Certificate in Campaigning

“The Certificate should be essential training for all voluntary and community sector organisations – regardless of whether they currently undertake campaigning or advocacy or not.” Mark Reedman, Chief Executive LGBT Consortium 

The Certificate in Campaigning is the first course of its kind for campaign and policy professionals. Organised by Campaigning Effectiveness at NCVO and accredited by University of Roehampton, the course covers all aspects of good practice campaigning over 10 modules. 

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.

The next current of the certificate is now fully booked, the next series begins in September please Susie Rabin at susie.rabin@ncvo-vol.org.uk or on 020 7250 2585 for more information or to book your place now.

The course is delivered via:

• 7 core one day seminar based modules
• 3 elective one day seminar based modules
• Two written reports that will be assessed both internally and externally

Learning outcomes for the course:

• Understanding of core theories of effective campaigning
• Understanding of political institutions and policy and decision-making processes.
• Understanding of what makes an effective campaigning organisation.
• Improved practical skills in campaign planning, evaluation and strategic thinking.
• Understanding of how operational delivery works in practice (for example in relation to media work)

The sessions will be highly interactive with activities, case studies, presentations and offer plenty opportunities to engage with trainers and other delegates through Q & A, debate and discussion.

As the learning methods suggest, the course is not intended to be a one way flow of information. You will be expected to undertake reading and reflection prior to each session and selected participants will be expected to lead discussion (seminar style) on the reading themes for most sessions. You will gain most from the course if you fully involve yourself in exercises and engage in workshop activities, discussion and group work throughout the programme.

Find out more about how the course can support you.

Series 6 is now fully booked

Series 7 September 2010 - April 2011

For further information contact Susie Rabin: susie.rabin@ncvo-vol.org.uk 020 7520 2585

The course will take place in a central London location from 9.30am-4.30pm over 10 sessions.

Modules

The course comprises ten modules in total. Delegates must attend seven core seminars and then choose one further from a possible three options. 

Module  Date  Venue
1:  An Introduction to Effective Campaigning
2:  Governance, ethics and the law
3:  Objectives and strategy
4:  Evaluation and impact
5:  An overview of UK and EU institutions 
6:  Institutions outside Westminster and a closer look at influencing 
7:  Communications and Tactics
Delegates must attend a minimum of one elective module:
8: Public Campaigning and Media Management 
9: Influencing public policy and successful lobbying
10: E –campaigning and course review 

Including the completion a mid term assessment and a final assessment.

Speakers from previous series have included:

Brian Lamb, Director of Communications, RNID, Mark Lattimer, Director, Minority Rights Group International, Michael Meacher MP, Dame Sally Powell, Lance Price (ex-special adviser to Tony Blair), Martin Salter MP, Bruce Wylie, Head of Activism, Amnesty International UK, Liz Snook, Plane Stupid, Jonathan Ellis, the Refugee Council. 

A limited number of bursary places are available for £300

Want to know more?

How it could change your campaigning 

‘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.’ participant series one

“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”     Mark Reedman, Chief Executive Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations 

Read how Julie Bentley, former chief executive of the Suzy Lamplugh found the course here 

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

For further information contact Susie Rabin: susie.rabin@ncvo-vol.org.uk 020 7520 2585

The Certificate in Campaigning is part of the campaigning and advocacy workstream, led by NCVO and funded by Capacitybuilders.