions team.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to become stewards
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this training for your group: xrukstewardstraining@gmail.com
- Police Liaison [Training]
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A training that covers the strategy and practice of liaising with the police within the context of non violent civil disobedience at protest actions. Covering the basic do’s and don’ts of XR police liaison, and the hows and whys of what has evolved into a strategic part of the rebellion.
Duration: 2.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to become police liaisons; DON’T ACT AS A POLICE LIAISON IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE THIS TRAINING!
Request this training for your group: xrpoliceliaision@protonmail.com
Preparation for Arrest
- Emotional and Practical Preparation for Action or Arrest (Rise CWUP) [Workshop]
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RISE CWUP is designed to help rebels in simple and practical ways to make informed choices about non-violent direct action (NVDA) and activism within XR. Through exploring our motivations and values, the practical and emotional implications of arrest/action, and the support and preparation we need to do, RISE CWUP supports us to be effective, resilient and walk away from our actions with positivity and pride.
Duration: 2hrs Online; 2.5 – 3.5hrs In-person
This is for: ideally, local or affinity groups that attend actions together should try to self-facilitate such a session before each action by using the resources below
Workshop Resources to run RISE CWUP in your own XR group
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: xr-legal@riseup.net
- Defendant Forum [Workshop]
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A space for discussion and questions for rebels who have a plea hearing or trial coming up. During this forum you will have a chance to speak with experienced Court Supporters and members of the legal support team.
Duration: 1hr
This for: rebels preparing for a court appearance
Find live training: check the Legal Support facebook page and the Events Page
Request this workshop for your group: xr-legal@riseup.net
Arrestee Support
- Introduction to Arrest Support [Training]
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This covers an overview of the arrestee life-cycle and the needs they may have, as well as an introduction to the trainings and roles we run within Arrest Support.
This is for: rebels who want to organise an arrestee support system for an action
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: XR-ArrestWelfare@protonmail.com
- Police Station Support [Training]
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Training to become a Police Station Supporter, a role that waits at police stations where XR arrestees are being held, and greet them upon their release. The aim is to provide emotional and practical support to released rebels, and to collect information for further arrest support.
Duration: 1hr
This is for: rebels who want to provide police station support
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: XR-ArrestWelfare@protonmail.com
- Back Office [Training]
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This training is aimed at those who want to help out with the Arrest Support Back Office during actions or during Rebellions. This is an essential role in keeping people safe during an action, and to provide ongoing support to our arrestees post actions. The Back Office receives calls from rebels who have been arrested and from people who have witnessed an arrest by logging the information and communicating with the Police Station Support Coordinators so that Police Station Support can be organised for when rebels are released from custody.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to support actions without being on site
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page and the Events Page
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: XR-ArrestWelfare@protonmail.com
- Post Arrest Liaison (PAL) [Training]
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Training to become a Post Arrest Liaison (PAL), a role which offers practical and emotional support via phone-calls to arrestees during the court process. Post Arrest Liaison rebels do not offer legal advice, but can point their arrestees to resources and additional sources of support.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to provide person support to arrestees
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: XR-ArrestWelfare@protonmail.com
- Court Support [Training]
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Training to become a Court Support rebel, a role which provides support to arrestee’s when they attend their court hearings, plea hearings and trials. The role involves practical and emotional support for defendants, being a visible XR presence in the process, and recording outcomes to inform legal strategy. ‘Trial Supporter’ and ‘Plea Hearing Supporter’ are different roles, but at present the training encompasses both.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to provide court support
Find live training: check the Arrestee & Legal Support Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: xr-legal@riseup.net
Organising in XR
- How to Organise in Your Team (Learning Series) [Training]
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Want to improve your effectiveness as a team? Want to empower yourself and your teammates? Want to learn about how to make decisions in a group? Need tips on how to handle difficult power dynamics?
There are courses on UK Rebellion Academy – a learning platform where you can work through online trainings in your own time. Intro to XR Group Structures on how XR organises, communicates and makes decisions is a good place to start. It covers the purpose of the SOS and the six underlying principles of Self-Organising Systems. Other courses are coming soon.
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: by messaging the SOS team on Mattermost, or email xr.mandates@gmail.com
For general resources, check out our Self-Organising System Resources page.
- How to Run an Introduction to XR [Training]
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This training covers the content and delivery skills of running an introduction to XR for new members of a local area or community. It also allows time for the sharing of ideas and effective approaches.
Duration: 2hrs
This is for: local organisers; ideally, you should have at least one person in your XR group who can give new rebels introductions to XR and help with their integration into the team
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page.
Request this training for your group: eventsxr@gmail.com
- Meeting Facilitation [Training]
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Learn how to facilitate Extinction Rebellion meetings. This includes creating an XR space, opening and closing meeting sessions, encouraging and managing contributions, and facilitating decision making.
Duration: 3.5hrs
This is for: at least one rebel in each XR group should be a well-trained facilitator who is ideally not the group’s coordinator
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page.
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: xr.facilitation@gmail.com
- Outreach and Mobilisation [Training]
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Learn the basics of Extinction Rebellion’s Mass Mobilisation strategy, and how to employ its tactics such as coordinated phone call campaigns, rallies, marches, social media campaigns, house meetings and flyposting etc.
Duration: 3hrs
This is for: rebels involved in outreach and mobilisation
Find live training: check the Talks & Trainings Facebook page and the Events Page.
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Request this training for your group: rebellionoutreach@protonmail.com
- People’s Assembly Facilitation [Training]
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A training introducing the concept of ‘People’s Assemblies’, and empowering rebels to facilitate their own. People’s Assemblies are often used within Extinction Rebellion to gather the wisdom of the crowd and exchange ideas and thoughts on a specific topic. They can be a good activity for long rebellion actions.
Duration: 2.25hrs
This is for: rebels who want to become People’s Assembly Facilitators
Find live training: check the Future Democracy Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: xrdemocracy@protonmail.com
Media and Messaging
- Media Training Video [Training]
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This Rebellion Academy training provides rebels with basic training on how to prepare for, and take on, big media interviews on behalf of Extinction Rebellion, how to write a press release, and how to organise a media team. If you have been approached to take part in a national level media interview, please contact the press team at press@risingup.org.uk.
Duration: depends on your learning pace
This is for: media teams and spokespeople
Train online in your own time: Rebellion Academy
Community Engagement
- Trust the People: Engaging the Community [Training]
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A training to prime and empower people to begin the process of engaging their local area and understanding its needs, preparing people in embodying the principles of the XR ‘Trust the People’ project and practicing tools for genuinely connecting with an area.
Duration: 2hrs
This is for: outreach rebels and community organisers
Find live training: check the Future Democracy Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: xrdemocracy@protonmail.com
- Making a Community Assembly Work [Training]
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A workshop in applying the people’s assembly model for a non-activist, community gathering to help build and spread participatory democracy from the bottom up. This is part of the ‘Trust the People’ project in XR.
Duration: 1.5hrs
This is for: rebels who want to facilitate community assemblies
Find live training: check the Future Democracy Facebook page and the Events Page
Request this training for your group: xrdemocracy@protonmail.com