Guide aims to empower grassroots activists on local issues

Social enterprise Campaign Collective has launched a new guide to help grassroots and first-time campaigners who want to take action on a local issue.

Hear My Voice is a downloadable campaign guide packed with top tips on how to influence those in power, providing all the tools and techniques needed to run a successful local campaign.

Nancy Platts, one of the guide’s authors, said: “Whether people want to get a new crossing to make local roads safer for their kids or prevent the closure of a local service, it’s important they know how to influence those who are making the decisions about their lives. We’ve produced this guide to help them to do that.”

The campaign guide takes would-be campaigners through how to get others involved in a campaign and build support through petitions and public meetings. It offers a variety of campaigning ideas from lively publicity stunts and demonstrations to the gentle art of craftivism. 

The guide also contains step-by-step advice to build practical skills including how to make a short film and deliver a media interview with impact.

Alongside all this are top tips from other campaigners, case studies, pictures and quotes to inspire you, and legal advice to keep you on the right side of the law.

The guide is based on a campaign action pack which Campaign Collective produced for the Austerity Action Group – funded by the Social Workers Union. The guide was so successful that a second edition has now been launched.

Hear My Voice co-author Ian Morton added: “Campaigns are more likely to be successful when people work together and use everyone’s skills to influence those in power. Our guide offers a mix of traditional and online campaigning techniques ensuring everyone on the team can get involved.”You can read the Hear My Voice guide online now.