Introduction to Advocacy

Advocacy in the workplace is an increasingly important subject. This course introduces attendees to core approaches for defining the purpose of advocacy work and planning how to implement it. The course will introduce you to the following areas:

• Defining what is advocacy

• Objectives: defining what you want to achieve

• Building your advocacy strategy – stakeholders, messages

• Planning your advocacy work

• Dealing with people

• Tips and tricks

This training course includes handouts and there will be numerous tools and case studies to consolidate your learning. You will be invited to identify an opportunity for advocacy within your own context and work on developing a message and approach during the workshop.

This course is suitable for people who are new to advocacy and wish to learn core concepts and tools for undertaking simple advocacy work. Whilst it is based around advocacy for archives it will be suitable for anyone in the cultural and heritage sectors.

Learning outcomes

• Understanding what is advocacy

• Developing the skills to define advocacy objectives

• Developing the skills to undertake effective stakeholder analysis

• Understanding the types of barriers to advocacy and how to assess their potential impact

• Understanding how to build a message

• Understanding the basics of planning an advocacy campaign

The learning outcomes map to the following areas of ARA’s competency framework;

• Marketing, advocacy and outreach

• Advocacy

• developing self and others

About our trainer: Elizabeth Oxborrow-Cowan MSc, FARA, is a highly experienced senior professional archivist and qualified management consultant with extensive experience across all elements of the UK archive sector. Elizabeth brings her experience in the development of high-level strategy and advocacy for the archives sector into an accessible learning programme for those looking to develop their advocacy skills.

Booking and delegate fee: £100 for individual ARA members, £150 for ARA corporate members and £200 for non-members

Please book your place on Eventbrite before Friday 4th September 2026. Joining instructions will be sent 24 hours before the start date.