Stronger Voice: Analysing the problem and planning for change

*Online booking for this event is now closed. Please email events@clinks.org to join the event.*

About the training

This online workshop will help you to develop a strategic and responsive approach to planning campaigns that achieve concrete change.

You will explore how your organisational mission, in the context of the wider world, can guide you to identify areas for social change and campaigning at a range of levels. Using case studies of successful campaigns, you will learn about Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK)’s unique analysis of how transformational change happens and how you can make a difference.

You will be introduced to SMK's Social Power Grid – which will help you understand the ecosystem of change – and combine it with tools such as the ‘problem tree’ to develop a theory of change.

In order to articulate your aims, objectives and strategic approach, you will learn how to identify the problem clearly, the opportunity and route for change, and a proposed solution. By the end of the day, you will be able to develop a delivery plan, including how you will monitor and continuously review your strategy.

Participants will:

• Understand how to use their organisational mission and the wider context to identify broad areas for social change and campaigning
• Identify a clear problem, solution, opportunity and route for change
• Articulate aims, objectives and strategic approach for campaigns
• Be able to develop a detailed delivery plan, including monitoring and review
• Use a suite of tools that can help your campaign planning on an ongoing basis.

Who this event is for

This is aimed at beginner and intermediate level organisations working in the criminal justice system who might rarely engage with government policy and want to learn how they can influence decision makers; or have some experience but want to expand their knowledge.

For example, you know how government policy impacts you but don’t know how to change it; you have been involved in campaigns before and want to learn how you can lead them in the future; or you know some of the levers of change but want to further develop your toolkit to achieve greater impact.

Training opportunities for organisations more experienced in policy and influencing will be made available later in the Stronger voice programme.

Eligibility criteria

As Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is funding this programme of work, we are asking for the following criteria to be met:

• These events are open to any voluntary organisation working in the criminal justice system, though each event has a different capacity of attendee numbers to ensure the training is effective
• Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, subject to eligibility and availability, though Clinks will reserve specific spaces for organisations working with people in contact with the criminal justice system that are led by and focussed on racially minoritised people
• Please only book one ticket per organisation as we expect there to be high demand for these events.

About the trainer

Kathleen Christie is an experienced campaigner, charity learning partner and trainer. She works across the charity sector including with Amnesty International, Mencap and the Criminal Justice Alliance. Kathleen is the Course Director for SMK’s Campaign Carousel programme and keeps an eye on the content and quality of SMK’s training, as well as delivering core courses and coaching Carousel participants.

About Stronger voice

The Stronger voice training programme brings together experts across policy, campaigns and communications to support organisations of all sizes to influence decision makers. This programme is being delivered as part of Clinks’ three-year Stronger voice programme, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, and aims to help the voluntary sector working in criminal justice to develop a unified and influential voice, at both a national and regional level.