On a sunny afternoon in April, I joined six other people in Frome for something rather unusual: a switching party.

The idea was simple. We would spend an afternoon together switching our everyday spending towards companies and services that better reflected our values. Banking, entertainment, energy and shopping were all up for discussion.

A party with a purpose

Ros and her partner Tom hosted. A couple of us were close friends, while others had never met before, but it quickly felt like a room full of like-minded people.

There was good food, plenty of conversation and a real sense of curiosity. It did not feel like a meeting or a protest. It felt like a party with a purpose.

Ros had made a handwritten list of the big platforms many of us use without thinking: Spotify, Netflix, Amazon, Barclays, HSBC and more. As people closed accounts or committed to switching, they added a tally mark beside the company.

Watching those marks build up was surprisingly powerful.

Why doing it together matters

On my own, I know how easy it is to put these decisions off. One person cancelling a subscription can feel like a tiny act that changes very little.

Doing it together felt completely different.

Someone always knew an alternative you had not heard of, or had already gone through the process and could explain it. One person switched from Spotify to Tidal in minutes. Another decided to move banks and, after disappearing into a corner with a laptop for half an hour, emerged looking quietly triumphant.

That shared knowledge made the whole thing feel easier and more achievable.

Small actions, shared momentum

I left feeling lighter and more hopeful. There is something powerful about making a change in front of other people who understand why it matters.

Repair cafés, clothes swaps and seed exchanges have all grown quietly in recent years. To me, the switching party feels like a natural next step.

Even the smallest action can make a difference. Better still when we do it together.