New book aims to change the world and put a smile on your face — and all for just five quid.

Tim Ashton of Antidote, who led the creative development of the book said: “Our aim was to communicate some very simple actions in a way which was fun, cool and engaging rather than worthy and dull. We didn’t want to preach or point the finger but we did want to move these things into the mainstream and out of the realm of the “do-gooder”.

In addition to the many individual contributions to the book, a number of companies also provided their services free. These include the publisher, Short Books, Getty Images (photography), Illustration.com (provision of illustrators), The Book Service / Random House Group (warehousing and distribution of the books), Cathay Pacific (flights to China to check proofs), Allen & Overy (legal advice), communications agency, Antidote (design of Change the World for a Fiver), ArthurSteenAdamson and Innocence (development of We Are What We Do the brand and identity), ad agency Wieden + Kennedy (creative support throughout the development of We Are What We Do).

The book trade has also supported Change the World for a Fiver. Retailers have committed to stocking the book on a no discount basis which means that money raised from sales will be used to cover the costs of production and should there be any surplus, this will be used to fund subsequent We Are What We Do projects such as further editions of the book and an education programme to be piloted in 2005.

David Robinson who originally conceived of We Are What We Do said: “We’re really thrilled with Change the World for a Fiver and incredibly grateful to all the talented people who contributed to it and helped bring the vision to life.

“The book is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when lots of people come together to create something far greater than they could have achieved on their own.

“Without the support of the many individuals, companies and the book retailers who have taken the book on a no discount basis, we could not have produced such an exciting and attractive interpretation of the We Are What We Do vision, nor could we have kept the price so low to ensure it is accessible as possible to so many people.

“We hope that lots of people will buy the book to indicate they too support our vision and that they will be inspired to take action and do what they can in their everyday lives to make a difference to the world and those around them.

“Our 50 simple actions are just the beginning. The potential from here is limited only by the scale of our imagination.”

We Are What We Do aims to produce a book of actions every year working and building on the model established with Change the World for a Fiver (i.e. that people contribute time and talents to the book free and that companies be invited to assist in a variety of ways in bringing it to life). There are also plans afoot for partnerships with overseas publishers to produce localised versions of the book.

For more information, quotes or high res images please contact:

Ella Wiggans
ella.wiggans@wearewhatwedo.org
71 St John Street
London
EC1M 4NJ
020 7148 7665

Editor’s notes:

Change the World for a Fiver is part of a national launch programme for the We Are What We Do movement. Other projects planned for the September launch include:

11 September — Change the World for a Fiver in Waterstone’s, Books etc, Borders, Ottakar’s, independent booksellers and from amazon.com.

27 September – We Are What We Do exhibition opens at Royal Festival Hall for 3 weeks (based on artwork from the book and touring nationally thereafter)

30 September — official launch date for We Are What We Do, event at Royal Festival Hall and first ever We Are What We Do Day – inspiring people to do actions from the book Change the World For a Fiver. Watch the press for further details.

24/7 – 300 days (ish!) after the launch. What has been achieved? What has been the impact? Are people incorporating these activities into their daily life, 24/7? Visit www.wearewhatwedo.org for details.

We Are What We Do was originally conceived of by David Robinson OBE, senior advisor to the east London charity Community Links. Community Links received a £25K donation from the Joffe Charitable Trust for the development of We Are What We Do and Change the World for a Fiver. For further information about Community Links, visit www.community-links.org

Change the World for a Fiver — the 50 actions:

01 DECLINE PLASTIC BAGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE
02 READ A STORY WITH A CHILD
03 FIT AT LEAST ONE ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULB
04 LEARN BASIC FIRST AID
05 SMILE AND SMILE BACK
06 TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WHEN YOU CAN
07 PLANT A TREE
08 HAVE A BATH WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE
09 IF IT SAYS 30MPH, DO 30MPH
10 TURN YOUR THERMOSTAT DOWN BY 1º
11 GET FITTER, FEEL BETTER
12 TURN OFF APPLIANCES AT THE MAINS
13 RECYCLE YOUR MOBILE PHONE
14 SPEND TIME WITH SOMEONE FROM A DIFFERENT GENERATION
15 REGISTER ONLINE AS AN ORGAN DONOR
16 GIVE YOUR CHANGE TO CHARITY
17 TRY WATCHING LESS TV
18 LEARN TO BE FRIENDLY IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE
19 LEARN ONE GOOD JOKE
20 FIND OUT HOW YOUR MONEY IS INVESTED
21 TURN OFF UNNECESSARY LIGHTS
22 USE YOUR WILL TO GOOD EFFECT
23 HAVE MORE MEALS TOGETHER
24 PUT YOUR GUM IN THE BIN
25 USE A MUG NOT A PLASTIC CUP
26 GIVE BLOOD
27 PAY MORE WHEN YOU BUY AT CHARITY SHOPS
28 SEIZE THE MOMENT
29 RECYCLE YOUR COMPUTER
30 BAKE SOMETHING FOR A FRIEND
31 TURN OFF THE TAP WHILST BRUSHING YOUR TEETH
32 DO SOMETHING YOU THINK YOU CAN’T DO
33 RECYCLE YOUR BOOKS
34 BUY FAIRLY TRADED PRODUCTS
35 WRITE TO SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED YOU
36 TAKE TIME TO LISTEN
37 LET AT LEAST ONE CAR IN ON EVERY JOURNEY
38 DON’T OVERFILL YOUR KETTLE
39 SHOP LOCALLY
40 JOIN SOMETHING
41 HUG SOMEONE
42 RECYCLE YOUR SPECS
43 GROW SOMETHING WITH A CHILD
44 REPORT DUMPED RUBBISH TO YOUR COUNCIL
45 GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO 5 PEOPLE IN YOUR STREET
46 USE BOTH SIDES OF EVERY PIECE OF PAPER
47 BUY A COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR A FRIEND
48 SEND US AN ACTION
49 LEARN MORE, DO MORE
50 DO SOMETHING FOR NOTHING