1. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty Telling Our Story: Communications & EAPN EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE Peter Kelly EAPN UK 25 November 2011

2. Developing the EAPN Communication Strategy  What we have done  Why communications matter  What the Networks need  The draft strategy  The next steps

3. The Communication Working Group  Group established in early 2011  Members from Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Netherlands, Poland, Spain & UK  Group has met twice and a workshop session at GA in Lisbon  Focused on developing a communications strategy based on the needs of NN, drawing on the expertise of the group

4. The Need for a Strategic Approach to Communications for EAPN  To deliver on our mission we need an effective and coordinated approach to communications  To support the policy changes we seek  To raise awareness of the experience of the poverty amongst key stakeholders and the public  To support the creation of stronger national networks

5. Communications Opportunities…missed  The European PEP Meeting: a unique gathering, bringing together 100s of ‘stories’ about poverty. Media opportunities at national and EU level not taken  The Crisis Conference: A major event, an opportunity to reach a wider audience, but did it have the impact on politicians, policy makers, our partners, other campaigners?  The Eurozone/Debt Crisis: A more consistent approach to communications would allow us to intervene in the debates around the future of the EU

6. What Our Networks Need  Most NN do not have a clear approach to communications  Most did not have access to a dedicated communications/media officer  Top 3 priorities were for better communication between NN, improved lobbying on positions at EU and National level, better dissemination of European policy information at national level

7. What Our Networks Need  Most have carried out their own campaigns, have a website, and produce their own publications  Only a minority use social media and most would like support in speaking to the media  There is a good base to build on – networks understand the importance of communication but practice can be improved

8. Draft Communications Strategy I  Communications is about more than tools!  Our goal: “Telling as much as possible, to as many people as possible, about who we are, what we do, what we want”  A focus on both internal and external communications  Key goals on internal communication:  improving dissemination and reporting of members views of key EU & National policy  improving exchanges between members  making better use of current tools to improve exchange between NNs

9. Draft Communications Strategy II  Key goals on external communication:  raising our profile as a campaigner against poverty  raising our profile as an organization working with people experiencing poverty  Improving media coverage at EU and national levels  Making better use of communication tools to improve profile with external audiences

10. Draft Communications Strategy III  Planning and implementation:  key audiences have been defined  main messages have been identified through EAPN strategic plan  core tools are: online activity; media work; events; established activities (briefings, reports, newsletters, magazines, etc)  Action plan and timeline to be defined following the adopting of work programme for 2012.

11. Questions to EXCO:  What are your views on the strategy presented so far?  How can the strategy be transposed to the national level?  What are the key barriers to your NN communicating more effectively?

12. Small group session  Workshop in 3 groups, discussing  Internal communications Discuss internal communications goals and tools - What works for you? - What doesn’t? - Suggestions for improvement  External communications (same as above, applied to external communications)  Communications toolkits -What type of toolkit would be most suitable for you?

13. EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE SQUARE DE MEEUS, 18 – 1050 BRUSSELS TEL: 0032 2 226 58 50 – FAX: 0032 2 26 58 69 www.eapn.euwww.eapn.eu - team@eapn.euteam@eapn.eu Feedback from mall groups Next steps…….