Effective Campaigning: Five Tips for Creating a Lasting Legacy

vInspired’s Team v’s Do You Care? campaign successfully raised awareness about young carers and promoted local support services. In just seven weeks, Team v leader created a campaign with an enduring impact. Here’s how the legacy was forged.

iImage: Campaign leader with a politician and a volunteer.*

In Norfolk, the initiative began with a plan for a city pop-up event to highlight young carers and local support services. It successfully birthed the Care To Join Us Network: a collaboration of seven secondary schools committed to improving in-school support for young carers. More schools are eager to join, and the campaign leader addressed over 30 schools’ Senior Leadership Teams at a county-wide conference.

This achievement was the result of building a network of valuable contacts, strategic planning, and fortuitous circumstances. Here are the key lessons learned about creating a campaign with a long-lasting legacy:

1. Have Contacts in Useful Places – or Find Them!
   Leveraging existing relationships, like with educational leaders, can open doors. However, don’t worry if you lack contacts—emails, tweets, and phone calls can effectively build your network.

2. Think Strategically
   Even without direct interaction with young carers, engaging schools allowed for strategic interventions benefiting young carers for years.

3. Delegate
   Delegating responsibilities, such as letting a teacher lead discussions, can enhance meeting outcomes and reduce personal workload.

4. Ask for Things – and Be Persistent
   With persistent communication, including emails and tweets, the campaign secured support from two MPs and media coverage. Persistence pays off, so keep asking until you get clear answers.

5. Be Brave and Think Big
   It requires courage to propose changes to established professionals or request favors from strangers. Accepting the challenge to lead a campaign is a significant step; envision how much further you can go!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

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