New ​learning cluster: Social change and campaigning

Adam Smith, senior programmes coordinator, shares how this new learning cluster could help your Big Local to change hearts and minds

Do you know what is meant by ‘campaigning’ and what it means to achieve social change?

Our new social change and campaigning learning cluster launches in February and will delve into how campaigning contributes to social change and how it can help your Big Local. If you’re interested in taking part, please email programmes@localtrust.org.uk and visit our event page.

Big Local is all about shifting the status quo and making things better in your community, but making change happen can be difficult. It’s a complex process which involves changing hearts and minds, understanding decision making, and knowing when and how to act.

This new cluster will support you to identify and prioritise different people and organisations you can involve with your campaign and consider the different ways to approach them.

Working with others, you’ll explore how to encourage the wider community to get involved with your campaign. You will have conversations with other Big Local areas and campaigners who’ve made a lasting impact in their local communities and learn about the practical steps you can take.

You’ll have the chance to take a more in-depth look at the difference you are trying to make and develop new and innovative ideas about how to work with your local community and decision makers.

Each Big Local area can send either one or two people to the cluster, but we do ask that those individuals aim to attend all four sessions if at all possible as each session will build on the learning from those that came before.

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation specialises in supporting people who want to make change happen. This cluster will be facilitated by Sue and Chloe, from Shelia McKechnie, with the first meeting on 27 and 28 of February 2019 in London.

If you do express interest in taking part in Social change and campaigning, The Sheila McKechnie Foundation will contact you soon to discuss what your Big Local wants to achieve from this learning cluster.