What is a People’s Assembly?
- Lyla Serer
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
A simple guide to this powerful form of community climate action
Written by Lyla Serer, volunteer of the Islington Climate Centre communications team.
If you’ve heard the term “People’s Assembly” and thought, what even is that, this post is for you. Whether you’re just curious about climate or already involved in activism, I hope this guide helps you understand what it’s all about and maybe even inspires you to get involved.
What is a People’s Assembly?
A People’s Assembly is a community-led event where anyone can come together to talk about big issues like climate justice, social inequality or local challenges, and explore ways to take action together.
These assemblies are open to all, no invite or expertise needed. They’re run by trained facilitators who make sure the conversation is respectful and inclusive, and that everyone gets a chance to speak if they want to.
People’s Assemblies are often confused with Citizens’ Assemblies, but they’re different. Citizens’ Assemblies involve a selected group of people, chosen to represent the population. People’s Assemblies, on the other hand, are open spaces where anyone can show up and take part.
The idea is to bring together a mix of voices, experiences and ideas, and give people a space to listen, reflect and act. It’s less about debating and more about sharing, connecting and shaping change together.
How Does a People’s Assembly Actually Work?
If you’re curious about what happens when people come together at a People’s Assembly, here’s a simple way to understand it. The process is designed to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak, reflect, and listen respectfully.
1. Input: Setting the Scene
Every Assembly begins with a short introduction to the topic. This could be a talk, a video, a story from someone with lived experience, or a few slides. The goal is to give everyone a shared understanding of the issue, without pushing any particular viewpoint.
2. Deliberation: Small Group Conversations
After the introduction, people break into small groups of around five to eight. Each group has a facilitator and a note-taker to help keep things flowing and make sure everyone feels comfortable sharing.
This is the heart of the Assembly where people listen to each other, share their experiences, ask questions, and explore different ideas. You don’t have to be an expert or even speak if you prefer to listen. Often, just sitting in a circle and hearing others’ stories helps you realise how much we have in common.
3. Integration: Sharing Back and Next Steps
Once the small groups finish their discussions, they come back together and share the key points or ideas they talked about. These ideas are collected and shared with the whole group to help guide what happens next. Facilitators might use gentle hand signals, like waving hands, to show agreement without interrupting the flow.
The best part is that these ideas often don’t just stay in the room. They often get passed on to local councils, community groups, and campaigners so that the conversation can lead to real change.
Why Do People’s Assemblies Matter?
People’s Assemblies are not new. They go all the way back to Ancient Greece, where communities gathered to decide important issues together. Today, they are still a powerful way to bring local people together to listen, learn, and find real solutions.
Take Islington’s Climate Panel for example. The council picked a group of residents who truly represent the community. They hear from experts, share their own stories, and work together to come up with ideas that matter locally. Their recommendations will help shape the borough’s future.
What makes assemblies special is how they bring together lots of different voices. People from all backgrounds and experiences share their ideas, which makes solutions stronger and more thoughtful. It is about everyone’s voice being heard and valued.
Assemblies focus on local challenges like retrofitting homes for energy efficiency, managing flood risks, or protecting and expanding green spaces. They help communities solve problems together. The goal is to create a safe space where everyone can speak or simply listen without feeling judged. Trust and respect are key. Trusting each other, trusting the process, and knowing your voice matters.
They are also flexible and quick to set up so they can respond to urgent local issues. Anyone from the community can join, helping make sure no one is left out.
At their core, People’s Assemblies are about real conversations that lead to real action, making democracy more about us, not just them.
To wrap up
Whether you're deeply involved in local campaigns or just starting to explore what climate action could look like for you, a People’s Assembly is a great place to begin.
It’s not about debating or needing to have all the answers. It is about listening, sharing, and shaping ideas together. Everyone’s voice matters, and you do not need any experience to take part.
If you have ever felt unsure about how to get involved, this is a safe and open space where you can learn, connect, and feel heard. We would love to see you there.
Check out our past People’s Assemblies
People’s Assembly on Heat and Shade (3-min recap video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cBklc-0oyA
People’s Assembly on Flooding event outcomes: https://www.islingtonclimatecentre.co.uk/post/peoples-assembly-on-flooding-event-outcomes
Outcomes of People’s Assembly on Flooding also published as evidence by the Environmental Audit Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/134276/pdf/
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