Campaigning and influencing

What is campaigning?

You might call it influencing, voice, advocacy or campaigning, but all these activities are about creating change. At NCVO we use the word campaigning and define this as the mobilising of forces by organisations or individuals to influence others in order to effect an identified and desired social, economic, environmental or political change.

What is policy? 

As with most political terminology, policy is difficult to define but one offering is that it is a set of ideas and proposals for action, which culminates in a government decision. Typically policy will become a rule or regulation, enforceable by law.

Why do it?

Whatever you call it and whether you are trying to save a local community centre from closing or lobbying government, campaigning and influencing policy is about creating a change. The impact is the real change created by a campaign – the difference it makes to people’s lives.

Resources to support you

• Guides and resources
  We have a range of free resources to support you influencing policy and campaigning for change. From getting you started sheets to more detailed gudies on how to... 
• Campaigning and Influencing Forum
  Got a question or a snippet of knowledge you want to share with others? Join our new discussion forum
• Free Dave
  Completely new to campaigning? Want to explain the core ideas of effective campaigns to new groups? Free Dave is for you...
  These five short and amusing films explain five key principles of campaigning through a fictitious campaign to Free Dave
• Certificate in Campaigning
  The first course of its kind for campaign and policy professionals the covers all aspects of good practice campaigning over seven modules find out more... 
• Bespoke support - From tailored training to support on strategy, planning, tactics and evaluation.

Find out more about NCVO's campaigning and influencing work.

Keep up to date with us

NCVO sends a range of tailored email newsletters including one dedicated to keeping you up to date on the latest developments, news and resources around campaigning and influencing. Sign up to our e-newsletter. For more the latest news follow us on Twitter.

Popular resources

Guest blog Influencing Coalitions - Learning from the world outside of Westminster

Alison Goldsworthy offers tips for working with and influencing coalition governments drawn from the wealth of experience already out there from local councils, Wales, Scotland and wider. 

  

New campaigning landscape research

Campaigning is dead. Long live campaigning! Has the General Election last year given rise to a radically new environment, where campaigners are challenged to rethink existing strategies to achieve social change? How can we understand any implications for campaigning?

Our latest research finds the evidence through a mix of case studies, focus groups and survey, sharing learning, insights and reflections, addressing key issues confronting campaigners.

Download the free research report A new campaigning landscape? Implications of the of the 2010 General Election (PDF 2.37 MB)

Integrating social media

Gain ideas and inspiration to integrate social media into your campaigns. Download the free pdf guide Integrating social media

Just received my 'Integrating social media' guide from @forumforchange. Very handy, and free! @nickbason

Is the right to campaign in doubt?

Campaigning for change has never been so important as we are confronted with a new coalition Government committed to recasting the relationship between the state and civil society there has been an open question by some about the role and legitimacy of campaigning. Do you think the right to campaign is in doubt? Read our guest blog from Brian Lamb

Guide for trustees

Are you a trustee and want to know more about effective campaigning and influencing?
Or working to influence change and want a resource to explain effective campaigning to your board?

Our new free guide Trustees guide to campaigning and influencing outlines what is required by the law and what is good practice.