Getting off to a great start!
Case Study
Students at Audenshaw High School in Manchester got off to a flying start after an introductory P&P workshop. They used the names collected at the end of the workshop and asked teachers to publicise the first meeting. At the first meeting they asked everyone to come up with ideas then narrowed this down to what they wanted to do that term. They produced a term plan and sent it to their support staff at the office.
Its important not to underestimate the effect of a good (or bad) start to the chances of your group’s success. If everyone is enthusiastic after the first couple of weeks, then your group is set-up to achieve loads over the course of the year. Three things to think about for this are recruitment, your first meeting and working with your Sixth Form.
Recruitment
To be a group you obviously have to have members! If you have a P&P workshop we will make a note of anyone interested and forward this onto you. But you should also be proactive about getting new members. Think which of the following your group could do:
Once you’ve got people interested you need to get their contact details and get them to your first meeting.
First meeting
A good first meeting will excite people, but a poor one will ensure you never see them again. You want your group to seem friendly and dynamic from the start. Some important things to bear in mind are to:
- Tell people what to expect if they join your group, and most of all why it will be good!
- Chat to new people, make them feel welcome.
- Get their contact details.
It is worth thinking about your first meeting in more detail.
Working with your Sixth Form
Sixth Forms can be really useful to work with when campaigning - they have access to far more resources and people than your group could have on its own. What Sixth Forms offer groups, and what you need to qualify for them, varies a lot. However, a few things that your Sixth Form could offer your group are:
- Cheap/free facilities for events.
- Grants - sometimes they may give you some money to print posters, or buy Fairtrade goods.
- Minibus hire to go to events.
- Promotion to other students.
- Room bookings for meetings.
More info on working with your Sixth Form