Equally Ours offers free workshops for equality organisations in London, to help you share the value of your work and get public support for the issues you care about.
The need for social change has never been clearer; we need to bring people together to create a more equal world. That’s where strategic communications come in.
We offer regular online or in person training, giving a grounding in strategic communications, covering:
- How and why people form attitudes to important issues
- What not to say, and why
- Why facts alone don’t persuade people
- How to use frames and shared values
- Understanding your audiences
- Crafting your messages
What is strategic communications?
Strategic communication, values-based messaging, and reframing use insights from behavioural science to understand how people form and hold different opinions. They root our communication in important shared values, to help change people’s hearts and minds about complex issues.
They explain why myth-busting leaves people believing the myth, why we should think twice before making economic arguments, why understanding the scale of the challenge can stop people starting, and even why the wording of an environmental campaign led more people to support disabled people’s rights.
Strategic communication looks at common ‘frames’ that people hold – everyday stories that can act as mental shortcuts or barriers to changing people’s minds, then uses reframing to work with these and change the story.
What do other people say about the course?
‘One of the best training courses I’ve been on. I would 100% recommend this to any charity or community group, it’s packed with practical tools you can start to apply immediately.’
‘It was a really informative day which was gold dust to a small charity like ours’
‘’Everyone around the table from those hearing the terms for the first time to people who have been campaigning for years learnt something useful from the session.’
‘Most useful (and thought-stretching!) training I’ve had all year’
What’s included?
- An interactive introduction to strategic communication and reframing
- Online learning (two mornings)
- or in person training (one day at an accessible venue near Vauxhall)
- Videos of each session
- Helpful resources
- Chance to receive peer support from past learners
- Access to the Equally Ours past participant network to keep up to date with the latest reframing updates
What kind of charities should join?
Our training programmes are funded for organisations in London working on issues around inequality and discrimination, poverty or multiple disadvantage.
You should be user led or ‘by and for’. The sessions are accessible to small and grassroots organisations, and don’t require any previous knowledge.
The training will most benefit people working or volunteering in campaigning, communications, policy and public affairs, copywriting, leadership positions, or people working on website and social media content. People with lived experience are warmly welcome.
Organisations that have found the course helpful include advice and advocacy services, campaigning organisations, food banks, DDPOs, organisations promoting racial equality, violence against women organisations, LGBTQ+ charities, regeneration charities, mental health organisations, organisations working for children’s, young people’s and older people’s rights, faith groups working on social justice, refugee groups, and more.
Accessibility and inclusion
We aim to mainstream accessibility in our training, to make it suitable for as many people as possible. Accessibility and inclusion facilities are available for online training or in person training. For example we can offer STTR captioners, BSL, large print, slides adapted for use with screen readers, early access to materials, dyslexia adapted materials, training suitable for people with ADHD and autistic people and regular screen breaks. In person we can also provide step-free access, a guide, hearing loops, allergy and belief inclusive refreshments.
Please share your requirements when booking and we’ll get in touch to make arrangements.
How much is it?
This training is free to organisations who meet the criteria above, and is kindly funded by Trust for London from 2022 – 2025.
If you do not meet the criteria
We know the funding criteria may mean great organisations cannot attend. We are seeking funding to expand our free workshops across the UK, in the meantime we can offer low cost talks and workshops in other areas.
If you would like to commission a talk or workshop for your area or for your grantees, or sponsor a programme please get in touch: cat.whitehouse@equallyours.org.uk.
We can also offer reframing and strategic communications consultancy to guide and support your organisation.
When and where
All training courses are currently full. If you would like to be notified when new sessions become available please join the Equally Ours newsletter list.
For any other questions, comments and enquiries please email Cat.Whitehouse@equallyours.org.uk
