Workers' Liberty's annual Socialist Summer Camp will take place at a campsite near Haslemere in Surrey, a 40 minute train ride from London.
Come along for a weekend of fires, partying, nature, good food and socialist education.
Every day we will run a few political discussion workshops, on topics from the biggest contemporary issues like climate change to events from the history of socialism, as well as strikes and struggles happening today in the UK and around the world. We will post a list of talks here as they are confirmed.
The site and activities:
We will be camping in a large field set amid woodland with a modern shower block, a large fire pit, friendly horses in the next field, and wild swimming spots nearby. We will be enjoying good food — included in the ticket prices — with vegetarian and vegan options and accommodation for any special dietary requirements on request, and running a bar in the evening.
Activities during the camp include:
• wild swimming
• hikes in the surrounding hills and woods
• trips to local sights, including the nearby stately home
• football, frisbee & rounders,
• board games
• campfires
• a socialist pub quiz
• lots more...
Full Agenda
Friday:
Evening Meal from 7pm and evening social
Saturday
11:00 - 13:00
- Are socialists allowed to enjoy police procedurals?
- Reviving the fight on Campus
- Heat Strike! Class struggle in a heating world
17:00 - 19:00
- How to beat the racists
- History of British Trotskyism
- Transforming our unions for trans liberation
Sunday
11:00 - 13:00
- What's the deal with eels?
- Marx's Capital in an hour
- Organising at work
17:00 - 19:00
- Socialist feminist reading group
- A century of betrayal - the crimes of the trade union bureaucracy
- Survival and self-determination in Israel/Palestine
Monday
11:00 - 13:00
- The socialist struggle in France with comrades from the NPA-R
14:00 - 14:30
A taster of confirmed sessions (more to follow):
What's the deal with Eels?
Why are eels significant in the development of early capitalism, and how can they help us understand money.
Socialist Feminist Reading Group
We bring our socialist feminist reading group to summer camp. We will be discussing Revolting Prostitutes: The fight for sex workers' rights by Juno Mac and Molly Smith
A history of British Trotskyism
The Trotskyist movement in Britain today is characterised by a number of smallish groups, across a number of different tendencies. From it's origins in the Balham group of the 1920s to a relative high point in the 1980s to today's fragmentation and disorientation this session will chart the movement and draw the lessons today's socialists can learn.
Reviving the fight on campus
Hosted by Workers' Liberty Students. Since the 90's there has been a sustained attack on free education, with significant campaigns in defence. Now we are in a period of enormous cuts in Higher ed with 15k jobs lost in the last year. Students are fighting back, join the discussion about what we can learn from the past and how we can build a movement that can win.
Class struggle in a heating world
Workplace organising for mitigations and developing class struggle against climate change.
- Fighting the far right - how to beat the racists
- A century of betrayal - the crimes of the trade union bureaucracy
Is Labour finished?
The May local elections seemed to spell doom for the electoral future of the Labour Party. The 2029 election feels just round the corner, and Reform UK are currently set to form the next government. Is the Labour Party, once the voice of the British labour movement, now a lame duck? Would we be better spending our time in the Greens, Your Party, or standing our own candidates? Join North London Workers’ Liberty to discuss.
Catching bad guys and copaganda
Cop shows can glorify police officers, normalise the use of force, to get the job done. They are also one of the few representations of working class life in prestige TV and film. As public approval of police diminishes, why do procurals endure? Is it ok to love Law & Order? Is there more going on than copaganda?
MORE TO COME…
Key info:
Travel: The camp will about 7 miles, or 20 minutes’ drive, from Haslemere train station. From Thursday afternoon we will be offering lifts to and from the station – call or email ahead to let us know when you are arriving. We aim to offer everyone a lift, but if for some reason no lifts are running when you arrive, or if there is an emergency, consult this list of local taxi firms. For transport and accessibility information get in touch.
Families: We run structured activities for children of all ages and do what we can to make the camp family-friendly. Reviews from younger participants have been good, year on year. If you want more information about activities for children or what the camp is like for families, get in touch.
What to bring:
• a knife, fork, spoon, bowl and mug
• a wash kit and towel
• a tent, roll mat and sleeping bag
• outdoors clothes – the weather forecast is good, but take warm and waterproof clothing!
If you can’t lay your hands on a tent or sleeping bag, let us know and we should be able to lend you one.
You may also want to bring:
• swimming gear, walking shoes
• musical instruments
• footballs, frisbees, playing cards, board games