Powering up your campaigns

We are all too eager to ruminate on what went wrong. But what about if you could squeeze plenty of learning from those who have got it right?

We put this theory to the test last week in a webinar where we were joined by those behind the campaign to abolish the Universal Credit two-child limit. And what a lot there was to learn.

The first lesson was about the enormous power of partnering with people most affected by the issue right at the heart of your campaign. Our panellists ran through an impressive range of direct impacts – giving voice to people’s experiences and concerns; sharing the very human impact of policy; lending expertise and credibility to your campaign. There were indirect impacts too including growing a new generation of campaigners and on educating powerful institutions on the need to engage people affected more deeply. And they touched on practical tips about creating safety, the need for informed consent and the importance of giving over power and platforms to those with direct experience.

Lesson two was the need to use a mix of insider and outsider roles in a successful campaigning and how evidence and public opinion both matter in securing campaign tipping points. The rollercoaster of campaigning was vividly described along with the need to change tactics as political events unfolded.

The third lesson was about the enormous power of building campaigning coalitions. While never easy work, the power of having 140 organisations all calling for the same change was immeasurable. Creating a broad church and engaging with people beyond the usual suspects was underlined as was the power in letting go of control of how individual organisations campaigned on the issue.

If you want to hear more directly from youth ambassador Sophie Balmer, Joseph Howes (Chair) and Rachel Walters (Coalition Manager), then you catch-up on the webinar here.