SMK Annual Campaigner and Changemaker Survey
Now in its tenth year, the SMK Annual Campaigner and Changemaker Survey takes the temperature of campaigning in the UK.
This survey is aimed at campaigners, changemakers, advocates and activists across the UK. Legendary campaigner, Sheila McKechnie, believed in the importance of people being able to shape their world. This is the founding principle of SMK today. If you are involved in any sort of social change at a national, regional or local level, we want to hear from you.
Why do we run the survey?Â
SMK’s mission is to unleash the potential of changemakers by providing them with support, connecting them, and championing their interests. We run this survey to:
- provide insights and evidence to improve your practice and support your work.
- provide insights to support you and other organisations who speak out for the right to campaign as a key part of a healthy democracy.
- raise the voices of campaigners and changemakers by providing a platform to share your collective views and build connection with one another.
If you are a campaigner, changemaker, activist or organiser this survey is for you! Â
This year’s survey has four main sections with the majority of questions multiple choice although there are opportunities to answer in more detail in your own words as well.
The four sections cover:
- The current environment in the UK for campaigners and changemakers
- What 2025 has been like for you and your work
- A closer look at evolving tactics and approaches to campaigning
- The year ahead
The survey is open until Wednesday 3 December. It should take about 20 minutes to complete. Your answers will be treated completely anonymously.Â
Previous surveys
2024 - 2025
- Optimism remains, but many campaigners taking ‘wait and see’ approach to new Government
- Campaigners report better access to decision-makers (51%),
- A greater openness to policy influence (53%), and more meaningful consultation (59%).
- These are positive steps forward, yet expectations have softened since last year. Before the election, 66% believed a Labour government would be more open to campaigners shaping policy – now, with six months of experience, that number has fallen to 53%.
- The biggest shift comes in expectations around public political debate. Last year, 46% of campaigners believed the new government would be more willing to engage in open public discussion. That has now dropped to 26%.
2023 - 2024
- Campaigners increasingly feel the pressure of their work in the face of challenges
from government, the media, donors, and their own organisations – a diverse set of
stakeholders with complex and competing needs. - This has led three-quarters of campaigners to question whether they have the energy
levels to keep going – despite a similar number reporting they have achieved wins or
reached milestones over the same period. - The three words most used by campaigners to describe campaigning are:
challenging, tiring, and rewarding. - Campaigners highlight the need for infrastructure bodies and employers to provide
support for mental health and wellbeing, building links and communities of practice
with other campaigners, as well as more conventional offerings. - 65% of campaigners say the overall landscape in the UK has made it harder to
campaign in the past year. - While there is some optimism that a new government would lead to better
relationships between decision-makers and civil society, there is little belief it would
result in the more punitive measures that affect campaigning being repealed.
Read full survey results here >Â
Read the report Under Pressure here >
2022 - 2023
- 94% of respondents felt there are threats to the freedom to organise, contribute to public debate, influence political decisions, or protest (otherwise called ‘civic space’)Â
- 72% of campaigners felt politicians’ attitudes towards campaigners had become more negativeÂ
- High profile attacks on the National Trust and RNLI by the media and politicians seemingly backfired as 27% of campaigners said it led to them being more willing to speak out. Â
Read full survey results here >
2021
- 96% of respondents felt there are threats, formal or informal, to the freedom to organise, speak out, or protestÂ
- The Police Bill dominated concerns with 46% saying it will affect the way they campaign.Â
- 62% of campaigners said external attitudes to campaigning over the past three years had reduced the amount of campaigning they do. Â
Read full survey results here >Â
2020
- 90% of respondents felt there are threats to the freedom to organise, contribute to public debate, influence political decisions, or protest (otherwise called ‘civic space’)Â
- 98% of respondents felt there would be a greater need for campaigning in the next 12 months. Â
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to 54% saying their organisation now put a greater priority on campaigning work. Â
Read full survey results here >
2019
- 87% of respondents felt there were threats to the legitimacy of campaigningÂ
- 45% of campaigners felt government attitudes had become more negative towards campaigning.Â
- 57% felt civil society wasn’t as confident and proud about its right to campaign as it should be. Â
Read full survey results here >Â
2018
- 66% said negative media coverage of civil society was threatening the legitimacy of campaigningÂ
- 49% felt things had gotten worse for campaigners over the previous year. Â
- Closing civic space, Brexit, and negative public perceptions were amongst the top reasons cited for things getting harder for campaigners. Â
Read full survey results here >
2017
- 90% felt there were threats to the legitimacy of campaigning. Â
- 49% felt things had become worse for campaigning in the previous year, with 19% saying they had not. Â
- 87% of respondents were concerned that the Lobbying Act would restrict the right to campaign. Â
Read full survey results here >Â
2016
Research shows that hostile media coverage and government pressure are directly affecting the ability of charities to campaign on important issues. 90% feel that campaigning by the voluntary, charity and social enterprise (VCSE) sector is under threat. When asked why, the top five reasons were: Â
- Negative media coverage of the work of the VCSE sector - 65%
- Conditions of funding discouraging campaigning - 63%
- Senior managers and trustees being more cautious about campaigning - 53%
- Guidance from the Charity Commission of England and Wales - 52%
- Campaigning has become seen as too risky or something that VCSE organisations should not be involved in - 52%