Action skills

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

Taking action can serve many purposes: putting an issue on the political agenda, bringing more people into your movement, or putting pressure on those who are blocking change.

An action can take many forms and is often a combination of direct pressure and performance. There is an action that suits everyone; from demonstrations to small street actions, and from civil disobedience to artistic flash mobs. Designing an action requires creativity and strategy in order to achieve maximum impact. We are happy to teach you how to design actions that fit your organization and your campaign strategy.

Stroomversnellers offers a number of standard workshops to support this, including: Designing Creative Actions using the Tactical Star, Action Training for Mass Actions, Crowd Care at Demonstrations, and Mobilizing.

In addition, we provide practical tools and are happy to think along with you about your next action. We also work with trainers who have decades of experience in activism and can share engaging stories about the art of taking action during lectures. Finally, we can support you in organizing a debrief or evaluation after an action.

1. Designing creative actions with the tactical star

In this workshop, we explore the different types of actions you can organize: from creative performances to Secret Santa actions, from occupations to petitions. Together, we discuss which type of action fits your group and why.

The Tactical Star provides eight design questions that help you create an effective and creative action. Questions such as:
How does this tactic move us closer to our goal? What message does the tactic communicate? What is the best timing for the action? Which audience do we want to reach, and what response do we want to trigger? How does this action affect our allies? What resources and capacity are needed? Who is the target of the action, and what reaction do we want to provoke from them?

In a half-day workshop, you will:

  • work step by step through the eight design questions;
  • learn about the strategic considerations involved in designing an action;
  • develop a concept for a new action together.
The price is €2600 (incl. VAT) for a half day with two trainers. See our rates page for more information about options and possible discounts.

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Guides affiliated with this training:

198 Nonviolent action methods An effective petition for a winning campaignThe Tactical Star

Tools designed by others:

On the Beautiful Trouble website, you can find inspiration for action through a wide range of tools, theories, and tactics.

Our allied organization Fossil Free Culture NL runs the Disobedient Art School project. This project explores how art can strengthen direct action, and how protest itself can be a form of art.


2. Mobilizing for a demonstration

Demonstrating may be the most well-known form of action. Demonstrations are growing larger, and more and more of them are being organized. But how do you get as many people as possible to show up?

Stroomversnellers can help make your demonstration a success with the short workshop Mobilizing.

In this 2-hour workshop, you will learn:

  • What it takes to bring large numbers of people to your demonstration;
  • How to write a compelling mobilizing call to action;
  • How to involve as many people as possible in mobilizing their own networks;
  • How to set up a phone-banking team;
  • How to organize mobilization evenings.
The price is €2600 (incl. VAT) for a half day with two trainers. See our rates page for more information about options and possible discounts.

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Guides affiliated with this training:

Mobilization Notifying the municipality of your demonstration

3. Crowd Care

At large demonstrations, it can be useful to organize crowd care or atmosphere support. Different movements use different terms for this role such as wellbeing, de-escalation, or vibes. Municipalities or police may refer to it as stewards, marshals, or crowd control.

Crowd care is not demonstration policing. Its purpose is to support both the organizers and participants. Crowd care volunteers accompany the demonstration and help ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

In this 4-hour training, we prepare the crowd care team for their role at your demonstration or manifestation. By the end of the Crowd Care training:

  • Participants understand what crowd care is and how it differs from media spokesperson roles and police liaison;
  • You have practiced the basics of de-escalation and staying calm under pressure;
  • You are aware of different types of stress responses;
  • You understand the benefits of buddy systems and affinity groups;
  • We have reviewed different communication systems, or practiced with the tools used by your group.


The price is €2600 (incl. VAT) for a half day with two trainers. See our rates page for more information about options and possible discounts.

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4. Action training for mass actions

Are you organizing a mass action in which participants are asked to carry out a complex and sometimes risky task? Whether it is a creative flash mob or a large-scale act of civil disobedience, this Action training ensures that everyone is well prepared.

An added benefit: an action training is also a powerful way to mobilize people for your action and help them organize themselves into affinity groups.

Stroomversnellers can both design and deliver an Action Training tailored to your action, as well as train volunteers to facilitate this training themselves.

In a standard Action Training, participants learn to:

  • organize themselves into buddy systems and affinity groups;
  • use tools to cope with stress during an action;
  • prepare practically for the action;
  • make quick decisions during the action;
  • practice de-escalation;
  • understand and work with the action consensus.

Optional elements:

  • hands-on practice with de-escalation;
  • an understanding of nonviolent action as an “essentially contested concept.”

Together, we can explore which additional topics are important to include in the Action Training for your specific action.

The price is €2600 (incl. VAT) for a half day with two trainers. See our rates page for more information about options and possible discounts.

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5. Other options

We can also provide facilitators for briefings, a spokesperson trainer, a workshop on “Public Speaking on Stage” or “Speaking During an Action”, and assist with the evaluation or debriefing of an action or event. Additionally, we can support your team with advice on the practical execution of actions and demonstrations.