RebelRinger Starter Pack

Hello and thank you for volunteering to help Phone Bank for Extinction Rebellion.

Extinction Rebellion is made up of and run by volunteers just like you, right across the UK.

The following pages will provide you with everything you need to know to get started and help make calls to build for the Rebellion.

To change everything, we need everyone.

This guide contains information on:

1 - Brief intro to Extinction Rebellion2 - How to Phone Bank3 - How to use our software4 - Reaching out to your friends and family

Extinction Rebellion is a new social movement.

XR is a rebellion to transform society, to act in defence of our planet and the continued existence of life upon it.

Find out more here.

What is a Phone Bank?

A Phone Bank is a group of friends, activists or volunteers making calls, ringing up and reaching out to other activists or members of the public - to ask them to do something.

Thousands of people have signed up to fight climate catastrophe with Extinction Rebellion.

We’re asking activists up and down the country, to get on the phone and have a chat with other XR volunteers and ask if they know about the upcoming actions - or how they could get involved.

XR’s priority right now is to get as many people as possible to join the Rebellion starting 15th April.

We need to reach out to 10s of thousands and we have just one week.

On my own I could reach perhaps 15 people in a few hours.

With four friends, we could reach 75.

If just 20 people set up calling sessions in their kitchens and living rooms, with four friends each - we could reach 2,000 in one evening!

Key considerations:

● We’re not cold-calling - everyone we’re calling has previously signed up to XR.

● Our team is just a message away. We’re online and ready to help 24/7 if you have any questions or are uncertain about something.

So let’s get calling! XR volunteers have already made hundreds of calls together.

First step - join the XR RebelRinger WhatsApp group and say hello!

Click this link to join ←

How to use our software

First things first!

Please click the link below and accept XR’s GDPR Data Protection Agreement

Click this link ←

Make sure to click ‘RebelRinger’.

Once you’ve accepted the Data Protection Agreement, you should receive an email invite from Callhub to become a new ‘Agent’.

Click the link in the email

Set up your password

You’re now set up as an Agent on CallHub

Click Join Campaign to begin

Example campaign

You’re now on the main page to use CallHub.

Take a moment to look around.

You should see this.

This person is next in the call list.

In the centre of the page is the call script.

The script is just a guide, it’s ok to go off it - in fact we recommend it!

At the top of the script, you’ll notice a Voicemail section.

If someone doesn’t answer the phone and it goes to voicemail - read them this!

Throughout the script there are a range of questions - these help XR understand more about who we need to reach out to and who can provide key skills for the Rebellion.

Some of the question drop-down lists are quite extensive.

We recommend reading through the script and answers before you start calling.

After your call - before you can switch to a new person you will need to log the outcome.

This tells us whether someone needs to call them back, or whether we should stop calling them.

DO NOT CALL - If the individual doesn’t want to be contacted for any reason.

LEFT MESSAGE - Use this if you left them a voicemail message.

MEANINGFUL INTERACTION - Use as the default answer if the recipient engages positively with you - regardless of whether they are coming on April 15th.

NO ANSWER - If they don’t pick up or they say call me back later.

Call Disposition

When you’re ready to move on to your next call - click

You may receive a warning.

Don’t worry - this just means you need to enter the Call Disposition (at the bottom!)

Now for some quick tips on making your calls...

DOs ● DO know the script before you start: The more comfortable you are with the script, the more comfortable you’ll be

on the phones! Familiarise yourself with the flow and content. Take the time to practice a bit before you call in.

● DO talk slowly: There’s a lot of information in the scripts and we want to make sure they catch all of it

● DO smile while you dial: It may seem silly but it’s true! If you smile while you’re calling it will help your tone sound friendly and help you quickly build rapport with the person on the other end.

● DO be proud and confident: You are doing a noble thing here, you are doing the right thing – and you are connecting with and enabling people who also want to do the noble and right thing.

● DO connect with each person: When someone picks up, imagine that they’re sitting across the table from you. Engage them by genuinely connecting and asking questions to create a natural back and forth. The more familiar you are with the script, the easier this will be!

● DO speak in the 3rd person about XR- e.g. give information about what “is happening” and what people “are doing” – not “what I think” or even worse “what I think people should do”!! This is because people are persuaded about something by becoming aware of what the prevailing mood of their community/group is – ie through group pressure/herding. Not by arguments themselves and certainly not by being told what to do by a stranger.

● DO make a strong ask for action: Your conversation should build up to the ask. We’re asking supporters to actually turn up at the Rebellion week and hopefully stay on for several days.

DON’Ts● DON’T use pitfalls: Do not ask if they “have a minute to talk” or provide any means for them to

refuse you. People will generally say no to talking to you if you offer them an ‘out’.

● DON’T make assumptions: Never make assumptions about their age, race, gender, or how much they support Extinction Rebellion.

● DON’T let refusals bog you down: There will be times when people hang up or don’t want to talk. Keep on calling until you find someone to engage with!

● DON’T debate or argue: Our task is encourage people to join the Rebellion, not to argue facts or opinions. If someone is genuinely asking questions, do your best to answer them. However, if someone is clearly disagreeing with you and trying to argue or debate, don’t engage. It’s always OK to say, “I have a lot of calls left to make tonight so I do have to go. Thanks for your time, and have a good day!”

Big tip: Challenge yourself!

If someone isn’t able to come on April 15th, and you’re feeling a bit more confident after a few calls - perhaps ask them or tell them about how they could volunteer or support the Rebellion where they live.

Need more info? → ASK US! :-)

Scale it up!

Phonebanking is better with friends...

So, now you know how to make a call - and you might have already tried a few…

We’re encouraging people to ask their friends and family if they’d like to join.

Running a call session with your mates is so much better, trust us.

Running a call session with your friends is not only way more fun - it’s key to the Rebellion.

Whilst one person might make 15 calls in an evening, five can make 75 calls!

We have just one week.

What are you waiting for?

To get your friends and family involved, send them this link:

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/xr-data-protection-agreement

Make sure they click ‘RebelRinger’ on the form.

At the moment we have to send out the CallHub invites manually.

Please make sure to sign your friends and family up to CallHub before when you plan to make calls.

Your RebelRinger checklist

Make a practice call

Set a time and a place

Invite your friends

Sign up your fellow RebelRingers

Get calling!

Don’t forget!

Join the RebelRinger WhatsApp

We’re here to help you

Any question, any time

Remember, how you make your call is up to you. There’s no right or wrong way of doing this.

Having these calls can be an uplifting and positive experience.

We hope you have as much fun with them as we’ve had so far.