'We started as a group of friends and ended up as an association.'
Peter Stocker, North Laine Traders Assoc., 2000

Over the last 200 years, groups of local people have banded together to protect their interests or promote their point of view.

In the 1800s, Brighton had many self-help 'friendly societies', such as the Odd Fellows, the Foresters and the Sons of Temperance. In return for regular subscriptions, members received sickness and funeral benefits. The societies also organized social and educational activities. Many still exist today.

In 1890, the first meeting of the Brighton Trades Council was held at Odd Fellows Hall. It campaigned on behalf of the rights of working people. By 1926 there were over 8,000 trade union members in Brighton. The Trade Council claimed that support for that years General Strike was 'the most complete of any town in the South of England'.

Nowadays, societies, associations and unions take many forms in Brighton, ranging from Gay Pride to Friends of the Earth. Each group adds to the diversity of the city's wider community, offering people a sense of belonging and unity.

See objects on display in Societies, Associations and Unions section of Exploring Brighton gallery