Annual General Meeting 2025

Annual General Meeting (AGM) - Saturday 14th June 2025

Hybrid meeting (Zoom & PPU office), 11am - 5pm

This is a crucial time for the Peace Pledge Union. We are continuing to witness the devastating impact of war and violent conflict across the world, and seeing the UK government's complicity in death and destruction, as well as its increasingly militaristic mindset.

The PPU has been working hard to actively engage in resistance and to champion nonviolence, challenging militarism in our communities and contributing a pacifist voice to wider movements for peace. It is vital the PPU comes together to build its capacity to resist in the months and years ahead.

We invite you to join other PPU members on 14th June, to hear more about our work – and to help us shape what comes next.

The day will be divided into two halves. In the morning, we will look back at the achievements and challenges of 2024, particularly in relation to the PPU's four main campaigning areas, announce who has been elected to the PPU Council, debate motions, and receive the annual report and accounts.

The afternoon will be focused on political discussion, as we want to ensure our members have ample opportunity to discuss critical world issues with fellow pacifists.

There will also be lots of opportunities for comments, questions and discussion throughout the day. It's an exciting and engaging day, and a great opportunity to come together, to meet each other, and to plan for the future. We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Schedule

11am - 1pm - AGM

1pm - 1.45pm - Lunch

1.45pm - 2.45pm - Panel discussion with:

  • Ceri Buckmaster - Facilitator in Nonviolent Communication and an Interfaith Minister
  • Kate Smurthwaite - Political comedian, writer and activist
  • Anastasia Taylor-Lind - photojournalist and poet reporting on the war in Ukraine

(See more details about the panel below)

2.50pm - 3.30pm - Group discussions (full details announced soon)

3.30pm - 3.45pm - Short break

3.45pm - 4.25pm - Group discussions (full details announced soon)

4.30pm - 5pm - Feeding back & Closing

Book your place at the AGM now

The AGM will be a hybrid event, to ensure as many people as possible can participate. It is free to attend, and open to all PPU members. If you have not already done so, please book your place now!

RSVP - Please book your place by emailing mail@ppu.org.uk, providing your name, contact details, and stating whether you will attend in person or online.

Attending online

  • The Zoom meeting will open at 10.45am.
  • Online participants will be given information and support to participate fully, and an option of joining by telephone will be provided.
  • There will be options for flexible attendance in the afternoon, as we recognise the day might feel overly long for some online participants.
  • Full details of how to join the meeting online or by telephone will be provided at least a week in advance.
  • Bookings for online attendance will close at 5pm on Friday 13th June.

Attending in person in the PPU Office (1 Peace Passage, London, N7 0BT)

  • The physical event will be an opportunity for members to visit our office and archives, and to meet each other in person.
  • Attendees are welcome to arrive from 10am onwards for tea and coffee, and to meet other PPU members. You're also welcome to stay after the official close of business to carry on informal discussions and socialise!
  • We will be providing a vegetarian lunch, tea and coffee. If you have additional dietary requirements please do let us know. If you are able to make a contribution towards the cost of lunch, we will welcome donations on the day.
  • Please also get in touch if you have accessibility requirements and we will do our best to accommodate you within our building’s restrictions.
  • In person attendees are requested to RSVP by Monday 9th June, to give us time to finalise arrangements, such as catering.

Panel Discussion

For our panel discussion we have three brilliant speakers, all PPU members, working in different fields for peace and against war and violence. After hearing from each of them, there will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.

Speakers

  • Ceri Buckmaster is a Certified Facilitator in Nonviolent Communication and an Interfaith Minister. She sees her ministry as supporting people to rehumanise each other in the wake of conflict, and to access compassion, clarity, confidence and creativity to find shared reality and openings in conflict processes. She works with organisations and activist groups to amplify the narrative of nonviolence in the current moment.

  • Kate Smurthwaite is a political comedian, writer and activist. She has made more than 2000 TV and radio appearances including Question Time and Newsnight. She has written for Have I Got News For You and toured nationally and internationally with her one woman shows for over 20 years. She has been particularly involved in women’s rights and refugee rights for many years. www.katesmurthwaite.co.uk

  • Anastasia Taylor-Lind is a British-Swedish photojournalist and poet reporting on issues related to women, war, and violence. She is a National Geographic Society Explorer, a TED Fellow, and a 2016 Harvard Nieman Fellow. Anastasia has been covering conflict for 20 years and working in Ukraine since the war began in 2014. www.anastasiataylorlind.com

PPU Council Elections

Deadline for nominations - Monday 26th May 2025

The PPU Council is elected annually by PPU members. Much like Trustees of charities, the PPU Council acts as our guiding body, taking a strategic view of the PPU's work and helping shape our direction over the year ahead. The Council determines the policy and direction of the PPU between AGMs, and is responsible for general oversight of the PPU staff and finances.

The Council usually meets four times per year. Meetings are hybrid (PPU office & Zoom) and travel expenses are paid. Individual Council members can also get involved with different tasks and projects depending on their interests, experience, and capacity levels. 

Being a PPU Council member is an important role, as well as being enjoyable and rewarding! We're always keen for new people to get involved, and we appreciate the benefits of having a range of experiences and backgrounds represented - so please don't be shy about putting your name forward if you're interested!

How do I stand for election?

The PPU Council consists of one Chair, one Treasurer and up to seven other members. People who were on Council last year can stand again, as can anyone who has been a PPU member for one year or more. If you have been a member for less than a year, you are welcome to vote but cannot stand or nominate.

Those wishing to stand for Council are welcome to nominate themselves. If you want to stand for Chair or Treasurer, you will also need a second nominator.

If nominating yourself, please include a personal statement of up to 200 words to be circulated to members with their ballot papers.

To nominate yourself or someone else, please email election@ppu.org.uk by Monday 26th May 2025.

What will happen next?

After 26th May, our Returning Officer, Debbie Herring, will inform the PPU staff of the nominations received. Ballot papers will be posted to members, to be returned by a set date. The ballot papers will be counted by the Returning Officer and the results will be announced at the AGM, after which those elected will take office.

Any questions?

If you're considering standing for Council but would like to know more first, including if you'd like to speak to a current Council member about their experiences, please feel free to get in touch with us at mail@ppu.org.uk.

If you have questions about the nomination and election process, please email election@ppu.org.uk.

Motions to the AGM

Motions for debate at the AGM (including proposed amendments to the PPU Constitution) may be submitted by any two members of the PPU, provided they have been members for at least one year.

Submit motions, with details of the two members proposing them, by email to election@ppu.org.uk by Monday 26th May 2025.

For guidance on submitting motions please email mail@ppu.org.uk.

Any questions?

If you have questions about the nomination and election process, please contact the PPU Returning Officer at election@ppu.org.uk.

If you have questions about sitting on PPU Council, membership or volunteering, or questions about the PPU more generally, please contact us at mail@ppu.org.uk.

Do we have up-to-date details for you?

Towards the end of May we will be sending out a postal mailing, which will include details of everyone standing for Council and any motions submitted for debate. This mailing will also include a ballot paper, enabling all our members to vote for this year's PPU Council.

As such, it's really important we have your current address on file. If you've moved since you joined the PPU, or are concerned we may not have your current address, please get in touch at mail@ppu.org.uk.