1. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty
Communications
EXCO meeting
20-21 avril 2012
EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS
DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

2. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty
Presentation of EAPN’s communications strategy
Presentation of first draft work programme on communications
Exco subgroup on communications
EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS
DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

3. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty
Communications strategy
and
work programme
20 avril 2012
EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS
DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

4. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty
Telling Our Story: Communications & EAPN
Presentation of the
communications strategy
by Peter Kelly,
EXCO in Tallinn, 25 Nov 2011
EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS
DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Communications Opportunities…missed
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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Draft Communications Strategy
Communications is about more than tools!
A focus on both internal and external communications
Our goal for internal communications: : Improve the exchange of information and collaboration within EAPN, between all structures and members.
Our goal for external communications: Being heard, understood and supported by as many people as possible, on who we are, what we do, what we want.

12. Draft Communications Strategy
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

13. Draft Communications Strategy
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

14. Draft Communications Strategy
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 (= WORK PROGRAMME) to be defined following the adopting of work programme for 2012.

15. Draft Communications Work Programme
Phase 1: definition of Actions / Objectives
Phase 2: gather all actions in specific tasks
(that’s where we are!)
Phase 3: assign timeline and responsibility to all tasks

16. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Methodology
Each group (EXCO, subgroups, taskforces) of EAPN includes a session on ways of working together
Develop the use of ICTs, social media, open- source tools
Evaluation of tools
Fundraising and communication work should work more closely together

17. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Tools
New resources for the website
Migration, new members’ room, more information on the members’ room, tutorials, google translator bar, inventory of tools, …
Regular update on comms issues to communications contact people
Mapping of expertise
Creation of a forum as interactive tool for exchange
Video recordings of presentations

18. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Tools
Interactive online platform for training and capacity building
ICT capacity building sessions
Re-shape presentation of members’ pages on EAPN’s website

19. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Methodology
Linking advocacy and campaigning
Lobbying tools availability, use and dissemination – evaluation of effectiveness
Key EAPN events recorded/livestreamed
EAPN material available at national events
Highlight importance of dialogue with people exp. Poverty
National networks relaying information on campaigning to their grassroots organisations
Raising EAPN’s visiblity by developing branding activities/tools

20. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Methodology
Each member encouraged to have its own media database
Use of style guides targeting media made by members

21. Work Programme – specific tasks
Draft Communications
Work Programme – specific tasks
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Tools
New resources for the website
(video messages from Director, President, people exp. Poverty, mapping of current alliances, mapping of expertise on media relations)
Campaign toolkit
New EAPN brochure and/or other branding tool
Mapping of tools addressing media

22. EAPN: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty
EXCO Subgroup on
Communications
20 avril 2012
EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS
DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

23. EXCO Subgroup on COMMUNICATIONS - AGENDA
1. Our rapporteur
2. Tour de table
> skills and what networks have been doing on comms
3. Finalise terms of reference
> clarify role of subgroup > briefing note on subgroups
4. Prioritise actions, starting by what we've been doing
5. Ways of working together
Methodology
Tools

24. EXCO Subgroup on COMMUNICATIONS – Terms of Reference
General (all subgroups)
greater participation
Use of expertise
Meet internal and external objectives of EAPN strategic plan
Propose task forces for specific work

25. EXCO Subgroup on COMMUNICATIONS – Terms of Reference
Specific to Subgroup on Communications
Oversee implementation of the communications strategy
Identification of progresses, weaknesses, obstacles
Evaluation of methodology and tools
Bring up issues at EXCO level and alternative proposals for weaknesses (methodology and tools)
Make sure communications strategy effectively supports strategic plan
Liaise with task force on communications

26. EXCO Subgroup on COMMUNICATIONS – Actions
Short-term calendar
June GA: programme to be confirmed, not sure about a slot on communications but within EXCO
> short update on actions and timeline
> If a workshop on communications (TBC), could then be on use of ICTs
Sept EXCO: finalisation work programme => subgroup proposes a taskforce according to priorities defined by the work programme
Oct Task Force Meeting: last meeting of Comms Task Forceon implementation of work programme

27. EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK
RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DE LUTTE
CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE
SQUARE DE MEEUS, 18 – 1050 BRUSSELS
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