At this year’s Summer Gathering there will be more than 20 different workshops on offer to you, the discerning network members. This page is dedicated to those workshops that focus on imbuing you with the skills to make an empowered campaigner, from participatory decision making to campaign communication. All of the workshops will be facilitated by the very fine staff of the support office or a select elect of partner organisations. Naturally, there will also be campaigns workshops as well as time for planning, discussions, and entertainment in amongst the workshops but if it’s the latter you’re interested in then please read on.
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Back to Programme Overview.
Building Strong, Sustainable Groups
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If your group has struggled to recruit members or find people to hand over to this is the workshop for you. It will help you identify what makes a really good group, think about your group’s current strengths and weaknesses, and take away things that can be done to improve the group. It also focuses on engaging all members of the group and is useful for groups where a few people do lots of the work.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Building Your Group page?
It will be running at the same time as Freshers’ Week Planning.
Basic Campaign & Action Planning
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If you’re new to campaigning and not sure what your group wants to achieve or how to go about it then come along to this workshop and all will be revealed. It will help you think strategically about campaign aims, objectives, targets, actors, and tactics as well as how to fit them all together in a campaign master plan. Not only that, it will introduce you to planning methods for campaign actions that are designed to involve the whole group and ensure that everything needed to make your actions brilliant gets done.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Campaign Planning or Action Planning pages?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Campaign & Action Planning.
Advanced Campaign & Action Planning
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OK, so you’ve had some campaign successes in the past and your group’s raring to go but your campaigns don’t seem to be having as much of an impact any more. Perhaps you’ve run into some particularly staunch opposition and you need to inject a new lease of life into your campaigns. Well, it’s time to raise your game and this is the place to do it. The workshop will help you review what you’ve been doing well, what you could improve, and think critically about the direction your campaigns. It will also help you with some fresh ideas for actions and make sure that you’re planning them so that they’re as effective, and plugged into your campaign, as possible. Not bad for an hour and three quarters.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Campaign Planning or Action Planning pages?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Campaign & Action Planning.
Campaign Communication
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Are you campaigning on something that everyone should care about? Darn tootin’! So how come people brush you off when you try to convince them that they should give a hoot? It’s because you need the Campaign Communication workshop to instill the skills and confidence in you not only to make your case but also convince people of it. It will cover some of the key things that you need to remember when communication campaigns such as communicating clearly and convincingly, and what not to do. Of course, it will also provide plenty of time for you to practice on some willing victims (and be practiced on by them).
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Campaign Communication page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Other DIY Campaigns and People & Planet’s Approach to Corporations.
Basic Facilitation
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If you’re new to People & Planet and would be mildly confused if someone started waving their hands in the air when they agreed with you then come and find out why they do it. You’ll learn ways to make your meetings exciting and inclusive, and the role of the facilitator in, well, facilitating those outcomes. This is a really useful way to keep people coming to your meetings and contributing to the strength and sustainability of your group.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Facilitation page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Facilitation and Participatory Decision Making.
Advanced Facilitation
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So you know all about the ‘jazz hands’, direct and technical points, and queuing but your group meetings still seem to centre on chatting between little huddles of people. Well then, you need something to refresh your faith in facilitation. This workshop is that thing and will help you think critically about how your group is organised, how its meeting are run, and identify positive steps that can be taken to improve those things. It could be as simple as keeping minutes and rotating the facilitator but you won’t know unless you come along.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Facilitation page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Facilitation and Participatory Decision Making.
Freshers’ Week Planning
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Ahh Freshers’ Week, the life blood of People & Planet groups. What, in the sense that they provide an excuse to get horribly drunk? No, in the sense that they can be the recruiting ground for loads of keen campaigners. It’s important for groups to nail their Freshers’ Weeks from the Freshers’ Fair to promotional materials to the first meeting. This workshop will help you lay the groundwork, providing ideas for how to show off the achievements of your society and People & Planet nationally, and make our campaigns seem attractive and worthwhile (which, after all, they are!).
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Freshers’ Fair page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Building Strong, Sustainable Groups.
Basic Fundraising
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Where does People & Planet get all its vast treasure chests of money? Why not come along to this workshop and find out, you might be surprised to hear that we need your help on this front. If you haven’t considered fundraising for us before this will provide you with ideas for how to do so successfully and space to plan fundraising events.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Fundraising
Advanced Fundraising
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This is the workshop for groups that know the importance of the network’s fundraising for People & Planet but are keen to become fundraisers extraordinaire. Fed up with shaking that charity tin? Then haul yourself all up in here and get some fresh ideas for how to do some seriously exciting (and successful) fundraising.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Fundraising
Basic Lobbying
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Right, so the most you’ve ever done in terms of lobbying up to now is think about possibly sending a slightly off-hand letter to the supermarket after you had that trolley with the wonky wheel. Now, all of a sudden you’re in a P&P group and are planning afternoon tea with the Vice-Chancellor (how refined) and a daggers-drawn meeting with your local MP who is more concerned by inheritance tax than global injustice. Guess what, you need this workshop. It will cover what lobbying is, how to get meetings, and what to do once you’ve got your slot in the diary. Naturally, it will also give you the chance to practice your newfound skills so that you go away raring to ruffle those lapels.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Lobbying page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Media Skills and Advanced Non-Violent Direct Action.
Advanced Lobbying
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If you’ve been lobbying hard and rubbing shoulders with decision-makers but they’ve been brushing you off (how rude) or if you’ve encountered a particularly ‘tough cookie’ who just won’t give you a meeting then sidle on in here and pull up a stool (OK, let’s be realistic, sit on the floor). There will be troubleshooting, ideas for whole new approached to lobbying, and the always present opportunity to practice. By the end, you won’t be taking no for an answer.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Lobbying page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Media Skills and Basic Non-Violent Direct Action.
Basic Media Skills
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The media, daaarling, the media. It’s a fabulous way to strengthen your group, raise awareness of your campaign message, and put pressure on decision-makers. If you’re new to the realm then come along and learn about which media to engage with and when, how to organise a media stunt, how to write a news release, and how to carry yourself in an interview. It’s the whole kit and caboodle.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Media Skills page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Lobbying and Basic Non-Violent Direct Action.
Advanced Media Skills
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If you’re already strong on gaining media coverage but want to expand it and really focus your messages then this is the workshop for you. Maybe you’ve got the student media onside but the local media have been more elusive, or perhaps that last interviewer was particularly tricky. If these are the sorts of issues you’re facing then come along and transform yourself into the most savvy of media beasts, potentially courtesy of an external facilitator with media experience.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Media Skills page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Lobbying and Advanced Non-Violent Direct Action.
Basic Non-Violent Direct Action
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When petitions and lobbying just haven’t done the job it might be time to roll out a slightly more direct approach. This workshop is designed to be for everyone, regardless of their feelings about direct action, and will consider different people’s concerns and limitations. It will also provide information on the usefulness of roles for such actions, buddying up and forming affinity groups, as well as techniques for direct action. If you fancy dipping your toe in then this is the workshop for you.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Advanced Lobbying and Basic Media Skills.
Advanced Non-Violent Direct Action
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If you’ve got direct action experience but really want to hone your skills then come and perform a sit-in at this workshop. It will focus on blockades and cover scouting, police tactics, and arrest amongst other things. It is for people who are committed to the principles behind direct action and will thus not cover any of the theory.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Lobbying and Advanced Media Skills.
Participatory Decision Making
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This is a workshop for groups where meetings tend to be dominated by only a few people or there’s a high level of unresolved disagreement over issues. It will introduce you to some of the theory, cover the tools available to you, and give you a chance to put them into practice. This is a really important skill and can improve the inclusiveness and associated attractiveness of your group. Also, if people have been actively involved in making the group’s decisions they are far more likely to be enthusiastic about its activities.
For more information on the sort of thing this workshop will cover why not check out our Participatory Decision Making page?
This workshop will be running at the same time as Basic Facilitation and Advanced Facilitation.
Samba Drumming
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It’s the music of Brazil but in the Oxfordshire countryside, come along and learn from the experts from Breach of the Peace (BOP), who’ll be leading the noise. Remember, samba can be an excellent addition to a campaign action or media stunt so perhaps you can carry on drumming at university.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Street Theatre & Banner Making and Video Activism.
Street Theatre & Banner Making
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Having a visual impact on a campaign action can be really important and it’s often important to maintain an aura of fun. Street Theatre, whether it be dressing up as clowns or pretending to be an evil tycoon, along with some striking banners can be really helpful. This workshop will give you opportunity not only to learn the skills but also to get your hands dirty (literally, in the case of banner making), and will be run by our good friends from Street Acts.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Samba Drumming and Video Activism.
Video Activism
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In the age of YouTube video can be an incredibly potent campaigning tool. This workshop will focus on why, when, and how to use video activism as well as providing some inspirational examples to get you motivated. This workshop is most suited to people who wear Kangol hats and carry fold up chairs around with them. Oh, and a conscience and sense of the worthiness of campaigning come in handy too.
This workshop will be running at the same time as Samba Drumming and Street Theatre & Banner Making