My son Louie Ward Herbert, who has died aged 41 of most cancers, was a devoted activist and group organiser, the co-founder of Acorn group union, an ally to these with little energy and an inspiration to many.
Acorn, which started in Bristol in 2013 and now operates in cities throughout Britain, unites atypical individuals who have been left behind by politicians and companies to pursue a greater deal for native communities on the problems that matter to them. The union is especially recognized for its work inside the rental housing sector.
Louie was born in Leeds, the place his father, Mick Ward, and I each labored in social companies, and went to the Metropolis of Leeds highschool earlier than A-levels at Leeds Artwork School. Whereas nonetheless an adolescent he began working as a fundraiser in 2002 for varied human rights charities, managing and coaching groups throughout Britain. He was with Dialogue Direct when he was recruited to go to Seattle within the US in 2005 to arrange a crew to fundraise for Amnesty InternationaI.
Regardless of his success, fundraising was not sufficient for Louie – he needed to work extra instantly in communities. In 2009 he travelled to Tanzania with the charity Village to Village, and, primarily based in Uchira, a small village within the foothills of Kilimanjaro, he helped co-ordinate their volunteers and develop their Straight Speaking Aids Consciousness Programme. A colleague there described him as “a bridge between cultures, a testomony to the ability of human connection”, and mentioned that “the tune ‘Louie Louie’ will endlessly echo within the hearts of Uchira”.
On his return to the UK, Louie settled in Bristol, the place the understanding of the ability of communities he had gained in Tanzania led to him co-founding Acorn. To ascertain the Acorn group union, Louie spent infinite hours on poverty wages knocking on doorways in all weathers and recruiting and coaching a lot of its key members. Louie was additionally a member of the Worldwide Employees of the World and Unite commerce unions, in addition to an ally of girls going through avenue harassment and home violence, and of the LGBTQ+ group.
He liked to go on his expertise and data as a group organiser to others. This led him to work for Act Construct Change, which trains group builders. Stephanie Wong, ABC’s CEO, described how “he elevated our organising and drove an creativeness for what we might grow to be”.
Louie was additionally a cooker of dal, a curator of impeccable playlists, a lover of cider, and a lifelong fan of soccer – each Leeds United and the Seattle Seahawks. He was a dancer extraordinaire, a cat whisperer and a deft ping pong participant.
He’s survived by his associate Abi Matthews, his dad and mom and Mick’s associate Gill.
