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Activist guides

Everything you and your local group need to become an unstoppable force for change. Free to read, download, print and share.

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Three guides that take you from an idea to your first action.

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  • Cover of a guide titled 'Local Groups to Fight for Animal Freedom' featuring photos of protests with signs advocating for veganism, animal rights, and ending animal testing.

    Local Group Guide

    Everything you need to set up your own local animal freedom campaigning group.

    Updated: 09.07.25

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  • A young woman wearing a graduation cap and gown, smiling, with animals including a chicken, a sheep, and a dog nearby. The background has a wooden texture with taped edges, a purple logo for Animal Freedom Network, and a megaphone in the foreground. Text overlay reads 'Setting Up a University Animal Freedom Society.'

    University Societies

    How to set up an animal freedom society in your uni, and ensure it stays after you leave.

    Published: 04.10.26

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  • Group of three women smiling and talking around a table with laptops during a meeting, with a vibrant red background. The text reads 'Local Group Governance' in bold black letters.

    Working Well Together

    Ideas on how to work effectively as a local group, from finances and communication to conflict.

    Published: 26.08.25

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  • Protesters holding signs and using megaphones at a rally for animal rights and anti-ferry campaigns.

    Campaigns

    Ideas for campaigns your local group can start or join

    Updated: 15.09.26

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  • Cover of a guidebook titled 'The Activist's Guide to Closing Greyhound Tracks' featuring a large greyhound dog, with an orange and yellow dotted background, and the logo of Animal Freedom Network at the bottom.

    Closing Dog Tracks

    Everything you need to know to close down your local greyhound racing track.

    Published: 22.09.26

    Download
  • Cover of a guide titled "Your Guide to De-Escalation" with a photo of two men arguing and a protest scene in the background. Subtitle says "Keep Calm. Resolve Conflict. Stay Safe."

    De-Escalation

    How to keep yourself and your friends safe in the face of confrontation

    Published: 26.08.25

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  • A crumpled, green-tinted paper with a torn and wrinkled appearance, resembling a dollar bill, featuring a coffee mug illustration with the words "Support Your Local Freedom Group" inside and surrounded by the words "Your Guide to Fundraising" and "Fundraising".

    Fundraising

    Your guide on raising funds for your local activism.

    Updated: 02.07.26

    Download
  • Protestor holding a sign that reads 'Legal Guide for Activists' in front of a silhouette of a historic building with towers, under a cloudy sky.

    Legal Guide (England/Wales)

    Every activist’s must-have guide on your legal rights to protest.

    Updated: 13.06.26

    Download
  • Cover of the Scottish Legal Guide for Activists, published by the Animal Freedom Network, featuring a blue-tinted image of a historic government building in Scotland with a flag flying on top.

    Legal Guide (Scotland)

    A guide for Scottish activists on their legal rights to protest.

    Published: 16.09.26

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  • A guidebook titled 'Engaging with your Local Council: a guide for activists' features a background of a city hall building with two towers and a Union Jack flag, and an overlay of a woman with glasses in a meeting or discussion. A red wax seal marked 'AFN' and a purple logo with 'AFN Animal Freedom Network' are also present.

    Local Councils

    All you need to know about your local council and how to engage with them for social change.

    Published: 13.05.26

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  • A person holding a vintage radio with a woman speaking into a microphone reflected on the radio's glass. The scene is part of a media guide cover for activists under the Animal Freedom Network logo, with a yellow banner at the bottom that says 'Press · Get Press · Make News'.

    Media Guide

    How to make your actions newsworthy, create press contacts, and hit the headlines.

    Published: 19.02.26

    Download
  • A woman using a laptop with a sticker that says "FOR EVERYONE". The background features green digital code with the words "ONLINE ACTIVISM" at the top. The logo of the Animal Freedom Network is in the bottom right corner.

    Online Activism

    How to optimise your armchair activism for maximum impact.

    Published: 10.03.26

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  • People protesting outdoors holding signs and a large banner that reads "Your Guide to Organising Protests."

    Organising Protests

    The A-Z of organising peaceful protests in your local community.

    Updated: 02.11.25

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  • Person wearing a cow mask holding a sign that reads 'A Beginners Guide to Outreach' on a city street.

    Outreach Guide

    A beginner’s guide to effective outreach.

    Published: 30.07.25

    Download
  • Cover of a guide titled 'How to Be an Effective Police Liaison on Protests' showing a police officer smiling and holding a hat and a young woman holding a megaphone with a serious expression against a pink background with polka dots. Logo of Animal Freedom Network is in the corner.

    Police Liaison Role

    How to interact with the police to ensure your protests remain focused, safe, and effective.

    Published: 14.03.26

    Download
  • Protesters participate in an environmental pressure campaign, holding signs and banners advocating for the closure of a facility, with a prominent banner reading 'Close Them Down' and others stating 'We Stay Till It Goes'.

    Pressure Campaigns

    Your guide to launching, organising, and winning pressure campaigns.

    Published: 01.07.25

    Download
  • A colorful poster titled "How to Make Eye Catching Leaflets, Placards, and Banners" with two people holding a large yellow banner. The background features bright colors and graphics, with a pink marker at the bottom left corner.

    Protest Materials

    How to make eye-catching leaflets, placards, and banners for your actions.

    Published: 01.07.25

    Download
  • A protest or rally with a large crowd of people holding signs advocating for animal liberation and rights. In the foreground, a young woman and a man are engaged in conversation on an escalator, with the man showing something on a flyer or leaflet.

    Recruitment

    How to build a strong local movement for animal freedom

    Published: 26.08.25

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  • Research

    Research

    How to uncover everything you need to run a successful campaign.

    Published: 09.05.26

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  • A woman with dreadlocks using a laptop with a sticker that reads 'For Activists.' Green digital code and the words 'Security Culture' in the background.

    Security Culture

    Healthy security culture for building caring and inclusive communities.

    Published: 01.10.25

    Download
  • A sign with the message: "What to expect if you get arrested," held up in front of a group of people. The sign has a white background with blue and red accents, and the text is in bold blue letters. The photo focuses on the sign, with some individuals visible in the background.

    Arrest Guide

    Everything you need to know in the unlikely event you get arrested.

    Published: 01.07.25

    Download
  • Two fists, one adult and one child, clasped together with the child hand in handcuffs. Text reads "Arrest support" and a logo of Animal Freedom Network is in the corner.

    Arrest Support

    How to support activists who are arrested.

    Published: 20.05.26

    Download
Watch and learn

Video trainings

Recorded trainings from AFN organisers. Watch them on your own or put one on at your next group meeting.

Pressure Campaign training

Everything you need to know to launch, organise, and win effective pressure campaigns. This training is focused on closing businesses, but can be adapted to almost any campaign.

First presented to the Oxford Coalition for Animal Advocates on 11.03.26.

Read the Pressure Campaigns guide →

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