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Influencing Change

An introductory course

Supporting London-based grassroots and voluntary organisations to influence public policy.

Influencing Change is an introductory level course on how to influence public policy to achieve social change. The course will focus on how local authorities, London and central Government and the European Union make decisions - and how to influence them. This is a four-day course spread over four months and includes group sessions and one-to-one coaching.

The course is supported by City Parochial Foundation. Course attendance is £100 per participant. This does not cover the actual cost - it is a 'commitment' fee. All components of the course are mandatory.

This course is suitable for London-based grassroots, voluntary and smaller organisations who wish to understand and influence public policy on behalf of their beneficiaries. Participants will have limited experience or training in campaigning and influencing public policy. Each participant will have developed a basic influencing/campaign strategy for their work by the end of the course.

Priority will be given to organisations with an annual income of less than £500k, those with four or fewer members of staff, or that are made up of volunteers.

If you would like to attend Influencing Change please fill in this form and email it to ruby.coote@smk.org.uk.

For more information about the course contact Ruby on
020 7700 8231.

For more info about SMK visit www.smk.org.uk.

Course programme

Day 1 - 29 September 2009

Developing a campaign strategy

Part one will give a thorough introduction to the course, putting it in context and providing an understanding of how campaigners can influence policy outcomes.

Part two will introduce you to the foundations of planning a campaign - identifying your targets, mapping influences on decision-makers, and crafting tactics for maximum impact.

Day 2 - 29 October 2009

Pressure and profile

Part one will explore the who, what, where and how of using the media to increase the profile of your issue.

In part two we look at what powers local authorities hold and how to influence them to effect change.

Day 3 - 20 November 2009

Influencing Government

Day three covers the structure and roles within London and central Government, and also the European Union. We will look at how to get your voice heard within these institutions.

Day 4 - 15 December 2009

Alliances and evaluation

The final seminar looks at the benefits of alliance building, best practise in developing partnerships and the key steps in monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes.

One-to-one coaching and additional support

All participants will take part in a pre-assessment and agree an action plan prior to the commencement of the course. Participants will also be entitled to a one-to-one coaching session on their specific campaign or influencing issues, usually held once the training is complete - although this is flexible. SMK and CPF may also organise occasional themed discussions depending on the identified needs of Influencing Change 2009

"The structure of the course, the quality of training, the relevance of the information offered and the excellent responsiveness of the trainers makes it stand head and shoulders above any other training offered in the third sector"

"...the learning has helped me to think in a different way..."

"...it was perfectly pitched. The way the learning took us through the various elements of a campaigns strategy worked really well with the break-out sessions and insights from experts."

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) is the only registered charity in the UK dedicated to connecting, informing and supporting campaigners.

City Parochial Foundation is an independent charitable foundation which aims to tackle poverty and inequality in London.

If you would like to attend Influencing Change please fill in this form and email it to ruby.coote@smk.org.uk. For more information about the course contact Ruby on 020 7700 8231.

For more info about SMK visit www.smk.org.uk.