Hi ECFers,

Here are the latest postings of ECF events, ECFer/sector-shared event, tool and opportunity announcements.

Join the events announcements-only list to only get event and resource roundups directly without being part of the ECF discussion list or other listing: https://fairsayforum.com/join/lists/events.campaigningforum.com/

Include your event or announcement by emailing me (duane.raymond@fairsay.com, subject: Event listing) before Sunday midnight (GMT time zone) as I compile them and send it out every Monday.

Official Campaigning Forum events
  1. European Campaign Forum: Oct 23-24, Berlin (in 15 days)
    Overview: This is not your conference-as-usual event. It is where campaigning practitioners have been coming for 22 years to deepen their existing knowledge and networks. This is due to its un-conference (aka open space) format which puts participants first to not just learn from others, but learn with others. Plus as a two day event it is a low distraction environment as participants are committed to being fully present.  It is held in English, but participants are welcome to switch to other languages if it suits the group participants. Find out more, see the agenda and apply at https://campaignforum.eu/

  2. Berlin: Networking, dinner and social at the Campaign Forum
    When: Oct 23 17:00+
    What: Even if you can't make the full European Campaign Forum in Berlin, you can join for the end of day Ignite talks, speed pitching, dinner and social. Let me know and I can send the details - email duane.raymond@fairsay.com

  3. Save the date: Campaigning Forum Oxford, 2025: Apr 8-10
Partner events
  1. Sep 2025-Apr 2026: MA/Certificate in Media, Campaigning and Social change (U. of Westminster). Enrol for this innovative course was founded by two ECFers to create an academic course in campaigning - and has alumi from around the world.  Course lead (and long time activist) Michaela O'Brien can be reached at M.Obrien@westminster.ac.uk
Sector events
  1. Action Learning Sets for Emerging Leaders in campaigning organisations
    Posted by Rummena Begum, rummena.begum@smk.org.uk
    When: October 2024
    Overview: We are running a new action learning set for emerging leaders in campaigning organisations. This will build on SMK's experience of running sets at diverse levels since autumn 2023 in partnership with charity co-founder and experienced action learning set facilitator, Josephine Knowles.
    We hope this will appeal to new line managers in campaigning organisations and people who are managing a campaigning workstream or campaigning team. We're offering a 10% discount to anyone who books a place by mid-August! To find out more, please head to: https://smk.org.uk/what-we-do/support/action-learning-sets/

  2. Online: How to develop effective campaign strategies
    When: 15 Oct 2024
    Overview: An in-depth session for experienced campaigners and leaders. for Chief Executives, senior leaders, community leaders and emerging leaders who want to explore how to do campaign strategy better. Run by SMK Head of Programmes Kath Christie and SMK Associate and former CEO Julia Beart. See more at https://smk.org.uk/what-we-do/how-to-develop-effective-campaign-strategies/

  3. London: How to own the room: a workshop on public speaking
    When: 16 Oct 2024
    Overview:     A hands-on workshop for anyone looking to work on their influencing skills, presence, and charisma, whether your focus is on building strong relationships in one-to-one meetings or expressing campaign messages succinctly in front of an audience. Viv will draw on her experience as a comedian and presenter for this session on achieving a compelling connection in any context, anxiety-free. Run by comedian and BBC Radio 4 presenter Viv Groskop. You can find out more at https://smk.org.uk/what-we-do/deep-dive-how-to-own-the-room/

  4. Online: Evaluating what matters + Social media to win campaigns
    When    : 9 Oct + 30 Oct
    Overview    : Our on-line training workshops are designed to give you the basic building blocks of campaigning, including introducing the bigger picture of what social change is and communications planning. We run more specialist sessions in specific skills like influencing in parliament and digital campaigning. See https://smk.org.uk/what-we-do/support/campaign-training/open-training/

  5. London: Facilitation Fundamentals (1 day)
    When: 30 Oct 10:00-16:30 
    What: This course is for people who are relatively new to facilitation and will equip you with essential tools to support your work with groups. It will introduce you to three core facilitation skills and give you a chance to put these into practice.

  6. London: Facilitation 101 Masterclass
    When: 6 November
    Overview: for people with some experience of facilitation who want to take their work from good to great. It will cover two advanced facilitation skills and a chance to revisit the essentials too.

  7. London: Facilitation 101 Intensive course (3 days)
    When: 11-13 November
    Overview: In depth training will support experienced facilitators to strengthen their practice and grow their confidence. There are six learning modules and a strong focus on peer learning throughout.

  8. Online: WhatsApp for Activating Supporters
    When: Nov 12 - 9AM UK time, for Europe (or Nov 13 - 6PM UK time, for Americas)
    Posted by: Victoire Guillonneau victoire@socialmovementtechnologies.org
    Overview: We will cover:
    - When to use WhatsApp groups, Communities and broadcast lists, chat-on and chat-off
    - Designing content to drive sharing and action-taking
    - Comparing tools to manage messaging for more extensive campaigns
    - Sharing by groups across the world using WhatsApp in their organizing
    - Using WhatsApp in migrant and diaspora organizing - Security options and considerations

  9. Online: Can AI ever be environmentally friendly? (Lunchtime talk)
    When: Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:30 - 13:30 CET
    Posted by: Tom at Friends of the Earth tom.wright@foe.co.uk
    Background: Here at Friends of the Earth we occasionally host lunchtime talks to give us food for thought about the challenges and opportunities facing the environmental movement. They might not always be directly related to our core campaigns at Friends of the Earth, this one certainly isn't.
    Overview: As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, its environmental impact grows. Can AI’s usefulness ever outweigh its environmental harms? We’ll look at the intersection of AI and environmental justice, some interesting ways in which AI might advance a sustainability agenda and explore the policy frameworks and campaigns driving AI's green transformation. See more and register https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunchtime-talk-can-ai-ever-be-environmentally-friendly-registration-1030004530277

  10. Edinburgh: Facilitation 101 Masterclass
    When: 3 December
    Overview: for people with some experience of facilitation who want to take their work from good to great. It will cover two advanced facilitation skills and a chance to revisit the essentials too.
On-demand courses
  1. Online: Strategic fundraising webinar
    Who: It is designed for community groups and grassroots movements. Designed specifically for community groups and grassroots movements,
    Overview: the webinar covers essential strategies for raising funds and how to fundraise more strategically when you have limited time and resources. https://thesocialchangenest.org/webinar/strategic-fundraising/
Opportunities
  1. Nominate someone for an Inspiring Communicator Award
    Nominations are now open for the CharityComms Inspiring Communicator Awards 2024 until 21 October, and we'd be really grateful if you can help to spread the word across your networks.

    The awards are free to enter for anyone in the third sector to share who they think is doing amazing work in charity communications. From Rising Star to the Accessible Comms Award, whatever their role or cause, we have a wide range of award categories to champion the sector's comms stories! https://charitycommsicas.evalato.com/
Survey requests and research reports
  1. Report: How British people think about health has changed - here's what this means for communicators
    Overview: How we think about health and health inequality in the UK has changed. This research report outlines the key shifts - and what this means for campaigners and communicators. Our top three findings:
    #1 Health is seen as a national – and collective – resource
    #2 Right now, more of us recognise that society shapes health
    #3 There’s broad support for a whole-government approach to health
    Read the report, or get in touch with thyatt@frameworksuk.org to find out more.

  2. Calling accountants, economists, market researchers...
    At the The Movement Research Unit (MRU), we are looking for people with skills in accountancy, economics, market research, due diligence, and related fields to join our network of volunteer researchers. There is a great need for these skills and your insight would go a long way, getting crucial information into the hands of people that need it most. Please visit our website mvmtresearch.org to learn more, or get in touch
    with me at izzy@mvmtresearch.org

  3. Research request: Digital Mobilisation Technology Survey
    Posted by: Ali Walker Davies walkerali84@gmail.com
    Overview: For years we've seen campaigners, organisers and fundraisers with brilliant ideas be held back by tech that just can’t keep up. And on the flipside we've seen that with the right combination of tools in place, organisations are able to mobilise thousands and drive change. So we're creating a data-driven report to shine a spotlight on what tech powers high-performing digital mobilisation programmes - and what are the common gaps and barriers holding orgs back. But to do this we need your help! Can you please take 10 minutes to fill out our survey and share the challenges you’re facing with your tech? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKGz9BEqLXbBJFML0s3j-iqLr7GzOaH8QVkgXmWlWu950wWg/viewform

  4. Guide: Websites for Social and Political Change
    Overview: This guide is designed to help organizations make the most of one of the most incredibly important digital tools (still) - your website! While the need for websites is a given these days, their power when done correctly to actually support an organization in creating change is often overlooked. We share a mountain of insights and
    examples in this guide that show how to:
    - Build stronger relationships through thoughtful supporter journeys
    - Leveraging limited resources for greater impact through collective action
    - Use design to resonate emotionally and communicate a vision of a better
    world
    - Detail HOW to make our websites effectively accomplish its strategic
    goals!
    See details at https://www.tectonica.co/guide/websites-for-people-based-change
Platform and tool announcements
  1. AI campaign email generator (free)
    For those moments when you have a million things to do, or a campaign you need to get out the door ASAP, we've built an AI email generator. You enter in the URL of the petition/fundraising page you want to drive traffic to, and it uses AI to write a campaign email for that page. it's free to use, so please check it out and let me know what you think! https://www.movement.industries/draft-email-generator/

  2. SMK Free Campaign Tools
    Free campaign tools page and a new community noticeboard for your use. Please do take a look and let us know if you have something to share with the wider community - jobs, events or any news related to campaigning.

  3. Stand out with the political and corporate decision makers with real postcards.
    Overview: PostBug.com offers that by enabling your supporters to send real printed postcards and letters from their device. Printed postcards and letters get noticed because they are physical, tactile, portable with a presence when designed well and piled up on a desk or notice board. Plus less is more: it only takes a few to be noticed. See possibilities and case studies and request a demo. 
    (PostBug is run by FairSay)
Cheers,

Duane

PS: To have your event or announcement included,  email me before Sunday midnight (any time zone) as I compile them and send it out every Monday.

========================================================
Duane Raymond (pronouns: he/him)
FairSay - Making Campaigning Count
UK: +44 (0)207 993 4200
Switzerland: +41 (0)43 538 3641
Skype: fairsay
FairSay is a ltd. company registered in England and Wales. Reg. No. 5244802