Strategic communications for an election year

Learn how to make your communications deliver your organisation's strategic goals as Wales enters the 2021 Senedd elections. The content will focus on this Welsh election, however, the concepts and skills can be adapted to other elections.This is aimed at communications professionals working within Wales’ third sector or social enterprise. This is a series of five skills-and-knowledge workshops that can be taken together as a series or individually. All workshops will be conducted online through Zoom and supporting resources through Google classroom.

1. Developing an organisational manifesto - Thursday 15 October 2020, 13:30-16:30

2. Influencing political parties - Thursday 5 November 2020, 13:30-16:30

3. Raising the profile of your customers/beneficiaries/members and your influence - Thursday 26 November 2020, 13:30-16:30

4. Voter registration - Thursday 14 January 2021, 13:30-16:30

5. Get Out The Vote - Thursday 28 January 2021, 13:30-16:30

WORKSHOP 5. Get Out The Vote

This is the fifth half-day workshop in a series to develop strategic communications in an election year.

What is it about?

Your organisation needs your beneficiaries or customers to turn out and cast their ballots. If they stay home, the results may haunt at the next election. This workshop looks at proven tactics to drive up voter turnout and takes lessons from some of the most recent elections in the UK and abroad.

Who is it for?

This is aimed at communications professionals who want to influence what happens to their organisation, or those they work with, after the 2021 election. The skills and knowledge can be applied in future elections. In 2022, Wales elects new local governments.

What will I learn?

● The nuts and bolts of how polling day works

● The roles of the local authorities and the Electoral Commission

● Using the “Make a Plan” campaign

● Planning a strategy to mobilise your customers or beneficiaries to the polls

● How to respond if your voters become disenfranchised

● How to measure your campaign

● Creative ways to drive voter turnout

What do I need to do and bring?

● A clear understanding of who your organisation’s customer or beneficiary is

● Identify which local authorities your beneficiaries or customers will vote within

● Bring a laptop with reliable internet connection to a quiet area without disruptions

● Check your microphone works and bring headphones to prevent noise feedback

● Engage with the resources sent to you ahead of the workshop

● Participate in the workshop - it’s designed for discussion!