Action for Equality, Democracy and Sustainability
We are a vibrant group of local members supporting the nationwide Compass vision of a more equal, democratic and sustainable society. We do this by strengthening our understanding of and selectively campaigning on national policy issues relevant to Brighton and Hove and the wider locality.
Connect. Come along to one of our Coffee mornings (see below). Open and friendly sessions where we hear from experts on current issues then discuss in small groups leading to Q+As with the speakers.
Engage. The Brighton & Hove and Lewes groups are working together towards the coming elections and we need your involvement and support. See more below.
Get inspired. Read about the national Compass Change Now! conference in May 2026 in Sussex Bylines.
Our next Coffee with Politics morning:
26 September 2026
The People's Emergency Briefing - Film Screening
Join us at our next coffee with politics morning
26 September - 10.00-12.30
Friends' Meeting House
Booking essential
‘The People’s Emergency Briefing’ is a fifty minute film about the impact of climate change in the UK. Presented by Chris Packham, the film is currently being screened in communities and workplaces across the UK to raise awareness and build public support for a system-wide response to the climate emergency. The event will be facilitated by local Compass members with no outside speakers and will be the opportunity to view and discuss the film from our Compass perspective of securing a sustainable, equitable and democratic Sussex.
You can find out more about the film, watch a trailer and view a map of local screenings on the National Emergency Briefing website.
Click here to sign up to our Mailing List. We will send announcements of the coffee mornings, with a link to book.
Click here to see meeting notes from previous Coffee Mornings - including Social Care, Countering the Far Right, The Food System, Poverty, Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, The Economy, The Environment, and more.
Click here to join Compass.
A good time was had by all at our Brunswick festival stall
15 and 16 August - 12.00-4.00
Brunswick square, Hove
A dozen Compass supporters engaged with the public at our stall. It's a fantastic community festival with music, food and drink, lots of stalls and a great atmosphere.
What a great weekend! So many people were happy to talk with us about democracy, equality and sustainability and how we can make a better society. We filled 3 flip chart pages with people's answers.
In addition to our primary goal of authentic conversations, 47 new people signed up to Compass, and around 90 people signed the petition to form a National Commission for Electoral Reform.
What a great showing for Compass! We look forward to doing it again next year.
Coming Events - Coffee with Politics Mornings
28 November 2026 Conversations to show we’re more united than divided. Speaker Anthea Simmons, Common Ground
16 January 2027 A vision for Sussex. Speakers to be determined
6 March 2027 AI and its political economy. Speakers to be determined
Crossing Divides Practice Groups
28 August 2026 2:30 at Leonardo Royal Hotel on Brighton waterfront
25 September 2026 2:30 Venue to be determined
About Brighton and Hove Compass
Nationally and locally, Compass campaigns for the good society, one that is more equal, democratic, and sustainable. We believe that no single organisation or political party can create the good society. And that the main progressive parties have far more in common than differences. So, we need to develop new and radical collaborations to achieve a good society.
Engage. The Brighton & Hove and Lewes groups are working together towards the coming elections. This invloves:
- Building a network of Compass groups across the county.
- Developing approaches for having conversations with people who have already voted for Reform UK or may vote for them in the future.
- Starting to work on an approach to promote tactical voting in the 2027 unitary elections.
- Please get in touch if you would like to help with these
Brighton and Hove is an amazing creative and progressive place with a vibrant artistic, community and voluntary sector. A city with an great track record of campaigning that remains as alive as ever with Pride, Black Lives Matter and others. And we are fortunate to have a council with a progressive majority. But our city is also a place where wealth and extreme poverty, poor housing, low paid and seasonal work, and homelessness sit side by side so, when we re-launched our local Compass group in 2020, our priority was to support Brighton build back better after the pandemic. However, our local collaboration can only achieve so much without changing Britain’s centralised, short term and tribal political system. We believe that there are three key elements getting in the way:
- Our unfair electoral system
- Our tribal politics
- Our over centralised national and local political systems
We are exploring ideas, discussing issues and planning strategies. We do this at our bi-monthly coffee mornings and other events in Brighton and Hove.
B&H Compass needs your input
Over the coming 2-3 years, B&H Compass will be holding campaigning actions and conversations around the broad theme of democracy and power. Watch this space for more, or contact us on brightonhove@compassonline.org.uk if you have ideas or would like to get involved.
Brighton and Hove Compass is coordinated by a volunteer steering group of seven.
Join Compass here https://action.compassonline.org.uk/. And email us locally at brightonhove@compassonline.org.uk
Promoted by and for Compass Campaigns Ltd., 10 Salamanca Place, London, SE1 7HB
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