VONNE

Campaigning and Influence

Campaigning is at the forefront of voluntary and community sector activity. The sector has developed out of a need to make changes to people, communities and society as a whole. Issues which groups and charities have got together to address can often be linked to political action and the need to influence a change.

Third sector organisations generally tackle issues in three ways: through delivering a service themselves, by raising funds and helping others to do something or by influencing others through campaigning and advocacy. Most organisations engage in some campaigning activity even if they do not recognise it as campaigning or label it as such. The sector has a strong history of effective campaigning but in a recession this is ever more important. 

There is now increasing support for the sector to bring about change; this page has been developed to provide details of that support and where it can be accessed.

Policy and Representation Partnership

The Partnership was set up to encourage and support voluntary and community sector to influence policy. This website provides details of:

• Policy Forum - a free event held each quarter to allow those with an interest in policy to come together to discuss issues.
• Support tools to influence policy - details of training around the process of Parliament and briefings about who the policy makers are.
• Communication Workers Network - provides information about 'How to get your messsge across' as well as media contacts in the region.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Campaiging and Influencing Resource

Whether you're a large national body or a community group working at a local level, NCVO are there to help you achieve the highest standards of practice and effectiveness in all areas of your work.

NCVO aim to support you in your day to day work, including campaigning. Information is provided by specialist teams and industry experts.

NCVO offer a whole host of free information including:

• Top ten tips to campaiging - 10 things to consider when starting a campaign
• A guide to campaigning in a new politicial landscape -Coalition government, new policy priorities, huge cuts and restructuring, localism, the Big Society... what does it all mean for campaigning and influencing?
• Trustee guide to campaigning - This short guide outlines both what is required by the law and what is good practice in the development and implementation of effective campaigns.
• Campaigning and Influencing Forum - The forum provides a place for the VCS to ask questions and asnwer questions about campaigning and Influence.
• Certificate in Campaigning Course - The course will improve your skills in areas such as planning, delivery, evaluation and strategic thinking and directly focuses on how you can campaign effectively and how you can bring about a 'high impact' at all levels of an organisation.

These is just a few of the publications and resources NCVO have available, for more details visit their website.

Shiela McKechnie Foundation (SMK)

SMK was established in 2005 to help develop a new generation of campaigners who are tackling the root causes of injustice. Set up in memory of Dame Sheila McKechnie, SMK is entirely dedicated to helping campaigners create positive and lasting social change.

SMK runs programmes for individuals and groups providing support, advice and a place to share information on key areas of effective campaigning: from strategy, tactics, and targets to evaluating successful campaigns.

Whatever the issue, whether you are trying to improve disabled access on local transport or promote solutions to conflict, SMK can help to develop new tactics and plan high impact campaigns through its various workstreams.

SMK provides support in a number of ways, including:

• The SMK Campaigner Awards - annual awards are for individuals who are new to campaigning; the winner receives a package of support rather than a cash prize
  
• Campaign Central, a social networking website and comprehensive information source for campaigners
• UK Campaign Daily - daily round up of news which may be of interest to your campaign
• Events and workshops - a series of one day and longer courses to equip people with the skills to bring about change
• Campaigning Tips - 9 top tips to consider when starting a campaign

The programme is designed to develop campaigning potential, bring people together to share learning, and campaign on key issues that effect campaigners.

KnowHow Nonprofit

This website offers a space for people working in non profit organisations to learn and share what they have learnt with others around many different topics, including campaigning.

This site is available for anyone regardless of the size of the charity or the person's role within the organisation.

The campaigning section offers:

• Campaigning and lobbying tools - provides defenitions and types of campaigning to influence policy and behaviour change
• Planning and carrying out campaigns - key questions to ask when planning a campaign
• Multimedia awareness - audio and video resources relating to marketing your campaign

This is just a few of the resources available, visit the KnowHow NonProfit website for more.

Louder

Louder provides a targeted set of tools to run your campaign, track its progress and turn supporters into activists. Louder provides the tools so you can concentrate on the campaigning.

With Louder you can:

• Write to your MP/Councillor/MEP using writetothem
• Run e-petitions
• Run polls
• Pull in Twitter accounts and searches
• Embed video, photos and audioboo
• Coordinate your online presence from one place – Facebook, blogs, Twitter
• Keep track of your supporters’ campaign actions
• Widgetise tools to add to any website, email or blog
• Build and maintain a supporter email list
• Send and track newsletters online

On the website, Louder also provides a series of short films for those completely new to campaigning.

ask CHARITY blog

This site has been created by Charity Comms and offers an arena to ask a host of experts questions about charity communications, around different topics including campaigning.

If you are aware of any additional support functions available, which should be included in this guide contact natalie.maidment@vonne.org.uk