Where did the joy go?
Helen Tandy, Founding Director
It has been a really odd few days and I still can’t decide how I feel about everything.
Reading the news and hearing stories from friends has left me unsettled: from protests, to a Green Fair being restricted from hosting environmental and social justice stalls, to the devastating news that City to Sea creator of the influential Refill campaign has had to close through lack of funding.
These setbacks can make it feel like our collective efforts are being chipped away, just when they’re needed most.
And yet, in the middle of all this, I keep coming back to an email I read from Alex Robinson, CEO at Hubbub. He made a few powerful statements, so much so that I’ve kept the email, even though I’m usually ruthless about inbox clutter.
“We need a different strategy, one that’s serious about making an impact, and understands that joy, humour, hope and practical action are critical to building collective will and getting people on board.”
I also loved this:
“I’ve been thinking of this as the reverse mullet strategy (a reference to the hairstyle, not the fish). Party in the front, business in the back.
It’s how we approach things at Hubbub. We keep things creative and playful, which helps to sustain engagement and make change appealing. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not serious about impact when it comes to things like reducing food waste, increasing access to nature and rethinking how we heat our homes.”
Alex reminded us that while regulation, reporting and compliance are vital, we risk losing sight of the very thing that makes sustainability meaningful: the spark of human connection, the moments of hope and creativity, the practical actions that bring people together. Without joy and imagination, all we’re left with are spreadsheets and strategies that may never reach hearts and minds.
That’s why I believe we need to refocus on the positive actions that light us up and invite others in. For me, that’s where community projects and even gentle, thoughtful acts of craftivism come in, small but powerful ways of showing that change is possible, joyful, and deeply human.
Because in the end, if we want to build lasting change, we have to bring both the head and the heart. We need the professionalism of regulation, but also the hope, humour and hands-on actions that make people want to join us on the journey.
Spreading the Message in a Positive Way
That can mean structured approaches like Carbon Literacy Training, which not only equips learners with an understanding of the climate and nature emergency but also encourages both personal and collective pledges to take meaningful action.
It can also mean gentler, more creative approaches, like craftivism. A protest doesn’t have to be only about banners, megaphones, and crowded streets, as we saw over the weekend. Craftivism has long offered a quieter, more thoughtful route to activism, one that invites curiosity and conversation.
I’ve been involved in craftivism for many years. I remember when Sarah Corbett (Craftivist Collective) worked with The Climate Coalition to encourage us all to make green hearts. People across the UK stitched green hearts, wore them with pride each Valentine’s Day, and sent them to MPs as part of the Show the Love campaign. For years, I made green heart brooches myself, small but meaningful symbols of care for our planet. Sarah also pioneered the idea of mini protest banners—gentle interventions that make people stop, think, and smile when they see them in the street. I’ve not yet tried making those, but lately I’ve felt the pull to return to craftivism, to bring back the quiet power of thread, colour, and message combined.
Because sometimes, change begins not with shouting louder, but with stitching carefully, slowly, and with love.
My Asks & Offers
If you’re finding the current news and social media heavy going, and you’re looking for something positive to do, here are a few ideas:
- Join a People Planet Pint. We meet in Chester 3rd Thursday – BOOK HERE, but if you’re not local, check out the map to find an event near you. It’s a friendly, informal space where anyone who cares, or even just has questions, about sustainability can connect.
- Get involved in a litter pick. We’ll be out at the end of the month in Chester- BOOK HERE, and many other towns and cities have groups you can join. It’s simple, sociable, and makes an immediate difference to your local environment.
- Explore Carbon Literacy in the Community. We’ll soon be running both face-to-face and online sessions. Register your interest if you’d like to learn more and be part of the first groups.
- Try some Craftivism. If the idea of gentle protest through creativity appeals, let us know. We’re pulling together opportunities for people to stitch, sew, and make as a way to share powerful messages with hope and heart. Register your interest to come to a session if you are close to Chester, or order Sarah’s Mini Protest Banner to complete at home – ORDER
In the end, what matters most is that we keep the spark alive. As Alex Robinson reminded us, sustainability cannot just be about spreadsheets and reports, it has to be about people, stories, and joy.
Whether through conversations over a pint, picking up litter with neighbours, pledging action through Carbon Literacy, or stitching hope into fabric, every small act builds momentum.
Together, we can create change that is not only serious and impactful, but also full of heart.
