Communicating in

Charity Coalitions

Richard Lane

Head of Communications

25 January 2018

Scope exists to make this

country a place where

disabled people have the

same opportunities as

everyone else. Until then,

we’ll be here.

We’ll provide support,

information and advice

through our services when

disabled people and their

families need us. And we’ll

raise awareness of the

issues that matter. We’ll

keep influencing change

across society until this

country is great for everyone.

Everyday Equality

Everyday Equality, our five-year strategy,

sets out how we will work to drive social

change so that disabled people have the

same opportunities as everyone else.

• We want to support disabled people

to get the best start in life

• We want to support disabled people

to live the life they choose

• We want to support disabled people

to be financially secure

Our Partnerships

At Scope we work as part of many partnerships and coalitions.

Our new strategy, Everyday Equality, sets out how we’ll be a

better partner across the sector. It commits us to share

platforms, resources and expertise.

• Disability Charities Consortium

• Disabled Children’s Partnership

• Care and Support Alliance

• Special Education Consortium

• ERSA (employment)

• Independent Living Strategy Group

• Accessible Elections Working Group

• Disability Benefits Consortium

• Channel 4’s Year of Disability Group

What we love

At Scope we find huge value in working in partnerships and as

part of charity coalitions.

At a time of justifiable scrutiny on charities, we all must ensure

we’re getting the best value for money.

Partnerships and coalitions allow us to:

• Share knowledge and expertise

• Speak with one voice to exert additional pressure

• Unify our message in a crowded media market

• Develop a greater consistency of message

• Not duplicate work!

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Charity coalitions work well when one

organisation takes a lead and galvanises

others behind a clear objective

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• You must, from the outset, set clearly

defined aims and objectives that are limited

in scope, scale and time. It’s not enough to

just believe “we ought to do something”.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Pick your partners. Big tents can be good.

But you must have an alignment of how you

agree to influence. Stonewall and Tatchell.

Scope and DPAC.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Make the case internally. Impact and

influence over brand awareness.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Manage internal resource. Make sure it’s

explicitly acknowledged as part of people’s

annual objectives and development

opportunities.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Always be clear who your audience is. Are

you influencing government behind the

scenes? Are you seeking a media presence?

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Being a good partner means sometimes

stepping aside and giving someone else the

platform.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Feel free to say no. Does this partnership

fundamentally fit with or help you reach

your strategic aims as an organisation?

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Your little book of contacts. Ensure you

open it… just enough. Avoid duplication and

multiple points of contact.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Sign off, sign off, sign off!!

Language, tone of voice and nuance are important to

every organisation. Therefore sign off processes can

be torturous. Always remember the audience and who

you’re trying to influence. Otherwise you’ll have death

by committee.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• When everyone is responsible, no one is.

What we’ve learnt

But working in coalitions and partnerships does come with

unique challenges.

These are just a few of the things we’ve learnt working with

others closely.

• Look beyond the charity sector. Some of the

most effective partnerships I’ve seen have

been with corporates. Channel 4, Virgin

Media etc.

Any questions?

Thank you

Visit the CharityComms website to

view slides from past events, see

what events we have coming up

and to check out what else we do:

www.charitycomms.org.uk

25 January 2018

Seminar

London

#CCpartnerships

Boost your

communications with

effective partnerships