How to set up
an assembly
For community not for self
A shared vision for peace in our communities
Community Assemblies bring people together at grass-roots level as Local Assemblies (street, hamlet, village or town) and their associate County Assemblies (county, metropolitan city, area or island). This forms the basis of our Community Assembly Framework for everyone living in the British Isles.
Aims & Objectives
The aim is to create a interconnected network of Community Assemblies for all nations of the British Isles including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Yorkshire (who have declared themselves a nation of the British Isles as they have a greater population than Scotland).
The objective is to create a support system, knowledge-base and information-flow to ensure that everyone's voice is heard and decisions are made on an informed basis. This is where Community Assembly of the British Isles (CABI) comes into it own with a Core Team providing central administrative support and services for members of CABI and our parallel network, Assemblies of the World.
Setting up a local Community Assembly starts with a group of three Community Assembly Facilitators (and optional Special Advisors) who represent the views of local people and work on their behalf in the local area.
All members of the community are entitled to attend Community Assembly meetings and it is up to the Community Assembly Facilitators and Special Advisors to spread the word, organise activities and bring people into the fold.
Resolving Issues
Any decisions which cannot be handled at a local level are raised with the associated Regional, Metropolitan, Area or Island Community Assembly in order to find a resolution. If this is not possible, CABI will take on the role of neutral arbitrator providing administrative support under the guidance of a Community Peace Constable. If all else fails, the Community Peace Constable would make the decision to take the issue to court.
All decisions need to be recorded, collated and stored securely to protect any sensitive information. All decisions must be passed back through the system so that each Community Assembly has access to non-sensitive information as part of our knowledge-base. This is essential for both workable and failed projects so that duplication is avoided and we have the ability to learn from mistakes and expand our knowledge-base going forward.
Attributes of a Facilitator
The following attributes are demonstrated by successful Community Assembly Facilitators and Special Advisors:
- Maintaining a neutral position within the community
- Communicating clearly with good presentation skills
- Understanding and internalising our Declaration and shared vision founded on Natural Law
- Being objective, rational and patient in all situations
- Listening to suggestions and take action
- Being open, honest and trusted by community members
- Being adept in managing the pace and scale of implementation without cutting corners
- Enabling everyone to take part in the decision-making process
- Mentoring and coaching as required (helpful but not essential)
- Spreading the word to help us grow our network
It is essential that all Community Assembly Facilitators and Special Advisors work as a team so that they can support each other through all eventualities and build trust through open communication. In terms of the wider objectives of the CABI network, Community Assemblies are encouraged to share knowledge and expertise with each other in order to maintain a healthy cooperation and strengthen the effectiveness of the network.
A general guide for setting up a Community Assembly in your area
Step 1
Locate and gather together two or more willing volunteers who are interested in setting up a Community Assembly in your area. Arrange your initial meetings to talk through ideas and go through the information provided on this website so that you are clear about your aims and objectives and in agreement regarding next steps.
Step 2
One of the first things you need to do is to make sure a Community Assembly has not already been enlisted for your area. You can do this by contacting us with a request and we will get back to you by return. If there is not a Community Assembly in your area, you are invited to join CABI as member and then you can enlist your Community Assembly on our Group Directory.
All Community Assemblies must have a minimum of 3 Facilitators (and optional Special Advisors) and must be named with the prefix: 'Community Assembly of ......' to include your chosen location.
Step 3
Hold further meetings to discuss how you can pool resources, ultilise skills and bring other community members into the fold. Community Assembly members are not required to join CABI but are very welcome to do so if they wish. It is up to Community Assembly Facilitators and Special Advisors to relay information from CABI and feedback to the network as required.
Make sure proceedings are recorded so that you can allocate any agreed actions with timescales to keep the momentum flowing. This information does not need to be too detailed but it does need to accurately reflect questions posed and answers provided during your meetings.
Step 4
Set up a shared diary or calendar to record any notable dates, events or deadlines so that actions can be tracked effectively and followed up accordingly. Make sure that any sensitive information is stored securely and other information can be retrieved and accessed so that you have a point of reference if required.
Step 5
Continue informing residents in your community that a Community Assembly has now been set up and enlisted on our Group Directory. Share your activities and achievements on the CABI blog - a good example of this is
A Community Assembly in Action - such case studies serve to inspire new members and volunteers to get involved.
Step 6
When these basic steps have been completed, contact us again to arrange a call or Zoom meeting with the administrators of CABI so that you discuss any questions you may have and to find out about our support services.
All Community Assembly Facilitators and Special Advisors must ensure they act on behalf of the community and not themselves, taking on board any issues raised and reporting back through the knowledge-flow network. Please be aware that you are first and foremost 'servants of the people' and that any personal agendas will not be accommodated.
Remember that we are here to help and we very much look forward to hearing from you.
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.
Coretta Scott King
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We are a Private Members' Association connecting members of local communities, community assembly facilitators and special advisors across the British Isles, together with international friends and our parallel network, Assemblies of the World.