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A picture of a nurse with text that reads Activism Academy: Be the change

Ways you can get involved

Make your voice heard to change nursing for the better

Using our power and winning change

Get involved with the RCN through our Activism Academy. The Activism Academy is here to empower you to win meaningful improvements and positive change in your workplaces and the nursing profession.

We want you to be part of nursing activism and lead on the issues that matter most to you. You are the RCN. By joining with other members, you can make nursing activism a force to be reckoned with!
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RCN Activism Strategy

The RCN’s Activism Strategy, developed by our Activism Academy is grounded in the experiences of our members and addresses their top priorities: safe staffing levels, fair pay, and working conditions.

The strategy’s ambitions will help us grow our activist community, to empower members to become influential in the decisions that affect the workforce and profession, and to teach and develop RCN activists.

Read the strategy
What kind of activist are you?
Answer the following questions and find out what kind of activist you are and what you should get involved in.
Do you want to improve the student experience and create connections with other students?
Do you want to influence clinical practice and be part of a specialist community?
Could you be there for our members when they need support and representation?
Do you want to meet other RCN members and share your ideas and energy for change?
Do you believe that when members come together, our collective voice can win big systemic change?
Do you want to be a local touchpoint for national campaigns that are getting our voices heard on the big issues?

Get out the vote

To build the future that nursing deserves, we must get loud and make our voices heard. To do this, we need to do one simple thing: get RCN members to vote.

Get our toolkit for the best guidance and tips on how to get out the vote!

Get our toolkit

Get active

Bring your expertise and experience to a new role. Develop knowledge and skills to support members and influence change in your workplace and area of clinical practice.

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Become an RCN Rep

Help someone develop their career, check on safety standards or support members through difficult times – our reps are there at every step.

Student ambassadors together.

Find your student tribe

As an RCN student member, you can take an active role in the student nursing community and use your voice to improve the student experience.

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Get active locally

Link in with your local RCN and connect with your branch to get your voice heard on local issues. 

Use your voice

Our power comes from our ability to stand together and demand what we need for our profession. Join your local branch, learn the basics of organising, or get active in one of our campaigns to build that power with us.

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Influence clinical practice

Forums and networks are a gateway to influencing developments in your field.
RCN members from Somerset NHS Trust

Get organised

Now is the time for you, your colleagues and the nursing profession to stand up and speak out. 
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Campaign with us

Lend your voice and energy to help our national campaigns reach all our members.

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Upcoming events

Stay up to date with activism at the RCN



13 blog posts
  • Harry Eccles Harry Eccles 1 Jul 2025

    NHS pay consultation: act now, save tomorrow

    RCN Head of Activist Engagement Harry Eccles believes it's crucial for nursing staff to pull together by voting in the RCN pay ballot.

  • Pat Hughes Pat Hughes 25 Jun 2025

    Remembering Dame June Clark

    Chair of the RCN Retired Member's Network (NPC Affiliated), Pat Hughes, shares her reflections and memories of her friend, colleague, and former RCN President, Dame June Clark who sadly passed away last month.

  • Samantha Spence Samantha Spence 23 Apr 2025

    Being on Agenda Committee was the RCN experience of a lifetime

    Samantha Spence, former member of Agenda Committee, reflects on her experience and encourages members to go for election.

  • Denise Kelly Denise Kelly 20 Feb 2025

    Building Rep Power

    Nursing is hard at the moment – as a frontline NHS nurse, I can attest to that. 

  • Becki Winson Becki Winson 11 Sep 2024

    RCN Retired members conference 2024

    How can retired members get active and influential in the RCN?

Find opportunities to share your views on nursing issues

Take part in our consultations, ballots, surveys and elections that are currently open.

We'll always email you if you're eligible to vote in a consultation or ballot, or on a resolution.

Have your say
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Get involved in our governance

Find out how to put yourself forward for a committee, board or forum, how to take part in a consultation, how to put forward an agenda item for an upcoming Council meeting and more.
See how you can get involved
Governance
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