How to run a successful campaign

Location: Flowers Building, Imperial College, London

28 June 2012 10:00 - 16:00

This course is relevant to anyone responsible for coordinating campaigns in their organisation, whether to focus on specific targets such as energy reduction, or in preparation for events such as Freshers Week. Covering a number of interest areas, from staff and student engagement to behaviour change, this day will include case studies from the further and higher education sectors*; including campaigns that have and haven't been successful.

The day will include:

• Understanding when a campaign is successful
• Sharing experiences of running campaigns
• Theories of behaviour change
• Exploring barriers to change
• Exploring key campaign ingredients
• Understanding some of the psychology behind particular approaches
• Listening to campaign stories and exploring the success factors
• Planning your own successful campaign

Participants will leave with a detailed campaign plan to implement in their organisation.

*Guest speaker spaces have now been filled. Confirmed are:

• Greg Sandford (University of Southampton) on their recently successful 'Blackout' campaign and how it forms part of their wider energy reduction campaign at Southampton
• Dave Andrew (MSc Environmental Management student at University of Northampton) will include an insight from his research on the effectiveness of social media, from his Project Dirt campaign

Dave Andrew has 20 years experience as an IT consultant and has just completed an MSc Environmental Management at the University of Northampton. Dave will present an insight from his research on the effectiveness of social media when used by community groups to promote environmental issues.

Kirsti Norris brings together her intermingled past of being involved in stopping and slowing damage to nature through taking action at the Newbury Anti-Bypass protests, marching against the Criminal Justice Bill, and campaigning for 15 years with Greenpeace. In a dual-life she worked in the private sector, running campaigns to meet environmental management system targets, swiftly followed by working in the FE sector engaging staff and students in sustainability campaigns and initiatives. These practical experiences along with Kirsti’s research into barriers to personal and organisational sustainable behaviour have been brought together into this very practical workshop, learning from successes and mistakes from the FHE sector and beyond.

Kirsti’s dire student attempts at campaigning in heady days as SU Environment Officer at UWE will however be avoided.