How the Certificate could change your campaigning

Find out from previous participants how they have found the Certificate in Campaigning course.

Julie Bently, former Chief Executive Suzie Lamplugh Trust - participant series 1

"The  course has been a fantastic way to focus our organisational thinking in terms of campaigning work. The range of speakers, coupled with the 'Chatham house rules' approach has meant that we have been privy to some invaluable insights into Westminster; the formal and more importantly informal networks and sources of influence. Sessions are interactive and have been a great opportunity to meet campaigners working in a myriad of other voluntary sector organisations. I would certainly recommend it to others."

Simon Burton, Life Changes Counselling - participant series 2

"What other course could offer you the chance to talk under 'Chatham House Rules' to government spin-doctors, MPs and ministers past and present of all parties, Lords and senior civil servants, not to mention the professional ‘movers and shakers’ working at the cutting edge of the third Sector about what works and what doesn't in campaigning? 

This is the only course of its kind anywhere giving exposure to expertise at this level. Britain is still world-class at producing this sort of training and I have no doubt that the NCVO’s ground-breaking Certificate in Campaigning will be producing many, if not all, of the coming generation of top-flight campaign managers.  If you intend  to change the world, this is the course for you."

Rachael Hayden, Mencap - particpant series 2    

Watch a short film about Rachael's work at Mencap and how the Certificate in Campaigning course improved their campaigning effectiveness.

Mark Reedman, Chief Executive  Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations - participant series 1

"The Campaigning Effectiveness Certificate should be essential training for all voluntary and community sector organisations – regardless of whether they currently undertake campaigning or advocacy or not. The insights one gets from the course helps to de-mystify the common assumptions so often made in the voluntary sector. Just having one's eyes opened to the systems and processes one should (or could) use is worth its weight in gold."

Katy McGrory, Communications Manager for Brighton and Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum - participant series 7

Campaigning course helps Brighton CVSF with strategic planning to clarify civil society objectives. 
“When we think of campaigning there is a tendency to think of rallies and placard waving. But campaigning is not only about highly visible actions but also about finding out the best way to change something and working out who it is you most need to talk to,” Katy participated in the 7th Certificate in Campaigning course. The course, launched four years ago, seeks to equip participants with the skills to more
efficiently research issues and more effectively apply their knowledge to influence targeted individuals and bring about policy change.

Katy (tasked with creating and implementing a strategic communications strategy for Brighton and Hove CVSF) is not a campaign professional but she believes the course is valuable to anyone working with Civil Society groups who wants to learn about strategic
planning and different routes that can be used to influence matters.

“We are fortunate in having a good working relationship with our local authority but it is also useful to look beyond them, to other people they work with, thereby identifying useful links and partnerships,” she says.

Brighton and Hove CVSF supports its members by providing information to enable them to  be better represented at a strategic level. It has over 70 representatives on a range of citywide boards, including the Strategic Partnership; Children and Young People’s Trust and Crime and Disorder Partnership. Katy says the course has enabled her to think more clearly about how to identify and set aims and objectives when she wants to get something done.

“A colleague working on health issues was keen to do something to make public loos in the city more accessible and, rather than taking an ad-hoc approach to mentioning it in meetings when she can, we now have a very clear understanding about how to plan a campaign. The techniques I’ve acquired through the course mean we have a much greater chance of success.”

Andrew Campbell,  Development Manager at Voluntary Norfolk (CVS) - participant series 5

The NCVO's Certificate in Campaigning is the first of its kind and covers all aspects of undertaking a campaign in 7 one-day seminars.

The course provides an understanding of campaigning, policy-making processes and practical skills such as campaign planning and implementation, evaluation and the ability to think strategically.  Classes are interactive and in the past included talks by visiting speakers from organisations such as RNID, Friends of the Earth, Plane Stupid and the Refugee Council. 

Andrew Campbell, a Development Manager at Voluntary Norfolk, is due to complete the Certificate in Campaigning course in June 2010.  He has found it enormously helpful in clarifying the complex process of organising a campaign and in teaching him the importance of co-ordinating various groups and adopting a practical focus. 

Andrew has already put the theory into practice by planning a campaign for better transport links in rural areas with several local voluntary organisations.  Voluntary Norfolk was approached by the North and West Norfolk Community Transport Forum, which had identified a lack of adequate public transport as an obstacle for local people wanting to access health services in rural areas.  There was a clear need to attract more funding to improve transport links. 

Using what he had learnt from the course, Andrew recommended speaking to people using local transport.  They were then able to identify exactly what the problems were.  A strategy was then created which set out the key issues and established the aims of the campaign. 

Andrew, along with the other organisations, developed a tightly focused campaign to ensure that carers are eligible for free transport when accompanying the person they support to a medical appointment.  They will then use this opportunity to raise awareness of the role that community transport schemes play in supporting people in isolated, rural areas.

Andrew now feels confident in advising other organisations on best campaigning practice and is looking forward to seeing the results of the North and West Norfolk Community Transport Forum’s campaign for better transport links.  He highlights the benefits to be gained from the Certificate in Campaigning course:

"The course combines theory with practical examples to encourage us to apply what we have learnt to our own situation. We are learning the specific skills and techniques to help develop a successful campaign.  Being able to deploy those techniques saves time and other resources, but most importantly helps to identify the quickest route to achieving change.

"The course has helped me recognise the need to be very clear about our aims whilst at the same time being realistic about the capacity we have to sustain a successful campaign."

Book your place on the next series

More information on the course and book your place on the next series

For further information contact us campaigning@ncvo-vol.org.uk.