Monkeywrenching

This is available as a one day workshop, a weekend intensive or as an on-going engagement with your campaign.

The workshop examines the essential components of a successful social / political change campaign and applies them to your movement. Part of the process involves applying a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to your organisation to help identify strategic priorities. We also look at long term planning (timeframe in relation to the longevity of the issue) and look at a range of strategies and tactics available to you, including both direct and indirect action as appropriate.

Part of the strategic planning also involves identifying where further up-skilling is required. A range of modules are available to support this, including: how to work the media; how to lobby politicians effectively; leadership, decision-making and group culture; conflict resolution. Outside support in up-skilling may also be required and I can help arrange providers if needed.

The workshop is interactive and uses brainstorming, small group discussion, video and roleplay to draw out the knowledge of participants and build on it. It is suitable for teenagers to adults.

Learning objectives:
Develop an understanding of the elements of a successful social / political change campaign
Develop a reflective understanding of the your own organisation / movement and the context in which it operates
Develop a strategic plan for your campaign
Identify a range of tactics appropriate to your campaign
Identify potential allies
Develop a range of skills to help implement your strategic plan

WORKSHOP OUTLINE:

Talking about Power
What is power and where does it come from?
What kinds of power do we have as change agents?
Direct versus indirect action

Lessons from the past
Key elements of a successful campaign
Campaign dynamics

Reflecting on your organisation
SWOT analysis
Identifying strategic priorities

Strategic planning
Developing a campaign map
Milestones along the road
The six aspects of an Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) campaign

UPSKILLING MODULES

Work the media
Understanding who the media is and what it does
How to make things easy for journalists
Writing effective press releases
Preparing for interviews

Effective lobbying
Understanding MPs
Understanding political processes
Using the select committee process
Using MPs effectively

Leadership, decision-making and group culture
The functions of leadership and collective leadership
Effective facilitation – making meetings work for everyone
Group culture and walking the talk

Confict resolution tools
Understanding the cycles of groups
The functions of conflict
Tools to make effective use of conflict